9 |/ J; P( V- s9 S. |$ }3 g: E( w1 ]) ]Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区' O- j `7 U# e# U
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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. 6 ]( {' k2 w; }, u7 ]7 ]4 d: J, m9 E: N
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ! i1 C8 m$ b. {/ k9 V {) ?! trs238848.rs.hosteurope.de' S3 @ L; V; ~9 O6 z- D8 `1 I
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.* h# P a' O+ a
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.