i1 U$ k$ d6 zWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011! m* G' y0 O2 c
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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.0 Q5 R; b% N8 M( ^
; v- N# @2 H: W1 O. o7 _" WThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ( r; A. {5 R3 t' F 7 Q! W. e* X4 B# s) y% c' `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.2 W' `) u* ` K9 |; _4 F
! ~" \( r8 ]& m4 r人在德国 社区Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.