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: S# J, U; a" m人在德国 社区Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 \7 a; h6 R1 Y1 X: P' F人在德国 社区 ) H# \3 ^) h5 M O& i: m# t/ z1 hLeeches 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. $ }( o% j* D! S% f人在德国 社区% e! d: b3 S/ f T, J, ~8 _
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. & ]- A$ x+ d( ?+ {人在德国 社区7 p9 H$ `( s A" `. S
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 |: u8 h! b. p- ~2 o6 u5 C
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.