Kangal Sivas | Spa's and Thermal Springs

The Kangal Sivas Fish Springs first caught the eye of villagers in the neighbouring town in the early 19th century and were immortalised by the legend of a shepherd who saw his injured foot miraculously healed by the therapeutic waters.

Developing the transformation from a former reed bed to thermal hotel has been overseen by the local administration who took over the running of the springs in the 60s. The town of Kangal itself is situated 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the springs, with the city of Sivas 98 kilometres (60.8 miles) away, in central Turkey.

Treatment for psoriasis - a skin and joint disease for which there is no curative medicine - is the use most commonly associated with the Kangal Springs. Tiny fish nibble on the affected areas of skin on the feet of bathers. Visitors are recommended to spend up to eight hours a day in the pools, supplementing their soak by drinking up to 1.5 litres of thermal spring water a day.

Global interest in the wondrous effects of the springs started to increase when a psoriasis patient gave an interview to journalist on the remarkable story of his treatment at the springs.

These days the hotel at the Kangal Sivas Fish Springs certainly looks after its guests. Apart from a spacious restaurant and modern clinic area, there are two pools - one for each sex - as well as two close treatment pools. In winter, a total of 16 privately-used baths are supplied with the amazing water by a centrally heated pipeline running from the pool to the hotel.

The Kangal Thermal Hotel has 147 rooms available to visitors, three of them suites. Open to the public 12 months a year, the hotel includes the facilities of a grocer's shop, cafe and restaurant, plus a market and tea garden.

The fish themselves are two different types of suckerfish, which enjoy feeding on the dead skin, helping to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis. A 21-day course of treatment with so-called Doctor Fish is recommended, this toothless variety grows up to ten centimetres long and lives in temperatures of 37 degrees.

A veteran of Kangal for over 20 years, Professor Dr Sedat Ozcelik has full faith in the spring's abilities. He said of the process that patients undertake: "I can safely say that the patients who have come to the spring were cured in one or three weeks."

He continued: "The group therapy, the effect of natural ultraviolet radiation, [the] jacuzzi effect of pools, the effect of selenium, the [decapitation] of scams by fish [and] the zinc effect all have an important role curing psoriasis. Again according to my observations I have seen that the possibility of heal helps can extend [for] two years."

Most packages available last for 21 days and as Professor Ozcelik says, the success rate of treatment is, on the whole, high. The accommodation and facilities available at Kangal Fish Springs make the experience more of a holiday than a trip to the doctors. And the springs should not be restricted to those needing treatment. Anybody within travelling distance should come and see a place like no other on earth.