LEECHES | BREEDING | TREATMENT
 

         LEECHES

Leeches are a gift of nature that may help people to surmount numerous health disorders. The secretion of leech saliva contains about 100 biologically active substances having favourable effect on human organism. These substances reduce blood coagulation, dissolve thrombi, reduce cholesterol and sugar content in blood, have antiphlogistic and anaesthetic effects, decrease blood-pressure, improve the immune system, diminish edemas and improve microcirculation.

Medicinal leech - Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758 – is a bilaterally symmetrical annelid worm of a rather complex structure, which according to the features of embryo development belongs to the group of protostome, coleomate, trochophore animals.

A body of annelid worm consists of many segments. The segmentation asserts itself not only in the outward, but also in the internal structure. These worms have a well-developed blood circulation; segmentally set eliminative organs– nephridiums, nervous system –a typical ventral nervous cord. Annelid worms have the secondary body cavity - coelom, which is also segmented. Annelid worms’ body is flattened dorsoventrally.

Leeches living at large are predators or temporal ectoparasites. During blood sucking they stick to the animals. Some species of leeches live in fresh waters, the others- in the sea or on the land.

         BREEDING

Reproduction of medicinal leeches is a long and complex process. Like other leech species, medicinal leeches are hermaphroditic, but reproduce only by cross-fertilization. They do not exhibit direct development - the larvae hatch and for some time remain within the cocoon where they undergo metamorphosis. When the juvenile leeches leave the cocoon, they already have a species-specific pigmentation, are very lively and can live independently.

Leech Cocoons

Newly hatched leeches are picked up from the boxes

Juvenile leeches

Each box is carefully inspected

         LEECH THERAPY

Patients who have already tried this method of treatment report improvements in sleep quality, mood, work capacity and increased energy levels. When a leech is applied to biologically active areas of the human body, the bite itself gives a positive effect similar to reflexotherapy. The substances relieved with leech saliva have an effect on the entire body, not just one particular organ or symptom. For example, if leeches are used to treat patients suffering from varicose veins, they also cause a simultaneous decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve mood and digestive tract function, heal hemorrhoids. This may sound quite incredible, but it’s true.

When does disease begin? When a cell gets sick. And a healthy cell gets sick when it is deprived of needed oxygen and nutrition, and cannot clear toxins out. Biologically active substances in leech saliva help the cells to absorb the necessary nutrition and to eliminate toxic waste. Therefore, there is a long list of diseases that can be treated by this method. First of all, leeches are particularly useful in treating a number of cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, atherosclerosis, hypercoagulation, stenocardia, myocardial infarct, varicose veins, arterial blood flow disorders in lower limbs and their complications, such as trophic lesions and oedemas. The healing qualities of leeches are also helpful in gynaecology – they reduce various inflammation processes in the uterus and its adnexa, and can be useful in cases of ovarian cysts, endometriosis, climacteric syndrome, various adhesions in the pelvis, and even in cases of frigidity, infertility and mastopathy. For men, the application of leeches is successful in treating prostate and scrotum diseases, erectile dysfunctions, bladder and urinary tract inflammations. Good results can be achieved using leeches to treat headache of various origin, even migraine. Neurologists should consider leech therapy in the treatment of neuritis, neuralgia, radiculitis, spinal disorders (disc hernias), brain atherosclerosis, pre-stroke condition and stroke.

Since substances contained in leech saliva can lower blood sugar levels and improve pancreatic function, leeches can be effectively used in the integrated treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Many of the benefits of leech therapy derive from the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of leech secretion that can be applied in treatment of ear, nose & throat (ENT) diseases, various skin diseases (teen acne, abscesses, eczemas, erysipelas, psoriases), as well as in the treatment of allergic diseases of respiratory tract (bronchial asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia).

Leeches are especially valuable in surgery. If a leech is attached immediately after any surgical intervention, it stimulates a quicker healing of the wound and prevents the formation of large scars and adhesions. A further benefit of leeches is that they can serve as first aid remedy for joint sprain, strain or injury. They also speed the healing of broken bones.

This list of diseases and conditions that can be cured using leeches is far from being complete. In view of the curative effects of biologically active leech substances, specialists in any medical fields may consider including leech therapy in the treatment of their patients.

However, leech therapy is contraindicated in the treatment of certain medical conditions and diseases. These include decreased blood clotting, hemophilia, severe anemia, hypotension, pregnancy, general fatigue, allergy to leeches, active tuberculosis, mental disorders (during acute episodes), high temperature, ulcero-necrotic processes in the intestinal tract. Also, a leech may not attach to an extremely fearful patient. Therefore, before going to the hirudotherapist try to calm down and think that those tiny natural creatures will do you much more good than a few handfuls of chemical medicines.

Another advantage is that leech therapy has a long-term effect. In cases of chronic diseases, the course of treatment should be repeated after 4 - 6 months, whereas in most of acute cases, one course is usually sufficient. The older the disease, the longer treatment is required, more leeches are needed, and it takes longer to achieve the desired effect.

A leech bite is similar to a mosquito sting. A leech, however, really bites as it has hundreds of tiny teeth, and when it starts injecting biologically active substances into a human body, a slight or moderate burning or stinging sensation is often felt. This lasts up to 5-10 minutes until a leech starts sucking blood and all unpleasant sensations disappear. When satiated, a leech detaches itself or is removed and immediately disposed of. No leech is ever used on more than one patient to prevent the spread of blood borne infections.

For medical purposes, only farm-raised medicinal leeches can be used, as on leech farms the highest hygienic standards are observed, and bacteriological tests of leeches and water in which they breed are regularly performed. This strict quality control ensures that the patient receives safe and effective medical product.

Nature has endowed leeches with a wonderful feature to suck blood. In return for that they inject into a human body a valuable range of natural medicines without side effects. The use of medicinal leeches, like other forms of natural medicine, is now re-entering the mainstream of modern medical practice.

- Up -