3 q7 C9 A9 @( b# X) c! jWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区% f B5 y# z& V% N8 n9 J
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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./ y9 _+ u* }+ r
* k* q! z$ h) oThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. k. g/ b+ J4 K+ _; H7 \: W( O8 p R1 U+ X! 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.$ k8 T- [% }+ b
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.