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。 1 U, [. b4 [5 B9 Q2 ]1 V( J人在德国 社区( M3 J, h# r- K h
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。人在德国 社区& A7 a& ~0 p3 x1 p
* m3 v) g9 l+ s/ y$ j% }4 K
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。 ; o7 N+ }! |. Frs238848.rs.hosteurope.de2 }4 X( s4 ]% _ 8 ]" c9 B# R& L
人在德国 社区- w$ c' q5 ]4 U4 A6 R7 W+ r" o2 L
! P: H4 n0 ]0 j* r) W4 i + m2 m) y2 H, u( N x9 _2 O4 G b" WWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 3 J$ \1 v/ v- M0 o- j + E2 R" g. Q. e" Z人在德国 社区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.! t9 q5 u% T* ^& @; `
6 j+ S6 d: A; ^( ^9 p# uThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.2 Q: o; ^# x& M2 h, T A
: e; z5 x/ m, N% U' _' ^7 M; q
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 f* F/ H- M* N# i5 g& n5 ?* g" z
8 J+ ?$ y) B. [2 k1 T$ s8 Q/ QDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.