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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011. S* {2 S5 T S, K: P w( h
a# a9 h1 j Q; qLeeches 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. % y- X$ E' g$ R } f& ~# ? - E1 R: i+ `5 e' K: ?The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.4 g9 {' N% H* `$ o. }
1 R/ V- s: l( h! d: e2 b2 p2 _0 _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 r+ n$ e8 C- U# d5 g* @, S
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.