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。 ( H: {2 \6 R4 b8 k- B8 C8 u 5 {5 o7 z/ G: A 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。rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de. k) [+ h5 Y {8 L6 M8 h2 e
( K2 F# d( O+ t/ C' p5 R+ _ 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。 A- Q, @- ^4 w* q" Q4 d" h9 t; E9 v2 ^. n" s3 s % i5 |7 X+ _- R O
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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 7 C! o* t7 w& H, \人在德国 社区 3 `! w" [6 I, {) W7 t* g1 _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. ) ^9 M3 H- E+ B9 e. c2 z; `人在德国 社区) D; ]- x& c7 i
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 4 Y3 x' J8 z* D- x, B; Brs238848.rs.hosteurope.de0 X" {& H/ ~0 b! A* n. l- \, @( w* `
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 K5 I$ b5 C. u [# S/ y
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Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.