0 N: f( i; E; g' T! r7 v& T! U. j% T2 y1 Z3 G( P
Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de) Q, _/ N) K8 J/ [! f
# d5 m9 n1 }# A4 \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.人在德国 社区5 K/ q3 {' ] {) _) A |
3 G$ `7 I( X2 }* i l W2 JThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.8 J! {/ S7 n4 c
7 s ]% I ?. @' f/ b# s' Y0 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.5 v! b4 W9 V, U# g- K- W
% K8 c- m. L0 Q+ m1 w+ Crs238848.rs.hosteurope.deDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.