前苏联共合国乔治亚这一阵子流行用水蛭治疗疾病,以往欧洲人会用水蛭治疗痔疮,乔治亚人把这项疗法发扬光大,用来治疗其他疾病。& {* ?( q% x6 z
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乔治亚很多诊所都提供水蛭疗法,病人得先跟诊所买一只水蛭,更年期妇女先把水蛭放在脖子上,经过一、二十分钟,水蛭吸完血,身体膨胀4倍,就可以取下,接着医师再把另外2只水蛭放在这名妇女上下牙龈上,等吸完血再取出,医师在患者伤口上贴上绷带,就算完成治疗。接受过治疗的妇女说,她们在更年期会出现的潮红和盗汗都有明显改善。人在德国 社区 ^+ l6 k% p, d! l
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另外,有一些高血压或是经常性头痛病人,也会用水蛭疗法降低血压,或是治疗头痛。一名医师说,不但乔治亚人用水蛭治病,乌克兰、波兰、甚至德国,也有不少人接受这种疗法。" J1 J! a" t. O. A& y
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& V* B; J/ V" b! A8 A% j6 t5 BWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 : b3 \0 G3 w9 \人在德国 社区* U1 _& |: z/ A3 Z
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. 4 r$ i i4 y1 p9 m q! z: K2 _ ' z0 J8 d0 ?; S! @- G2 r人在德国 社区The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.$ ^5 g" v6 t3 Q- V
) O: b. `; m. ars238848.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. 6 ^' K7 ?5 ~) j3 c0 J( k & V$ c5 R/ C0 n/ C+ t- p% ?% VDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.