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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 ' d" @; d: \* K, O% V9 i% _1 l' X5 t% I% L. g$ q+ Q
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.' `* s3 |6 s6 y* |
6 C- Y; ]% Q, v- dThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ; t: P; w! z! j9 `8 L. p( D0 A; v# k6 ~
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.% M/ P6 i6 H8 c, m, v! S2 t
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.