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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 ' E" `9 Z, L8 u1 D/ T3 b0 G8 O @+ L1 u$ {4 R+ ?$ T9 b! {% H' T! {
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. ) b' r! o0 N/ Z$ Q: r" l" v5 {! _! m
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 8 Z/ M! a; n" K K# G; M- t9 W* }! D d( N3 n3 R1 f# a* Q+ y6 mThat 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. - U7 k" j0 d4 _6 X, Y' v" A; Grs238848.rs.hosteurope.de* ~8 E" g% N2 l$ Q& V! p0 P3 V
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.