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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de; t$ e/ U. x8 f( c
1 J0 v, h; g7 h" T% H5 kLeeches 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. 0 K+ p) t8 |+ @! k7 N* ~3 N - I0 {% b: j# }5 Y, S: k- Y3 ^' dThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.% }8 \( b; _! o. I
4 ^/ L& T6 C( _2 }) ZThat 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.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de5 W* R) i( v, Z1 c, N! V
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.