Bizarre Beauty Treatment: Soothing Massage With…Dead Sea Salts? Exotic Oils? Nope – Snakes

What: Snake Massage

Why: An Israeli spa promises to relax sore muscles and ease tension by releasing six non-venemous (but quite squirmy) snakes onto the patient's back, where they slither their apparently smooth and soothing skin across aching areas. Seriously. You can check out the video here. According to the spa owner, once clients get over their fear of these colorful serpents, they find physical contact with the animals actually quite soothing. According to one client, "I'm actually afraid of snakes, but the therapeutic effects are really good." Sounds like pretty lukewarm praise to me. Notice that she doesn't specify exactly how the snakes helped her? My guess is that's because they didn't–and she just felt too silly and grossed out to admit she'd paid $70 to be molested by reptiles.

Personally, I don't even like when I run across snakes while hiking, so I certainly don't want them running across my back. As far as Middle Eastern therapies for sore muscles go, I much prefer the now-standard Dead Sea bath salts ($8.95) to give me a "recharged sense of well-being". Or virtually anything from Bliss Spa, my absolute fave. Just no snakes, please.