2 I! @9 y, b7 X6 W# |8 HWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 : G& v1 \7 O: D v) v: H 2 k) n; n2 l1 u7 c* A6 CLeeches 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. ( b- c0 J. b- Q: d# p4 W 8 g4 \+ J) P9 ^6 N$ h7 F: B# W8 E9 h人在德国 社区The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. " Y4 P! J; z/ w5 M$ mrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de7 ?3 t: F) U0 N) u5 d) Z
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. ) C: h" h* h5 ~. Z- i1 I- d! \/ v4 C* E/ X/ m( i! g: n
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.