2 i( N, m1 b, b' o' R0 grs238848.rs.hosteurope.de ! D( d8 T3 e2 dWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 4 M% U4 m3 G" c" Krs238848.rs.hosteurope.de( o2 F: K1 ]! n7 q
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. % g2 i5 }+ k- g" U2 P& L8 O5 [1 y" c* o0 P# ]) D
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de# }) B+ E: v+ ]9 s0 b
7 N& h7 F% A" P7 D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. ; w, w9 I) W* P* J. G* v8 U' Z$ S* W$ A% } X2 L# U5 \
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.