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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011* p( x F0 u$ y& C. m! M+ D9 F1 P F
: V! P; F* {) @7 p) N+ kLeeches 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. ( g2 v( q: f4 x, H( a. g; E, W$ l9 J- s( B% ~! G( X
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. + i' C- ?: V/ {. k人在德国 社区' s8 ^) D: @7 ]0 `0 T
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. d. h9 }1 _" h4 C2 h1 `2 V/ `/ C( g
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.