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There's no question that women will do scary, painful things in the pursuit of beauty (do the words "paper panties" ring any bells?). But some of the crazy spa treatments we've unearthed recently go above and beyond the usual beauty shop of horrors... The treatments below are equally likely to take a bite out of your wallet (a 24-carat-gold facial) as your butt (snake massage).

Bizarre Spa Treatments

    10. Arctic Ice Room
    The Qua Spa at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas offers an "Arctic Ice" treatment room, where "snow" falls from a domed ceiling through mint-infused air chilled to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Jae C. Hong, AP

    9. Golf Ball Massage
    After hitting the links at Scottsdale's Four Seasons Resort at Troon North, you can have a "therapist" warm up some golf balls, and roll them along the large muscles of your spine and neck.

    Jupiter Images

    8. Doctor Fish Pedicure
    A type of carp called garra rufa, or "doctor fish," are used during a pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va. Doctor fish have been used for years in Turkey to treat skin diseases like psoriasis, eating dead areas of the skin and leaving the healthy skin to grow.

    Jacquelyn Martin, AP

    7. Doctor Fish Pool
    In case you want more than your toes nibbled, you can bail to Chongqing Municipality, China and hop in a Doctor Fish therapy spa.

    China Photos / Getty Images

    6. Gold Facial Treatment
    Japan's Umo Inc. claims that covering the face with sheets of 24-carat gold is an effective (if not cost effective) method of fighting off wrinkles.

    Junko Kimura, Getty Images

    5. Snake Massage
    Stop in the Israeli village of Talmey El'Azar, where reptile farmer/aesthetician Ada Barak uses tangles of king, corn and milk snakes in her massage treatments. Barak claims once guests get over any initial misgivings, they find physical contact with the creatures to be soothing.

    Yonathan Weitzman, Reuters

    4. Nightengale Droppings
    If gold and snakes just aren't cuttin' it, you can always rely on good ol' fashioned bird poo to get that natural glow. Spas such as Shizuku of New York City use Nightengale droppings, which contain an enzyme called guanine which brightens and heals the skin.

    Jewel Samad, AFP / Getty Images

    3. Leeches
    Demi Moore may be using these bloodsuckers for detox treatments, but in the Himalayan region of Jammu And Kashmir, leeches are used to treat a variety of ailments including blood disorders and immunity problems.

    Awar Nazir, Scoopt / Getty Images

    2. Bull Semen Hair Conditioning
    Bull semen conditioner is one of the new offerings of Hari's Salon in London. Hari's claims that the substance, when combined with a protein rich plant root, Katera, strengthens and adds shine to hair.

    Morry Gash, AP

    1. Knife Therapy
    A man cringes as he receives a "knife therapy" massage during a free procedure in Taipei. Local practitioners in this ancient form of massage claim it can cure sinus infections and headaches.

    Steven Wang, AP