Weird web

SNAKES

ALIVE

Ophidiophobes look away now!

Snake venom or its synthetic derivative may be hot news when it comes to skincare, but how about snake massage?

According to free London newspaper, Metro, unbelievable as it seems, it's the most in-demand, relaxing therapy at Ada Barak's spa in Talmei Elazar, northern Israel.  

The treatment consists of six non-venomous snakes massging the client's aching muscles and joints.

She uses California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes, with the size of the snakes depending on the type of massage: the larger ones are said to alleviate deeper muscle tensions, with the smaller ones creating a "fluttering effect". 

Cost of the massage? A mere £40.

According to Miss Barak, physical contact with the reptiles can be a relaxing experience. She was inspired by her belief that once people get over any initial misgivings, they find physical contact with snakes to be stress relieving, with one client describing the experience as "soothing, like a cold compress". 

Given it takes all sorts, but, somehow, we can't see it catching on here - or will it? 

* To see Time magazine's toe-curling video clip CLICK HERE

** PIC CREDIT: Design Pics Inc/Rex Features