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 D* d' y( l; Y) ^& m ) v. e. t! l Y) U, Trs238848.rs.hosteurope.de 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。3 N ~" p3 v3 n Z$ Y
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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。 " ]' _" v( i& U6 [人在德国 社区 9 Y. I3 i3 S9 Z+ e * v' [/ U5 }6 r, V- g' X ) S1 F) }; r4 o8 K $ g( A N9 F8 K& @/ h+ F y9 _3 p: C+ A2 K' s) {# nWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011人在德国 社区; M" A$ D+ x) ^ v
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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. 0 m' I# E: R/ i; S! b$ w人在德国 社区人在德国 社区- ?+ ?* g3 K# M
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ' i- H: B: |. c人在德国 社区; {1 ^9 `5 x" m( ~
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.6 _) r; C2 N* P* O
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.