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。& P6 |6 f, V. Y8 w
人在德国 社区/ u7 p ?7 G$ D8 n! e3 h
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。 * \) E. g. Q: i, s* B Q: C; w u + h( X6 x$ L' D. r1 M/ o 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。 . Y4 Y$ m( n& m % R! h7 q) x; _ D% ^- P1 L $ ]) Q% \" y% [3 ] - s, P$ J! j$ I* R$ A! B, c+ k 8 e; T$ O* P) y2 c0 h 1 R* P. {: y3 QWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 / {( X! V8 z8 O9 Z4 { % X& u; A% G4 I& prs238848.rs.hosteurope.deLeeches 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.! ~6 u, @2 c3 R9 e) b7 Z
( o- e9 x% n6 \" A) d( j! Ers238848.rs.hosteurope.deThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 2 }2 ?7 C9 }" I: s: ]9 r6 A& _5 @0 `( U Y
That 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 `4 ?4 W; c' K/ y% \rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de J( Y+ Q$ p+ j$ c( g- \rs238848.rs.hosteurope.deDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.