About the persistent people say: "He sucked like a leech." But this expression in relation to a medical leech is completely unfair. After all, this natural healer for millennia saves sick people. And the procedure itself is called hirudotherapy - treatment of diseases with leeches.
Leeches treated the pharaohs.
The first evidence of the use of leeches in the treatment of people was "documented" in ancient Egypt. In the tomb of the pharaohs found a painting with such a plot: the doctor puts a leech on the head of the pharaoh. Then, the therapeutic method was first described, which later became known as hirudotherapy. At the end of the XVIII and the first half of the XIX century, the treatment with leeches became widespread in Europe. With his help, doctors alleviated the condition of people with diseases of the heart, liver, lungs, stomach, with fever. And in 1884 John Haycraft, professor at King's College in Birmingham, received from the body of a leech extract, which influenced the fluid properties of blood and prevented its coagulation. Further research helped to open a special substance contained in the salivary glands of the leech. He was called hirudin. This discovery, in itself very important, led at the time to undesirable consequences - hirudotherapy was considered a panacea. It was prescribed for any ailments. And put a lot of leeches. This often led to heavy blood loss and, in the end, to negative results of treatment.
With the development of medicine and pharmacology, doctors began to rely on analgesics, antibiotics and other new drugs. They began to gradually abandon the "obsolete" hirudotherapy. So, by the mid-20th century, the pharmacy leech almost completely disappeared from the arsenal of medicines. Now, the fourth place in terms of numbers after diseases of the cardiovascular system, cancer and diabetes mellitus has emerged complications of drug therapy and allergies. Therefore, it is not surprising that the interest in the use of proven natural medicines was revived. Including - to hirudotherapy.
Live factory of biologically active substances.
Strange as it may sound, leeches are animals and belong to the class of annelike freshworms. Their main distinguishing feature is hematophagia, that is, food exclusively with blood. One type of leech, called a medical leech, has long been listed in the Red Book. Due to environmental pollution, medical leech from natural reservoirs disappears everywhere and is therefore cultivated artificially, in special laboratories.
The structure of the digestive system of medical leeches is arranged in a cunning way. Special glands, located along its entire length, produce biologically active substances. And from the glands along the ducts, these substances get into the wound and prevent blood clotting. Leech enough to eat once every four months. And with a lack of food can do without food for a year. In the intestinal tract of the leech there is an inherent only herbicide girudientis. This bacterium disinfects harmful substances and prevents putrefactive processes. This "bloodletting" is very useful for a person. In his body, the bloodstream cleanses. There is a stimulation of the hemopoietic organs, as a result of which the blood is rapidly renewed. All this increases the immunity, strengthens the body's defense.
Leech significantly differs from other bloodsuckers in the best for human side. During a bite, she injects saliva into the blood. It's not just a saliva - it's a unique complex consisting of almost a hundred biologically active substances with curative effects. Most of them science is just beginning to explore. Scientists have already isolated more than 200 complex protein compounds contained in the saliva extract and a large number of low molecular weight substances. They studied the influence of the leech secret on the state of the microcirculatory bed of man and the blood coagulation system. The effect was amazing!
Efficiency hirudotherapy.
The balanced effect of biologically active substances, which are contained in the piago secret, is an important but not the only factor of herdotherapy. Another factor is that during feeding with a leech there is a rhythmic effect on the patient's blood supply system: at the site of the perforation of the skin, the vessels narrow. And in remote areas - expand, providing redistribution of "stagnant blood." This improves blood circulation, regulates innervation. It helps to improve the nutrition of tissues and to activate the functions of internal organs.
The next factor of the uniqueness of the leech effect is the activation of neurohumoral adaptation mechanisms. The irritation of receptors from a bite of a leech operates first locally, generates a narrow reaction. Then the impulse flow is transmitted to the brain. It activates complex neuro-hormonal bonds, which multiplies the body's ability to combat adverse effects.
Saliva leech can reduce cholesterol, reduce inflammation, slow down the process of blood clotting, dissolve blood clots. Therefore, hirudotherapy is indicated in the treatment of coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, in the treatment of hypertension. In particular, the original methods of restoring the health of people who have suffered strokes have been worked out and used in many clinics. These methods are based on a combination of hirudotherapy and acupuncture. Leeches are placed in biologically active points, along the course of the main arteries of the head and neck. And also in the projection of the cervical and brachial plexus, the upper and lower extremities, which has a very good effect.
