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。" S2 y8 v8 G2 G( b1 x
+ Y2 j( j+ Z! r" G2 N/ M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。8 c: ]8 j% f* m6 [) \4 H
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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。rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de$ ^( J. w ~1 o: q& U
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区# X1 i3 j( {4 {/ Y) v/ i5 ~
[: I2 E/ w ^" qLeeches 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. % @+ c$ E) p6 C: `* N* t $ n! |& H. n0 O5 I) FThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de/ o# `# ~8 J, E3 {- |
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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.人在德国 社区$ t7 U7 v- Z" N6 h1 O; a: E
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.