% U8 K& A# d# E" @& S : \, C5 |# Q; C4 @ B# M 6 F4 G j( d( }. ~2 B9 p/ S$ N 7 i+ ]9 S) d% q* r: r; M: K( T! F. l9 P; C. n) X
Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011. n) @3 t g6 p- \
* ~! z: S8 L; wLeeches 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.人在德国 社区- o* Z. @! G) h8 ?
. A( O# p- T+ {; R' F' @人在德国 社区The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de0 F7 L3 j+ d1 |) q- z, ~ w
* Q) a6 ?1 b7 S1 Mrs238848.rs.hosteurope.deThat 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.8 x [ V, P" B" U8 ?, O
+ R& Z% B8 T0 o
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.