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。 ; E6 H4 j' u. k3 ?$ H: k: o5.35.249.645.35.249.642 }; K5 ?+ v4 ^* r
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。人在德国 社区, T9 q1 x& F7 x0 ]6 _. T
2 V% \& G5 S3 u. u" E& } 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/ H5 w" @: [" ]4 g1 [
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2 X) g6 x& s8 h3 lWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011; _8 w( g, f" J1 ?6 {* h6 P4 ]1 x
$ ?( x* i; o" ]. W( p) F人在德国 社区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.' h9 {; g2 r l% f4 @3 K4 ^* a u
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.人在德国 社区! N& L+ x Z7 S: S. }2 F
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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.5.35.249.64( ?9 `& d" Q4 K7 s5 w; G
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.