前苏联共合国乔治亚这一阵子流行用水蛭治疗疾病,以往欧洲人会用水蛭治疗痔疮,乔治亚人把这项疗法发扬光大,用来治疗其他疾病。人在德国 社区8 [5 d( o! b+ d5 p( A1 b
2 K. P4 K- m' s- C) A: x 乔治亚很多诊所都提供水蛭疗法,病人得先跟诊所买一只水蛭,更年期妇女先把水蛭放在脖子上,经过一、二十分钟,水蛭吸完血,身体膨胀4倍,就可以取下,接着医师再把另外2只水蛭放在这名妇女上下牙龈上,等吸完血再取出,医师在患者伤口上贴上绷带,就算完成治疗。接受过治疗的妇女说,她们在更年期会出现的潮红和盗汗都有明显改善。5.35.249.640 \! W% c8 u: ]+ }! _ P
' L' K0 o2 v$ @& a6 g人在德国 社区 另外,有一些高血压或是经常性头痛病人,也会用水蛭疗法降低血压,或是治疗头痛。一名医师说,不但乔治亚人用水蛭治病,乌克兰、波兰、甚至德国,也有不少人接受这种疗法。人在德国 社区1 d8 Q! `4 [7 ^1 @: A, A& }
5.35.249.64+ ]9 v, P+ _0 C$ t& b- q6 v# s 8 i( G* |0 c( ?8 O6 O6 z( x 9 J; A6 J( o1 ]: T! i- H# ]5 x. I人在德国 社区 + ]0 y' k, T; y; }$ _# F! {( q# T
Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011: F6 w) B$ P! z/ C5 l* W) x7 l
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Leeches have been used in medicine for thousands of years. By attaching themselves to the body, and sucking blood from a patient, they were thought to bring health benefits. 8 T; p1 h, c2 }' j2 z8 x# [; E6 O) u* L8 h: S' a8 b
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. G1 ?) V# Y" X+ x$ o' k* T6 A* `" z8 |
That idea fell out of fashion during the 20th century, with the discovery of modern drugs. But today, as interest in traditional medicine grows, they are making a comeback - particularly in the former Soviet State of Georgia.人在德国 社区2 m) d8 N& A* v- P7 {* Z! l8 b r" d
8 ^/ |$ ]3 G8 N5 ~/ y! G3 S5.35.249.64Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.