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。 1 m% W7 m) k. }" K8 ~/ H. U人在德国 社区0 N/ z7 |4 l, M- A
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。8 v: h R+ G. \9 Q& G4 N9 S
5 L9 |: C) |. G$ I/ B, ?( t w: ~Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 # ^+ n3 q7 |; f! f人在德国 社区$ e8 y' }" @- ]- C" D0 j7 K9 s6 L
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.- c0 T O0 d1 }0 h. H: Z+ ?, j
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.& b. T. `& Q i
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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.9 d6 U( v9 v$ c# g/ e# z
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.