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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 ) h# i8 k- s6 H3 B* q: Xrs238848.rs.hosteurope.ders238848.rs.hosteurope.de* {. Q) H' z" G( |' h' K) g/ e
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. , Z+ r2 V9 r: ?1 @. G6 Qrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de ! B0 H2 g+ }7 Z) _6 Zrs238848.rs.hosteurope.deThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 0 j i% a L- r' Z $ N& i( v8 b% \0 R. c5 y% XThat 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. : z# U4 Y& F8 C" {6 `1 F: V. M: c
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.