Underwatertimes.com News Service - August 10, 2009 22:09 EST
doctor fish greece spa psoriasis sivas

Doctor fish attend to a psoriasis patient at a spa in the Greek city of Sivas.

Garra rufa obtusas, also known as "doctor fish", swim around the face of a man as he relaxes in a hot spa pool in Kangal, 105 kilometers (65 miles) south of the central Anatolian city of Sivas August 9, 2009.

The treatment is believed to heal Psoriasis, a chronic skin disease which affects the joints and skins.

Garra rufa obtusa, also known as "doctor fish" which live in mineral-rich hot spa pools, is used in the treatment as they nibble away the diseased skin.

The mineral-rich water is then believed to aid in the healing process of the lesions. People suffering from psoriasis travel to Kangal to stay at the spa for 21 days and visit the fish pools twice daily for four-hour treatment sessions.