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, K' T- M- F+ b* U; D# SWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 ; k; v7 q4 M7 d - Z$ }- ?5 ~1 i" W8 nLeeches 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.人在德国 社区; X% D ]+ J- J
+ ?9 t' I" w5 B* EThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 2 h8 w; P1 h4 i% m人在德国 社区; @5 S! n; f+ P. s: ?7 V0 P2 L
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. + F2 `% j6 X8 X$ q' |/ W, f ; |4 X- U. r7 J) n: B' h9 D1 EDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.