Hirudotherapy is an alternative medicine method that special medical leeches. They have three jaws, each with about a hundred small sharp teeth, with which the worms pierce the skin.During a session, hirudotherapists place several leeches on a person. One individual can drink about 15 ml of blood. It from 15 to 60 minutes to do this.
Humanity has been familiar with this method of treatment for many thousands of years. For example, in Ancient Egypt, leeches for bloodletting, and the Romans in 130–201 AD used them to restore the balance of so-called humors — special fluids that were previously believed to regulate human health.
Despite the fact that hirudotherapy is considered an alternative medicine method, the Russian Ministry of Health the use of leeches in the list of medical services. And modern clinics periodically offer this procedure to patients. Moreover, in a variety of situations: to alleviate complications of diabetes , with tinnitus, acute and chronic otitis, to reduce joint pain and treat exacerbations of endometriosis, to improve sleep and strengthen the immune system, or even to get rid of infertility. And it is precisely such a wide list of indications that makes one doubt the effectiveness of the procedure.
Why Hirudotherapy is Considered Beneficial
The procedure is considered useful because during feeding the leech releases a secretion from its glands. It contains more than 20 different substances, including:
- Hirudin is an anticoagulant that prevents blood from clotting and thus makes it more liquid and fluid.
- Hyaluronidase is an enzyme with a resolving effect, accelerates the healing of wounds, abrasions, reduces bruises and scars . It is often used in plastic surgery to eliminate the undesirable consequences of surgery. In addition, hyaluronidase works as a local antibiotic, protecting wounds from pathogenic microbes.
- Apyrase is a substance that actively dissolves blood clots (thrombi) that interfere with blood flow.
- Histamine has vasodilating properties.
Medicines for the treatment of hypertension, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, skin diseases, arthritis were based on leech saliva . But this does not mean that hirudotherapy will be as effective as drugs. During the procedure, it is impossible to control in what dosage the substances from the worm’s secretion will enter the human body.
Can Leeches Really Cure Anything?
A treatment method is considered effective if it is proven by studies conducted on large groups of people. In this case, some participants must receive a dummy drug. And doctors normally do not know which patients are taking a placebo and which are using the method being tested. It is difficult to organize such an experiment with leeches. A person can clearly see whether a toothy worm is biting him or not. Therefore, there are few high-quality studies of hirudotherapy.
The most compelling evidence of the use of leeches scientists in the field of plastic surgery. Hirudotherapy is used to help restore blood circulation after sewing on fingers, ears or lips. The worms suck out excess blood, which temporarily replaces the work of the veins. The procedure is repeated until the body creates new blood vessels that can independently provide normal blood circulation.
This method in the field of reconstructive microsurgery has even been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Scientists also have data that hirudotherapy helps relieve knee pain in osteoarthritis. The experiment involved 264 patients. Leeches helped them reduce symptoms, but in combination with classical treatment. At the same time, the subjects experienced side effects. And the researchers themselves asked to treat the data obtained with caution.
In another experiment, scientists hirudotherapy to people with chronic periodontitis . In combination with conventional treatment, leeches helped reduce gum inflammation and bleeding in patients:
- with severe periodontitis – by 6%;
- with a moderate course of the disease – by 24%;
- with a light one – by 2%.
There are still a few cases where Russian doctors may suggest using medicinal leeches. But there is very little convincing evidence that such a “treatment” will be effective.
| What is proposed to be treated with leeches | How it should work | How things really are |
| Cardiovascular diseases | It is suggested that saliva may temporarily blood flow, reduce inflammation of the vessel walls, and help prevent deep vein thrombosis and ischemia. | Leeches are not considered a “gold standard” for treating the heart and blood vessels. And there is little evidence that their bites help to recover. |
| Peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus | In this condition, pain occurs even from a light touch. Over time, sensitivity decreases, and a person may stop feeling pain, cold and heat. And because of this, the risk of injury, necrosis and amputation increases. Leeches are designed to improve blood circulation in the affected area and return it to normal. | Scientists conducted one and noticed that leech saliva relieved pain in people with neuropathy more effectively than in those who took drugs that are usually used to treat the condition. In addition, it was noted that hirudotherapy returned sensitivity to those who had already lost it. True, there were few subjects – only 40. And this is too few to definitely state the effectiveness of the method. |
| Infertility | Some clinics’ websites say that leech saliva helps normalize the functioning of the ovaries, relieve inflammation of the pelvic organs, and in men, improves the function of the prostate gland. | Scientists have not conducted any research on this topic. Clinics offer the service without any scientific confirmation of the method. |
| Cancer | When combined with chemotherapy, leeches are said to speed up the absorption of cancer drugs by causing blood flow to speed up. | In fact, the only that showed any benefit from hirudotherapy during cancer treatment describes how leeches helped a patient with carcinoma after implantation of a skin flap. That is, technically, leeches did not save from cancer, but accelerated rehabilitation after surgery. Therefore, it is impossible to talk about the benefits of worms in the treatment of oncology. |
Can hirudotherapy cause harm?
The bite may continue до 10 часов после того, как пиявка отпала. Это происходит из-за коагулянтного эффекта. Поэтому людям, которые страдают от проблем со свёртываемостью крови, после процедуры может понадобиться медицинская помощь — вплоть до переливания. То же самое касается и тех, кто принимает препараты, разжижающие кровь, даже обычный аспирин.
Some people allergic to leech saliva. And sometimes even anaphylactic shock occurs. In this case, emergency medical care . Due to the condition, the throat swells, the tongue swells, it becomes difficult to breathe and swallow, a person can lose consciousness, and if nothing is done, even die.
During hirudotherapy, a person can infected. Despite the fact that medical leeches are specially grown in laboratory conditions, their intestines contain bacteria.
The risk of infection is especially high when leeches are placed in intimate areas – in the vagina and on the inner thighs. These areas have thin skin that is easily damaged, and an environment that is comfortable for bacteria to multiply. This means that even with careful care after the procedure, the chances of infection increase. There is too little research on how leeches can affect health in this case to consider the method safe.
And one more thing: if you use leeches instead of modern evidence-based methods of therapy, you can lose time. This means that the condition can worsen, and you will have to treat not only the underlying disease, but also its complications
Who definitely shouldn’t try hirudotherapy
Hirudotherapy for people:
- with an allergy to leech saliva;
- arterial – a condition in which blood flow in the arteries is reduced;
- weakened immune system.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also better off not going to a hirudotherapy session. The effect of leeches on their health is still poorly understood, but it that such treatment can cause anemia.
In addition, the procedure will not be performed on people who refuse a possible blood transfusion, which may be necessary if complications arise.
