Leech Therapy Against Arthritis Pain
Loading...
These days, leeches have medicinal use such as treatment of blood clotting problems after surgery.
Now, in a study lead by Dr. Gustav J. Dobos from Kliniken Essen-Mitte, found that leech saliva contains anti-inflammatory substances and other chemicals, which could help relieve symptoms of arthritis.
In a study of patients with knee arthritis, Dobos’ team compared a single treatment with 4 to 6 leeches with that of a 28-day regimen of topical diclofenac-a common treatment for arthritis.
Leeches were applied to painful points of the affected knees of 24 patients and left in place for about 70 minutes, until they detached by themselves.
After 7 days, pain scores had improved to a much greater extent in the leeches group than in the diclofenac group.
Moreover, benefits in function, stiffness and total arthritis symptoms were maintained through 91 days of follow-up, the report indicates.
Wow, how’s that?! Leeches better than topical diclofenac! I guess, if you aren’t queasy about having leeches hanging on your knees and ankles. I will be queasy, believe me. Especially that as I child I was told to stay away from leeches. Until now, I am not scared of spiders and cockroaches, but I still stay away from swaps where leeches normally are.
Do you watch the hit show on ABC, Grey’s Anatomy? There’s one episode (in season 3) there where leeches were used in the treatment of one man’s (I’m not sure if it was) melanoma. The man has some sort of blood clots under the skin at the tip of his nose and fingers.
Watching that particular episode made me cringe from the insides, how much more if I would be the one being treated with them leeches, even for arthritis pain?
Would you agree to treatment with leeches?! I’d rather pop a pill – which is a lot easier for me.
Anyways, findings of the above study of leeches against arthritis pain were reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
According to the study’s authors, the treatment was safe and well tolerated, but leech therapy does carry certain infectious risks.
“But he doubts that the effect was probably anything more than would be seen with a skin irritant.
The more exciting aspect of this work is the potential for the discovery of a novel analgesic agent that could be safely administered without the need for a leech bite.”
So, leech therapy anyone?! Remember it is better than topical diclofenac against arthritis pain.
Source: Pakistan Tribune
[Photo Credit: BBC Health News]
HART still has a lot of work to do ... if you see something that is broken, please bring it to his attention via contact page or inside Facebook! Thanks :D
Hey very nice blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Incredible .. I’ll bookmark your weblog and get the feeds
also…
Can you please adv how I can contact the Malaysian who rears leeches in ponds and able to supply the medicine leeches.Pls adv their website or blog,or telephone No.
Thank you.
sir,
i m an indian.i m studying medecines here in philippines. i m a student of med 1st year in perpetual help college of medecine. i have learned a lot about leech therapy. i m intersted a lot in findind sm medecinal leeches fr my self but i dont know where to go for it. kindly let me know sm address fr leech therapy in las pinas or a place near by.
waiting fr ur feedback………………..
Hi There!
I would like to know more about this Leech Therapy. Is there somebody who uses this therapy here in the Philippines?
I know there are some in the province and I would like to see on it. I am working on a project regarding leech therapy here in the Philippines.
Is there also a leech therapy doctor, the same way as there is a maggot therapy doctor?
Just email me in my email: ecyang03@yahoo.com
Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.
Erin yang
Hi There!
I would like to know more about this Leech Therapy. Is there somebody who uses this therapy here in the Philippines?
I know there are some in the province and I would like to see on it. I am working on a project regarding leech therapy here in the Philippines.
Is there also a leech therapy doctor, the same way as there is a maggot therapy doctor?
Just email me in my email: ecyang03@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Erin yang
Dear Sir/Mdm,
I am from Malaysia. At this moment, leech industry so called here one of the `AGRIPOLITAN’ bussiness. I also rear leeches in pool/pond..U can take look at the photos paste on my blog. And furthermore,my friends and i are looking into supplying leeches in a bulk to other country.. anybody can help.
looking for most effective ways to control bleeding after treatment does it affect process to
force stop bleeding with spray on bandaid etc