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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区. h: Y# N8 Z& W$ j5 g
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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.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de' x7 ]* e& P$ l* b0 ^) y
1 G: U v0 e) w6 i) cThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.7 {5 `# {% r! L% C( r: f/ T$ N+ ?
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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. 0 s8 ]) \7 |& v5 Z" c) K; k$ G 9 Q1 e! T1 D- [+ p' S; pDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.