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。0 N. i D3 r) C+ d. ?+ c+ I$ ~
* A; N6 |& m, J* q4 K人在德国 社区 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。 - j) j; h) p( v ; t' S( Q7 f% z# u" Y 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。" K$ C8 a8 d0 Z9 G4 {
! T- c+ P# ~+ E% P9 t 6 J/ V. O9 A3 Q1 u7 z3 K f& X " J) p7 G7 u2 b. O0 _4 ~ 9 e! j' E3 u% |+ I9 \- }) H# D& R: ` ; _+ j; r4 z2 |5 g x' K& D0 l, VWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 , P* K3 k& i4 K% Y0 f# T* l 0 d1 j! k( s/ ^0 @. oLeeches 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.+ E/ F# C$ Y0 ]
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ) C5 z1 A7 }+ S& K人在德国 社区rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de& h: z9 c# i. \' R4 ^( Z2 y
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.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de' y2 F. b* H) a# U2 y; h
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.