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。; P' ^* Q: [" q& {
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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。 4 P9 P z1 S$ B% P& y7 L人在德国 社区 ( G' Q# E6 ^ B% x n3 ]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。 2 Y% J6 n. o& y: j9 I4 p6 U1 k人在德国 社区 # y& |' L: p+ j2 ]* d: a' I7 z/ t5 g5 R: R
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0 t2 `4 P7 r! a: m o+ N W, b4 a+ U 8 K& J; j) _+ x. F2 E* rWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011% _3 s3 I, v) A( A
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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. 4 C# z. r% _6 p$ P+ ` 8 B! p3 Z4 y1 I5 xThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ) f, G' r* t: A+ E; N人在德国 社区4 c2 |" U& T/ s3 k1 \
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. & j( h, N& N$ z# B $ R4 ~0 @/ l0 ?9 \( Ors238848.rs.hosteurope.deDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.