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。$ m, V8 [+ V3 w4 f. I+ X7 E) a
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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。 5 C$ j! V/ B+ ]4 W人在德国 社区 5 X1 ~! z. a+ \; }( f人在德国 社区 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。 ; B- {6 f/ J4 l# q7 P( P人在德国 社区; Q+ g6 J* P6 d" z Y 4 V1 X* h1 a) S1 ]5 k人在德国 社区 6 [# p6 Z0 n: ]5 \0 x4 N9 K( c ) E! `! m4 Y- I7 l. t; n人在德国 社区 4 u6 R- X0 B |& ]8 sWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区( ~7 N% H2 E9 W! L4 w* }0 l& T
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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.1 ] Y0 W" S: B9 t2 h9 K* _ ]" z
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de. x4 g2 i) |1 b d' ?
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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.- u/ ^. ]: m' Q) j5 x* l
* F6 t, \& Q/ y8 c4 HDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.