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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 20112 _0 }, E- f( o) F b, e2 J
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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. , T4 E9 P8 C8 R% N: K3 y% m( J& G9 ~
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.1 F$ k4 T" D# h o6 z$ e
( F7 G$ s) ^* x" Rrs238848.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.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de8 c. v3 T+ x4 \! }
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.