: s( k1 Y, M7 RWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011$ O: [' L: V7 d& @4 `( B- n7 X
6 y( H4 I5 M8 g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. 4 p1 ?% t1 B) D( X; X/ r人在德国 社区2 J: X! ^/ n* F; r+ a5 f
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.. W \+ F9 S4 z# `& L" c ^: r
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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.人在德国 社区) [4 A2 D* W* R9 o. {" u
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.