& Y$ Z; b' T$ }9 J1 i) q0 tWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 20116 d6 K9 W6 g( r6 S: n. `
) I' o; d/ |: t* b' h9 iLeeches 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. , v3 ^6 r1 L$ W2 n7 g人在德国 社区) X5 ]' D% t) V5 R# J0 M
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de7 o! i- X" D+ P) O0 y- r1 G
* c4 t/ S7 l# T x% S% P" [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.6 s9 q9 y! }8 C5 t/ d9 g/ v$ o4 x1 S7 `
! x6 Y; s8 U* G( K& DDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.