% t, g0 c2 Y! j: x# iWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011. B' j2 H% _6 {+ K) o7 x
: U. ?1 z4 n0 c9 R4 O
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.+ j! z4 M' O$ Y* Q* o; d) ~8 o
0 E% o3 X3 k4 r. Q
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.* D7 |/ ~0 D P+ `- B* o1 t6 W8 f( D
+ f& Q8 r- a. T' k: M `rs238848.rs.hosteurope.deThat 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 I( H5 P. n J5 \, S* C) ~ 0 e* D* f2 k. T- m' v, T5 E5 t+ PDamien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.