8 G1 H# W" j; y) `' a) oWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011' |+ w& F2 }2 s) ?1 Q5 {
( }7 o2 X# A+ V% E. }9 g) Y6 z& v# DLeeches 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. 0 X9 X3 K5 M' krs238848.rs.hosteurope.de. \- n8 w' ?/ K. S% D: l
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. + \. J& D+ o6 h7 u( L; D% \rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de 4 d1 f$ d% N3 ^( H; [! Jrs238848.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. 9 x4 N7 C5 I% b" r; p6 U1 e : ~ K3 c* J, u. ~7 sDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.