Hirudotherapy very well helps with thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, hemorrhoids. The leech can increase the detoxification capacity of the liver, kidneys, and lungs. It helps with diseases of these organs, including inflammatory ones. In inflammatory processes, the healing effect (a decrease in temperature, a reduction in pain, an improvement in overall well-being) can occur quite quickly. Strangely enough, but the use of leeches is common in the treatment of various eye diseases. For example, specialists of the Moscow Ophthalmologic Hospital successfully practice hirudotherapy with inflammation of the iris of the eye, glaucoma, other inflammatory diseases of the eyes, and trauma. Hirudotherapy often eliminates the need to take other chemical anti-coagulants, antibiotics, hormones. It significantly helps in the treatment of autoimmune, endocrine and gynecological diseases. Among them - bronchial asthma, thyroiditis, mastopathy, small uterine myoma, endometriosis, some types of primary and secondary infertility.
However, even without special diagnoses, every patient who has confided in a small healer feels how literally the general tone increases from the first procedures. As the nervous tension decreases, sleep, appetite and overall well-being improve.
Procedure hirudotherapy.
How is the procedure of occupational therapy? Since the leeches are very sensitive to dirt, smells, cold, the skin at the places of application should be washed without using soapy soap. And then warm with a cotton swab dipped in hot water. After that, the leech is planted on the desired point using a special container of clear glass. As a rule, a specialist places 6 to 10 leeches per session. Each sucks in its own way. One - right away. The other can take a long time adjusting itself, choosing the best place for the application. The patient begins the procedure of bloodletting by an easy tingling on the skin and rhythmic undulating movements of the leech body. Depending on the location of the application, the whole procedure can last from 10 minutes to 1 hour. Filled with enough, the leech disappears by itself. The duration of the entire hirudotherapy course lasts 1-1.5 months on average. Then you can spend one-off sessions depending on how you feel.
After the end of each procedure bleeding wounds need to be treated with iodine and apply a sterile bandage. Drinking blood can from the wound for some time. But its losses are insignificant. Do not be afraid of abscesses and infection. As already mentioned, the bactericidal properties of leech saliva are very effective. The only thing that is possible is a swelling and reddening of the skin. And also a small itch, which will have to endure. You can not comb the place of bites, because that's how you can put the infection. Although the procedure is simple and harmless, it is still better not to engage in physical labor for 2-3 days after it and not to visit the sauna or sauna. The soul can be used the next day after the procedure.
There are almost no complications from leeches treatment - it is absolutely harmless. But some people in the place of setting the leech there is a bright reddening. If the diameter is about 10 cm, then hirudotherapy this patient will have to cancel. In rare cases of individual intolerance, edema and redness around the place where the leech was located are very pronounced. And the leech secret can cause a general allergic reaction - with a runny nose, sneezing, burning in the eyes. This reaction is easily cured by taking antihistamines. In this regard, experienced specialists, as a rule, pre-test some patients to identify contraindications.
Hirudotherapy, except for cases of individual intolerance, can not be used in the following diseases: It is a clotting disorder (eg, hemophilia), anemia, hypotension, viral hepatitis. And also cirrhosis of the liver, febrile conditions, with frequent bleeding from the nose, with peptic ulcer.
If the method as a whole is so effective, then the question arises: why is it used little in health care facilities? Of course, the organization of hirudotherapy and related material difficulties take place. There are also special conditions for keeping leeches, and training staff, and troubles with the imposition of sterile dressings. Yes, and the psychological preparation of those patients who are more accustomed to swallow a pill than to trust a not very pleasant-looking blood-sucking creature. In our time, traditional pharmacotherapy does not always give the proper effect. Therefore, boldly resort to hirudotherapy - treatment of diseases with leeches. In fact, besides serious diseases, leeches help with neuroses and stressful conditions. Which is so rich in a modern insane-mad world. They help to simply relax and gather your thoughts at the most crucial moment.