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。 : i: Q& I8 M F2 P/ J% q" S% w人在德国 社区 : R$ T+ E5 u5 H 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8 N2 O% I" n. r% [! d
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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。 + q4 P: `% b+ h6 @; F: o$ Srs238848.rs.hosteurope.de1 p6 U9 k; c: L" T5 M ! i' Y# d& C. k* n% L% F: m0 l; }% I" O
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 0 x$ u3 k/ R* S4 d, D: N9 E人在德国 社区rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de3 w* l( s8 Y, k/ b, P- W: ?
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.人在德国 社区; ]0 D, V2 T& o
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ; ~; {( p& Q. i人在德国 社区: }( V$ m" _" @5 v. P# j. H) }
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. 4 d; Q3 O) x6 F* z c" L& Ors238848.rs.hosteurope.de+ K s# k: B$ h! r7 q% J( k
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.