- a, {8 N5 m* f$ j+ Y4 s6 d7 f 0 i6 }* i: Z$ e8 \3 P: p % X* e' N8 B( j& S% B人在德国 社区Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区& B- h5 ^/ t" ?
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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. h. o# J( W, y& [' n# u/ N3 f 9 o6 ?1 r7 i* f F( z" i2 EThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.1 S+ ]' O& \" f8 M
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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. * c) M: R6 E% F A! B5 s1 J f8 b
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.