Ichthyotherapy

Ichthyotherapy is the use of fish such as Garra rufa for cleaning skin wounds or treating other skin conditions. The name ichthyotherapy comes from the Greek name for fish – ichthys. The history of such treatment in traditional medicine is sparsely documented. In a museum near the River Kwai, recording the privations of prison camps, a sketch drawn by a prisoner showed him up to his waist in water, but with small fish attending to his leg ulcers. There is widespread use of such fish in India, particularly in rural areas. The most widely known form of ichthyotherapy is used in the treatment of skin conditions and involves the Garra rufa, commonly known as doctor fish or nibble fish. This fish occurs naturally in the Euphrates. The benefits were first observed in Kangal, Turkey; therefore, it is also called the Kangal fish. Some suffering from psoriasis and dermatitis have benefited from the treatment, which involves lying in the ponds and letting the fish eat the scales and loose skin on the affected areas. The popularity of the treatment for skin conditions made Kangal a health resort.