Discover these little modern-day vampires. 😄
What is leeching?
The leech is a small animal, cousin to the earthworm.
It is a temporary parasite, which feeds mainly on the blood of other species.
It clings to the skin with its two suckers and three jaws.
It lives mainly in fresh water, but can venture onto land in search of food.
Hirudotherapy or leeching consists of using the medical properties of some leech species.
The ancient Egyptians used them, as well as traditional Chinese medicine for several thousand years.
How does hirudotherapy work?
Leeches are easily stored in a moist jar.
There are different ways to practice leech therapy.
Depending on the condition, the number of leeches varies, up to 8 at a time.
Is the bite painful?
It is generally recommended to let the leech decide where it wants to attach itself.
It instinctively knows where to bite where it will be most beneficial to the human body.
Bites are not painful, due to the anesthetizing saliva.
The leeches remain on the surface of the skin, and then detach themselves once their mission is over.
This can take from a few dozen minutes to a few hours.
It is advisable to see a hirudotherapist, rather than doing it yourself.
It is advisable to use each leech only once. It can then be returned to the river.
Benefits of leech saliva
Before the leech starts sucking blood, it injects its saliva.
It contains about 100 proteins and enzymes that are beneficial to the human body, especially hirudin and hyaluronidases.
Its benefits are :
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Anticoagulant.
- Antibiotic.
Blood and lymphatic circulation are accelerated.
For certain pathologies, the leech therapist remove the leeches just after the saliva injection, before the blood sucking.
Benefits of bloodletting
Leeches are naturally attracted to toxin-laden blood.
For this reason, they are used for detoxifying some areas.
This is the principle of blood-letting.
The action of leeches can be compared to wet cupping, with slight incisions in the skin.
The leech absorbs up to 12 times its own weight, or up to 15 ml of blood.
What is leech therapy used for?
A leech does not cure. Its bite can help relieve :
- Venous diseases.
- Varicose veins.
- Phlebitis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Bursitis.
- Rheumatism.
- Gout.
- Boils.
- Pain.
- Hernia.
- Blood poisoning.
The use of leeches accelerates the self-healing of the body.
However, it is advisable to understand the message of the disease in parallel.
The combined action of emotional acceptance and hirudotherapy can bring spectacular results.
Contraindications
- Anemia.
- Hemophilia.
- Anticoagulant treatments.
- Breasts.
- Genitals.
Not all leeches want to work with humans. It is important to obtain the agreement of each animal beforehand.
Conclusion
What are the benefits of leech therapy?
A leech is an animal that works in symbiosis with humans.
It knows exactly where to bite and for how long, to benefit health.