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。 + ], W7 O5 G, A- Q' w2 }$ @& g& j8 u" `* j5 L3 C
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。 ( o! V3 D7 W2 d' X/ C4 K 5 c1 ?' k- i; b6 ~8 | h0 R5 q6 S5 U 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。 7 C( w' i, m* Q5 h $ f% R7 w. N8 X6 {人在德国 社区人在德国 社区" A. G m. K. f* X5 z
9 D2 x4 y. O2 k8 ], R0 xrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de1 @! W' |6 {* R% i
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de; M+ {- t$ G2 a: }2 S X1 l7 _( R
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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. + G2 B, X5 f- m& E0 G人在德国 社区 ! n% i: \" r DThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.人在德国 社区2 P Y6 x+ I+ e( ~" e; h1 ^
' S, ? \ Q7 K( G. ?$ _人在德国 社区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.8 h0 F6 h4 L+ R& O. j
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.