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Ichthyotherapy

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Biotherapy - History, Principles and Practice

Abstract

Ichthyotherapy is defined as the treatment of skin disease (so far mainly cornification disorders like psoriasis and ichthyosis) with the so-called “doctor fish of Kangal”, Garra rufa (HECKEL 1843). In accordance with other biotherapy terminologies, such as maggot therapy (use of sterile fly larvae, or “maggots”), hirudotherapy (use of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis) and apitherapy (use of the honeybee, Apis mellifera), the term “Ichthyotherapy” was proposed in 2006 (Grassberger and Hoch 2006) and readily adopted. The name derives from the Greek word for fish (“Ichthys”). Other descriptive terms frequently used are: “Dr. Fish treatment”, “Kangal Fish therapy” or “Nibblefish therapy”.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology and Microbiology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital and Semmelweis Clinic, Juchgasse 25, 1030, Vienna, Austria

    Martin Grassberger M.D., Ph.D.

  2. BTER Foundation, Urey Court 36, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA

    Ronald A. Sherman M.D., M.Sc.

Authors
  1. Martin Grassberger M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Ronald A. Sherman M.D., M.Sc.
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Correspondence to Martin Grassberger M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. and Semmelweis Clinic, Institute of Pathology and Microbiology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Juchgasse 25, Vienna, 1030, Austria

    Martin Grassberger

  2. & Research Foundation, BioTherapeutics, Education, Urey Court 36, Irvine, 92617, California, USA

    Ronald A. Sherman

  3. , Preclinic Dentistry and Physiotherapy, Perm State Academy of Medicine, Revolution Street 4-135, Perm, 614007, Russia

    Olga S. Gileva

  4. , Graduate School of Integrated Medicine, CHA University, Yatapdong, Bundanggu 222, Seongnam, Gyeongghido, 463-836, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Christopher M.H. Kim

  5. Hadassah Medical School, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Hebrew University -, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel

    Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu

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Grassberger, M., Sherman, R.A. (2013). Ichthyotherapy. In: Grassberger, M., Sherman, R., Gileva, O., Kim, C., Mumcuoglu, K. (eds) Biotherapy - History, Principles and Practice. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6585-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6585-6_6

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