前苏联共合国乔治亚这一阵子流行用水蛭治疗疾病,以往欧洲人会用水蛭治疗痔疮,乔治亚人把这项疗法发扬光大,用来治疗其他疾病。 4 X d6 Q: ~, {9 b' U# J' f ) q$ T! G' ^/ |: E6 Ars238848.rs.hosteurope.de 乔治亚很多诊所都提供水蛭疗法,病人得先跟诊所买一只水蛭,更年期妇女先把水蛭放在脖子上,经过一、二十分钟,水蛭吸完血,身体膨胀4倍,就可以取下,接着医师再把另外2只水蛭放在这名妇女上下牙龈上,等吸完血再取出,医师在患者伤口上贴上绷带,就算完成治疗。接受过治疗的妇女说,她们在更年期会出现的潮红和盗汗都有明显改善。rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de! h1 F! u/ r& W
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另外,有一些高血压或是经常性头痛病人,也会用水蛭疗法降低血压,或是治疗头痛。一名医师说,不但乔治亚人用水蛭治病,乌克兰、波兰、甚至德国,也有不少人接受这种疗法。 & O' H W; `( d* R( ?5 I: Rrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de0 ~" n9 W& G) C1 x J7 r u rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de! k4 {: x2 x# d& U2 y
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 & ~( @" }9 q- z . w+ j& R9 r+ Q0 A" a! f/ D9 d1 H人在德国 社区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.' ]1 n4 @& a: g1 X, ^2 w
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. / E/ U. J; O) Y, M) v, ?# S ) H1 t" S w! C9 j" \( C" hThat 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.9 A' J, }5 v8 s8 {% q. D
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.