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。 : U" c) i/ ]4 S' P7 ^" M( o & P: L& r+ X' d' X+ K9 ~* r 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。 7 @, p* _' O( W& w: Trs238848.rs.hosteurope.de8 r9 r$ U. T' H1 ]- i
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。 $ I3 f2 ` n) _ ?6 O! l9 F* C& Q ! X8 K8 [: u. G" v6 I% b人在德国 社区 * H2 k* j" [( } - H- [; S$ b7 ]5 ?' \* d& s7 Mrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de + X8 v8 e( m2 a" _$ T# k ; z, D5 n4 e# J* k7 R# Z% DWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区2 R* H. {7 w' S* e0 ?8 l ]5 B
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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. + c1 M" Q! f' X+ u; ]! A: ~4 N8 Q! Z$ s$ x: i- \
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ! V* q3 B G! J% _% B z2 `! P9 X: M3 a % I3 w5 {2 l/ yrs238848.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.& s6 y9 E9 w3 R; h# q4 D- G! Q: A
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.