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Treatment with leeches has been used around the world since time immemorial. Medicinal leeches were already successfully used by the Egyptians. Find out about the benefits of hirudotherapy. Is treatment with leeches safe?

There are over 650 species of leeches in the world, 24 of which in Poland. Only one of them is used in human medicine ( medicinal leeches ) -Hirudo medicinalis . Hence the common name oftreatment with leeches-hirudotherapy . In 2005, the American Food Agency recognized it as the official treatment method.

Treatment with leeches

For hirudotherapy, medicinal leeches from sterile cultures in laboratories are used. Leeches are placed on he althy, undamaged skin, near the treatment site. The leech bite is practically painless, because the leech also produces, among others, substances that desensitize the skin, cause vasodilation and inhibit the multiplication of bacteria. When the leech is "in place", it releases many active therapeutic enzymes into the human body, including hirudin, which thins the blood. In addition, the patient receives a dose of medicinal ingredients with antibiotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and blood pressure regulating properties. Scientific research confirms that the substances found in the salivary glands of leeches have an anti-cancer effect.

Leeches treatment: beneficial hirudo compounds

In the secretion of leeches, there are hi-compounds valuable for the organism. They actively work on the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Thanks to them, medicinal leeches have a strong anticoagulant and anticoagulant effect. They influence the regulation of blood pressure. They stimulate the entire circulatory system and increase the weakened immune defense of the body. The effective application of hirudotherapy is in the treatment of: varicose veins, "spider veins", thrombophlebitis, leg ulcers or "diabetic foot". In addition, treatment with leeches is used, among others in: non-healing wounds, headaches, migraines, joint pains, in reimplantations (transplants), liver, kidney and heart diseases, rheumatism and in people with high cholesterol, as well as in edema or hematomas. And also with other diseases of the 21st century.

What are the contraindications tohirudotherapy?

Leeches treatment: contraindications - surely people suffering from anemia and blood clotting disorders cannot use this method. Pregnant women and people with low blood pressure are also excluded. Before starting treatment with leeches, it is important to have up-to-date blood tests, which should be performed according to the indications of the hirudotherapist.

What diseases do leeches help with? Explains the dermatologist and allergist, Dr. Danuta Mył

Source: x-news.pl/Dzień Dobry TVN

Treatment with leeches: how to prepare for hirudotherapy

Before the designated day of therapy with medicinal leeches, do not eat garlic and onions or too spicy food. On the day of the hirudotherapy treatment, it is best to use unscented soap for washing. During treatment with leeches, no creams or lotions should be applied to the skin, and perfumed waters should not be used. Medicinal leeches "do not like" irritating odors. On the day on which the procedure was performed, you should rest more and limit your physical activity. The place from which the leech sucked blood is covered with a dressing that should be kept for several hours.

Hirudotherapy: how long does the treatment with leeches take

The procedure itself takes about an hour. The hirudotherapist indicates the time and number of treatments. As a rule, subsequent leech therapies are carried out at weekly intervals. It is worth remembering that treatment with leeches is not a panacea for all ailments. However, the growing group of supporters of treatment with leeches - both doctors, hirudotherapists and patients - supported by "high-profile" cure cases described in the media, makes more and more people willing to choose it. In Poland, treatment with leeches can only be used in private offices and clinics.

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Source: x-news.pl/Dzień Dobry TVN

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Alternative medicine