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。 $ Q( p8 e* ?3 @$ Y" C% Y5 P+ t- T' q$ [& Q# A2 t/ @) O3 i- l3 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。 ; c. X- c P: J" `' I人在德国 社区人在德国 社区( N1 r! @$ D0 b$ c! R4 m. a
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。5.35.249.64# }* ^+ A0 B) }! V5 n% g# ?
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011, Z5 k7 B0 N8 C/ Q
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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. 9 J$ R3 t" |+ @; H) b5 i- X 5 c2 y$ l( r& _2 m [5.35.249.64The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 1 `# y" h2 e' ~) ?2 |人在德国 社区' {; p+ T0 r9 B# T$ T5 L a2 ?
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.- v0 ?) | p- T( g
8 [2 z2 }, c7 o9 q% ^Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.