Is Leech Therapy Real? Understanding the Truth About Leech Therapy in One Article

Summary: Leech therapy was discovered through research by the German doctor Michaelsen, who found that using blood-sucking leeches to treat knee arthritis is very effective, with better results than aspirin and other physiotherapy methods. He once placed 4 leeches on the knee of a patient with severe knee pain for 80 minutes. The patient only felt slight discomfort at the very beginning, and improved not long after. Let's take a look together at the principles and applications of leech therapy!

Leech therapy was discovered through research by the German doctor Michaelsen, who found that using blood-sucking leeches to treat knee arthritis is very effective, with better results than aspirin and other physiotherapy methods. He once placed 4 leeches on the knee of a patient with severe knee pain for 80 minutes. The patient only felt slight discomfort at the very beginning, and improved not long after. Let's take a look together at the principles and applications of leech therapy!

The Principles of Leech Therapy

The key to the leech“pain relief”lies in its saliva, because its saliva contains several anti-inflammatory components, and these components can penetrate deep into human joint tissue. Desser, a professor of bacteriology at the University of Toronto in Canada, said that when a leech opens its mouth to bite a person, it releases a series of chemicals, and among these chemicals, some have the effect of reducing inflammation, equivalent to an anti-inflammatory agent.

The Effects of Leech Therapy

Leech therapy is a therapy that uses hungry leeches to suck blood. On one hand, it uses the blood-sucking function of leeches to promote blood circulation; on the other hand, through the hirudin with anticoagulant function released by leeches during the blood-sucking process, it clears the blood accumulated in the tissue of a severed finger and increases tissue perfusion. Live leech blood-sucking can eliminate blood stasis and immediately increase local blood flow. This therapy has now become a standard treatment for venous congestion complications.

The Applications of Leech Therapy

1. Rheumatic bone pain: The saliva of leeches contains several anti-inflammatory components, and these components can penetrate deep into human joint tissue and effectively relieve pain. Desser, a professor of bacteriology at the University of Toronto in Canada, said that when a leech opens its mouth to bite a person, it releases a series of chemicals, and among these chemicals, some have the effect of reducing inflammation, equivalent to an anti-inflammatory agent.

2. The three highs: The hirudin released by leeches during the blood-sucking process has fast and super-strong anticoagulant, direct blood clot-dissolving, lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects, effectively clearing blood waste, eliminating blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques, restoring blood vessel elasticity, and at the same time improving blood circulation, fundamentally solving blood problems and improving oxygen carrying by red blood cells.

3. Stroke and hemiplegia: Hirudin in leech saliva is a small-molecule polypeptide component with super-strong activity. It can quickly pass through the blood-brain barrier and clear the brain's microcirculation. At the same time, hirudin contains hundreds of substances with the function of repairing and regenerating brain nerves, as well as 7 amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize.

4. Diabetes: Hirudin in leech saliva can serve as an insulin sensitizer, enhancing the body's sensitivity to its own insulin, enabling its own insulin to revive and fully exert its effect. In this way, blood sugar can be taken up and utilized by tissues again, lowering blood sugar and achieving the goal of long-term stable and comprehensive blood sugar control.

5. Blood clots: What leeches suck is the oxygen-deprived blood in that area, while releasing anticoagulant substances so that blood can continuously flow out without clotting, and causing oxygen-rich blood to continuously flow into the affected area. This is especially important in reconstructive surgery for the ears, nose, lips, eyelids and other parts. For cases that cannot be treated by conventional methods, the application of leech blood-sucking therapy can prevent tissue necrosis and is beneficial to the recovery of the affected area.

6. Hair loss and baldness: Leech saliva contains hirudin, which has an extremely strong anticoagulant effect and can promote blood circulation at the hair roots. In addition, leech saliva contains nearly 20 active ingredients with medical effects, which can play a very good role in sterilization and anti-inflammation, can very effectively eliminate fungal infections of the scalp, and promote hair growth.