The benefits, harms and indications of hirudotherapy

Several centuries ago, almost all human diseases were treated with this method. It's about hirudotherapy. Medieval healers were convinced that all diseases originate from blood stagnation, and the best way to improve blood flow is leech bites.

The benefits of hirudotherapy

Nowadays, leech therapy is no longer among the most popular methods of treatment. But still, it is sometimes used as an additional unconventional method of therapy. The main secret of hirudotherapy is hidden in the beneficial saliva of leeches, which has valuable properties.

The secret of leeches contains:

• Hirudin - activates the activity of blood vessels, prevents blood clots. But to be fair, it should be noted that not all leeches have such a positive quality.
• Trypsin is a special enzyme that positively affects the work of the gastrointestinal tract. It is necessary for a normal ratio of carbohydrates and proteins in the body and a high-quality metabolism.
• Cathepsin effectively fights against the formation of malignant tumors.
• Bacteria that protect human health and prevent harmful viruses and microorganisms from entering the body.
• Hyaluronidase is a special enzyme that is very beneficial for male reproductive function.

Under the influence of the saliva of leeches, a person's blood is diluted. It is useful against the formation of blood clots and for increasing blood flow in the body. If you apply leeches to special reflex zones of the body, then you can activate the formation of immunity and normalize the activity of human internal organs.

The leech bite is useful for relieving swelling and oxygenating the body. This normalizes blood pressure, relieves fever and localizes inflammation.

It is useful to carry out treatment with leeches to normalize the activity of the nervous system, to relieve painful sensations and a variety of psychological disorders. Hirudotherapy will help to restore strength after long-term treatment and serious illnesses, in addition, with its help, you can eliminate the consequences of the harmful effects of microorganisms.

The harm of hirudotherapy

Before talking about the dangers of treatment with leeches, it should be noted that only special medical leeches are suitable for hirudotherapy. The fact is that some suppliers who are in bad faith in their business can provide a completely different type of annelids under the guise of medicinal leeches. Only three of the more than 600 species of annelids are suitable for treatment. Such leeches include a pharmaceutical leech with an olive-green belly and orange stripes on the back, a medicinal leech with narrow stripes on both sides of the body, an eastern leech with a light back and an almost black belly.

If, instead of medicinal leeches, a common leech caught in a nearby pond is planted on the human body, then either there will be no effect, or, on the contrary, infection with some kind of infection will develop. Good real leeches are grown specifically for medicinal purposes, they are used only once so that there is no infection.

Indications for hirudotherapy

There are a lot of cases in which treatment with leeches will be useful. Such treatment is especially useful for diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Due to its properties, leech saliva significantly reduces the ability of blood to clot and dissolves blood clots. It also improves the supply of oxygen to the body, reduces swelling and improves fluid outflow. Such properties make the use of hirudotherapy useful for ischemic disease, heart defects, heart attacks and atherosclerosis.

With gastritis, cirrhosis of the liver, food allergies and other diseases of the gastroenterological nature, leech therapy brings a significant improvement. Such treatment is also useful for a variety of pains of a neurological nature. This can include headache, migraines, tremors, sciatica, and other rheumatological pains.

Various diseases of the urinary tract and especially kidney diseases can also be treated with the use of hirudotherapy. The same list includes a variety of lung diseases, gynecological diseases associated with poor circulation. Leeches help women of menopause - with them, the signs of menopause are much easier.

Leeches do an excellent job with a variety of skin problems - acne, warts, eczema and other skin diseases disappear after a course of hirudotherapy.

All these cases are indications for the use of leech therapy. This can be either the main course of therapy or additional treatment. Please note that hirudotherapy in some cases can only be a means of relieving pain, and it cannot completely cure the disease.

Contraindications for hirudotherapy

Not in all cases it is advisable to use hirudotherapy. And for some people, treatment with leeches may be generally contraindicated. Such cases include:

• Poor blood clotting.
• Hard case anemia, in which the number of erythrocytes in the blood is significantly reduced.
• Low blood pressure.
• Diathesis of the hemorrhagic form.
• The period of pregnancy, as well as the period of menstrual bleeding.
• Malignant neoplasms.
• Hypersensitivity to leeches' saliva.