In this post we will focus on “leech treatment” and “benefits of leech therapy”.

What is Leech Therapy?

What is medical leech therapy (MLT)?:

Leech therapy(hirudotherapy), in addition to being used effectively in many diseases thanks to the enzyme secreted by the leech, can also be applied to every healthy person in order to protect health.

How does leech therapy work?

Why are leeches helpful? Leeches have many benefits during treatment, thanks to the active substances contained in the enzymes they secrete. When leeches adhere to human skin or mucous membranes, they secrete a blood-thinning substance called hirudin from their salivary glands. The secretion of leeches called hirudin reduces clotting factors in humans and causes bleeding. Additionally, leeches contain a histamine-like substance in their saliva, which allows the capillaries in humans to open. At the same time, leeches secrete an anesthetic substance to reduce pain where they bite.

The therapeutic feature is not in the leech’s ability to absorb blood, but in the secretion it gives to the body. This secretion contains more than 100 bioactive substances. The substances of this epidemic are inhibitors of blood clotting (antiplatelet), dissolvers of formed clots (fibrinolytic), pain reliever (analgesic-antirheumatic), germicide (antibacterial), blood pressure stabilizer (antihypertensive), muscle relaxant (myorelaxant), immune system regulator (immune modulator). It has stress relieving (anxiolytic) effects. These substances are also enzymes that accelerate the repair of nerve cells and fibers.

History of Leech Therapy

For centuries, leeches have become a focus of medical attention due to the diseases they cause, as well as being used in the treatment of many diseases by humans. First in B.C. It has been observed that Laodicea, the student of Asclepiodcs, the founder of the methodical system in the 50th century and known as the rival of Hippocrates, included opinions about the use of leeches in medicine in her records. Later, it is said that leeches were used in the treatment of many diseases in China in the 10th century. Leeches, which first came into medical use in Europe in the 15th century, became so popular in the 19th century that 41 million leeches were imported to France in 1833 to be used in the treatment of various diseases. In a short time, this became a branch of industry and large leech farms were established in Europe. During these periods, it was argued that leeches were effective in removing excess blood or poisonous blood from the body in many diseases, from a simple cold to cancers, from non-healing ulcers to heart failure.

As a result;  the answer of the “How old is leech therapy?” is about 3500 years.

What Is Leech Therapy Good For?

Why do doctors use leeches? Here are the benefits of leech therapy:

• It accelerates blood flow by diluting the blood.
• It is effective in problems such as blood clotting and vascular occlusion.
• With the formation of new blood, oxygenation in the tissues increases.
• With the excretion of toxins and heavy metals, a detox effect occurs and relief is provided.
• It relieves pain complaints and relaxes muscles.
• It is beneficial for heart health and circulation.
• It beautifies the skin with its anti-aging effect and adds shine and freshness.
• It provides fitness by increasing body resistance.
• It restores the body’s internal balance, called homeostasis.
• It is good for stress, depression and anxiety disorders with its antidepressant effect.
• It has positive effects on the digestive system and liver.
• It balances blood pressure by regulating blood pressure.
• Thanks to its neurotrophic effect, it is used in the repair of nerve cells.

What is leech therapy used for?/ What are the benefits of leech therapy?

Leeches used for medical purposes in many circulatory system diseases with artery, vein and capillary occlusions,

•  In inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint rheumatism,
•  In types of epilepsy
• In soft tissue rheumatism
• Paralysis, partial paralysis
• In skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema
• Hemorrhoids
• Eye pressure (glaucoma)
• Migraine and all kinds of headaches
• Burn cases, non-healing wounds and surgery scars, gangrene and some hearing disorders
• It is widely used all over the world within the scope of orthopedics and plastyl-reconstructive surgery.

Use Of Leech In Medicine (Medical applications for leech therapy)

Today, H.medidnalis, called the medical leech, is used in modern medicine, especially in plastic surgery, vascular surgery and varicose vein treatment. The purpose of use is the ability of leeches to solve the disorders caused by the accumulation of venous blood. Leeches prevent blood accumulation in the veins without disrupting the arterial circulation. After the area where there is a risk of dirty blood accumulation during application is cleaned with antiseptics. The leech is attached to the skin with a sweet solution such as 5% glucose solution. After it is held on, it is expected that it will stop feeding and fall on its own. The leech sucks 20-60 cc of blood in 10-20 minutes, removes the water and NaCl from the blood, and increases to 2-6 times its normal weight with the concentrated blood. If the bleeding continues for 1-2 hours after the leech falls, it will continue to have a positive effect on removing dirty blood. Applying leeches to areas where blood accumulates for 5 days results in a decrease of approximately 1-2 grams in hemoglobin.

Diseases Caused by Leeches