' J" e2 N- z& K3 |0 y: Wrs238848.rs.hosteurope.deWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 ( P, x4 t/ u% [* }) T! g8 W: k# ^0 K: }* K; o j* {- x
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. 3 q* y" k# a$ o2 L: S. ]/ g5 u & I$ O. N- _' _! E p8 JThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. $ t5 @- W( z* e2 u4 B " s: x; ~/ W, B+ ~5 i+ MThat 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. $ P1 ~7 L/ P+ v; q* J% H$ ^! E7 S: r7 ~, T$ V
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.