$ M- | s* B* P% f + H+ j) c; m# W) D! h( t8 tWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 ! q2 N6 R$ t+ A' {' L : F3 {, F/ f0 m2 F8 JLeeches 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 n. @1 K" r, v0 e! w2 B
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.# j p" o0 z& d, \
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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. * w; }) Z; p- P) J : @4 K2 K9 c3 E2 q5 e7 Z- m* G9 KDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.