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。 " e+ W6 z- d5 a" w# `& t3 |! O
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。 3 q3 o8 ^1 |$ F9 `* I, t. W+ n 6 i2 D0 r# t: p2 k+ L! a# R' ]. z0 hrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de 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。* D2 v( E9 i3 v
$ s% P7 }+ b; N # [/ o: h F- T, G. Ers238848.rs.hosteurope.de ) \% w y- F9 H1 E# H ; h E5 e* T% R# J1 T2 g人在德国 社区( o' ? `8 O/ Q. r
Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 # b/ G( T4 b/ ~+ P& k! n5 \! Q3 e2 x2 ^1 m9 ?( u
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.' i, n2 e1 j% F, m* D6 W6 H+ x
rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de" M9 E, v. E4 L U
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.. v9 k) |; ?" X+ P7 o+ {% Z
人在德国 社区" r; H; o! d0 \. J9 u" s- w
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 ^& D2 G9 a+ b4 J
. R( R6 R1 A$ J
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.