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。- W' h* k) @' G8 u$ n5 l* @
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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。人在德国 社区, |! \& u `) i
. |& {7 r- s9 U" N L+ p9 qrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de 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。 6 L9 l1 N9 N0 [* y3 I$ W人在德国 社区6 R# \+ `" j- M- b: A 8 R' g+ Y5 J3 _6 P% D' p
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011. b3 B, u5 s3 L# |( u& b. X, I/ ]
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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. ( d( q. ] j; Q, l* X7 t人在德国 社区; |( v% H. F# E; v, n/ k& R
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de/ A6 s, S% C- C0 [4 o- n
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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. 7 z; w) r/ L3 ]. z. z8 s, ]rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de `8 B5 {& c; W* J
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.