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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 9 W+ V+ c2 E2 P8 m( u+ Y' l ) ~- u- V/ t L! |$ BLeeches 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. ! F W! b; E/ i- \$ \& E2 L* J7 T/ I; t" _8 q1 w! L8 ?& L5 r
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.2 a q! w" A' O1 w
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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. 3 e/ P4 t3 l1 R9 e' ~+ r# ~+ `$ @; a r' Z
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.