Hand pedicure by Dr. Fish!

Since 2006 a very unusual hand & foot therapy has become available at various Spa centers in the world, named: 'Dr fish'. Doctor fish is the name given to two species of fish: Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus fish species - both are like combfishes in that they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow, with the outdoor location of the treatment bringing beneficial effects. So, basically - 'Dr. fish' is sort of a very unusual pedicure treatment.

The 'Dr. Fish therapy' became especially a popular treatment - though formally: this spa treatment is not meant as a curative treatment option, only as a temporary alleviation of symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months.

Some patients have experienced complete cure of psoriasis after repeated treatments, but due to the unpredictable nature of the disease, which is strongly influenced by endogenous factors, this may simply be regression towards the mean.

Read more about psoriasis & fingernails:
• A nail psoriasis severity index
• Psoriatic nails: a prospective clinical study

Or you might enjoy the 'Dr Fish' youtube videos...


A video describing the basics of this therapy treatment:


Fish pedicure hits Spa salons in the US:


This video is also very informative:

I have heard about this fish cure for psoriasis many times in Turkey (since before 2006).
I think their most famous spa for psoriasis treatment is in Sivas. (but I will check tomorrow)

This is the famous spa in Turkey, Balikli Thermal Springs at Kangal, Sivas.
Balikli means "with fish". http://www.balikli.com/

I love that evolution animation too, tho in some ways it gives me the creeps.

In Turkey I have experienced these fish who nibble your dead skin (not at the spa, in the sea somewhere). It is a very strange sensation, not unpleasant unless they nip you a bit too hard! Leaves your skin lovely & smooth!

Turkey is very good at these kind of natural remedies for health problems. Apart from the fish remedy, you can de-tox your skin in the various lovely healing hot springs/spa waters, or the mud-baths, or the hamams (Turkish bath/massage).

The fish remedy suggests impressive results for people who suffer from psoriasis.....

from http://www.balikli.com/?p=fish_treatment_advantages

Scientifically proven results
....... Several scientific researches have been conducted over the past decade regarding psoriasis fish treatment in Balikli Thermal Spa Resort. In June of 1993, a national symposium at Kangal Hot Spring was held to study spring's treatment qualities. In year 2000 a resume about study regarding a small test group of patients at the spa was published in the Journal of Dermatology, revealing that after 21 day treatment 57.14% of the patients completely recovered and 42.85% of the patients partially recovered. A more recent study has been conducted by Dr Martin Grassberger, of the Medical University of Vienna, which indicated clear benefits to more than 70 per cent of patients and a remission time of over eight months.....

Medical doctors and scientists from around the world have spoken favourably of the Kangal Hot Spring curative powers. Professor Dr. Sedat Ozcelik who has been observing the spring for about 20 years, has full faith in the spring's abilities. According to his studies 'patients who have come to the spring were clinical cured in 1 or 3 week' and that remission time can extend to 2 years......

Martijn (admin) wrote:By the way, the last few words (... remission time...) illustrate that the report doesn't claim that one can speak of a truely lasting 'cure'....<snip>....
"The reported mean remission period was 8.58 months"

Yes of course, the fish are just treating the outer symptom, not the root cause. Which is what allopathic medicine usually does. Many people visit these fish spas in desperation after years of being unsuccessfully treated by conventional medicine. At least the fish treatment provides some remission and is more natural than pharmaceutical creams & medicines.


(edit PS) I just noticed the fingernails in the 'Ichthyotherapy' picture - I think it is some nail art of white flowers? but it looks like a bad case of leukonychia (white spots)! anyway no sign of pitted psoriatic nails, the fish cure must be working! ;-)