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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011* \, {; J4 _% k) X+ a1 {4 G+ E0 Y% d
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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.人在德国 社区: l7 y9 b6 Z" e& {1 z, K4 C
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ) S; F) _2 O/ Y( T. h2 B8 K h* N9 J ' L4 z; ?+ R# V$ [( K% Y9 _人在德国 社区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.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de. e" o) @) f# y y
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.