: X9 _) t ? E d* N" y. WWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011$ L9 Q# V1 J' }3 X; t: G) f( u
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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. . z( n% K. M/ t5 Z. b& w! e7 E' Z& ]4 Z( H+ _
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 1 s7 G# r! \2 T) X( ]( O& e3 V' rrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de人在德国 社区6 V) f7 y3 B9 e. g* }
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. 2 m$ r9 v8 R, q b' d3 U人在德国 社区rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de" r' h+ A) ~% z9 w4 J' u
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.