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。 ! Y `' G n% R8 @ 5 Q4 s U% U7 Y! k% l2 L 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。 4 u& K+ g3 G' T2 |2 U3 N Drs238848.rs.hosteurope.de0 }# Q" k y2 B0 W0 Z& `. c1 K: E
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。4 y6 \; K. w6 N5 A- _* x% i
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: h4 a% R) T5 K X3 k) L9 M人在德国 社区 . G9 G4 i2 W" Q2 d+ Y% aWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 8 [) d$ N7 ?9 E) t: d- k , {; ~5 T- O5 C2 N' N% |& }8 }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. 1 Q: G: A$ Y: e T0 ers238848.rs.hosteurope.ders238848.rs.hosteurope.de, @) l% k" G7 o# }% [3 B
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 3 ~& E( S5 c ~8 A @! t5 u人在德国 社区# G' \) h, V4 Z8 i8 L
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.. |8 F# ?, h9 |; H( ]8 E
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.