# q. ~ R# c2 F; W* Q4 u9 [rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de % `% d% X# t5 mWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 8 B/ @! H$ T7 q$ k2 v& b$ ~rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de# i) [; s/ m9 ]4 P: D! R; [) U
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.人在德国 社区( A( H6 ]& A5 g
rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de, Q" j" E+ \1 T4 g" M/ R
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 3 s6 B0 q w8 W2 n' u/ x8 e( ?7 q/ K. J5 R+ p1 z/ s" 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.6 c6 J4 T% J1 O0 |5 j$ e4 c
8 u( n9 r" Z6 z# E2 o. j人在德国 社区Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.