Observational case studies of the effect of phage laden Ganga water on psoriasis

Abstract

Water of Ganga river is reported to have more than 200 isolates of phages. This study has used the naturally available cocktail of phages in the Ganga water as a treatment for chronic Psoriasis. In the conventional Phage Therapy (PT) phages that are active against specific bacteria are first identified; then isolated, multiplied and administered to the patient. We have made a novel innovation of administering the naturally available cocktail of phages in the water of the Ganga river without first identifying the target bacteria and isolating specific phages that may be active against them. In doing so, we enable the large numbers of phages to self-identify the bacteria that are present and act against them. This approach shortcuts the tortuous process of conventional PT. Further, the phages act against a number of bacteria simultaneously and provide good results in psoriasis which has multiple causes.Patients who took Ganga water for only 2 weeks showed benefit but the benefit did not sustain after stoppage of the treatment and the disease relapsed to the pre-treatment levels. The same patients showed sustained benefit after they took Ganga water for four weeks. Conclusion is that Ganga water can be used for therapeutic purposes as long as the treatment is continued for at least four weeks. The study underscores the need to establish more robust protocol for treatment of dermatological and possibly other diseases with the cocktail of phages available in the waters of the Ganga river.

River therapy

“…Moreover, river waters are used in India to treat chronic psoriasis. Here, a study using Ganga river waters reveals sustained benefits after four weeks of treatment, thus suggesting a therapeutic use of the river waters (Jhunjhunwala and Waghralkar 2021 ).…”

Bacteriophages and the Microbiome in Dermatology: The Role of the Phageome and a Potential Therapeutic Strategy

“…A Likert Scale from 1-10 was used to categorize the severity of psoriatic lesions. Following the first treatment protocol, the subjects achieved a median improvement of 2.5, although with relapse during the rest period [21]. Similarly, the subjects achieved a median improvement of 2.5 following the second treatment protocol.…”

“…Interestingly, the oral consumption of Ganga river water, reported to contain over two-hundred isolates of phages, demonstrated clinical benefits in psoriatic patients who were previously refractory to prescription medication [21]. Patients with chronic psoriasis underwent two Ganga water protocols: Ganga water was first consumed for two weeks followed by two weeks of rest and was then consumed for four weeks followed by four weeks of rest.…”

“…In contrast to the first treatment protocol, however, relapse did not occur following one month of water consumption followed by one month of rest. The authors thereby concluded that Ganga water may be used for the therapeutic management of psoriasis with a consumption of at least four weeks [21]. Future research is necessary to determine the optimal phage cocktail recipe and the optimal phage cocktail protocol for the treatment of psoriasis.…”