4 J- G. ^3 [* j' l9 j- qWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 + V7 A9 A* n. ~rs238848.rs.hosteurope.ders238848.rs.hosteurope.de' ]. H2 Z" N: s
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. 4 b3 {' n3 ~& i) T2 E: r L% h 3 U0 y6 _- d, Y2 v人在德国 社区The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ! c5 Q0 f1 i' J; j: T$ J7 l人在德国 社区2 c. u% E, T. w2 ?) P6 r2 A
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. $ G2 y+ }3 m4 t; c/ W- N4 L! f+ k8 M* x0 \9 s' p4 S
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.