What is Leech Therapy?
There are about thirty different types of leeches in nature. The leech, which has medicinal properties, is the only variety in our country. Leeches of the type Hirudo medicalis are used therapeutically. Leeches, which are produced in certified leech production farms and have not come into contact with any living thing before, are applied for single use and are destroyed under appropriate conditions after the application. While newborn leeches are used for cosmetic purposes, treatment is carried out by applying specially prepared leeches in 6 different sizes and weights to the necessary areas to benefit from their appropriate enzymatic effects.
While leeches take blood for themselves, therapeutic and health-maintaining practices are carried out by giving people nearly a hundred different enzymes that they produce as healing. After the leech takes the first blood from the human, it analyzes this blood, which is a laboratory with its own language, and injects the healing enzyme into the systemic circulation of the human at the dose it will create according to the result of this analysis. In other words, the healing is not in the blood drawn by the leech, but in the enzymes it gives.
How is Leech Therapy Applied?
Sterile leeches produced in certified private leech production farms and brought to the application area under appropriate conditions are prepared in the sizes and numbers determined by the physician who will perform the application and kept at the application point. In order to eliminate the expectations and complaints of the case, leeches are applied to the points determined by the physician in the sizes determined by the physician, in sterile conditions, and the healing enzymes are applied to the body from the relevant area by ensuring that the leech is attached to the relevant points. The leeches that are fed sufficiently and that give enzymes are destroyed under appropriate conditions, never to be used again. These leeches are disposable. There is never a situation like milking and reapplication. After the application, the point where the leech is applied is closed for 24 hours under sterile conditions by providing proper cleaning. The dressing will remain closed for 24 hours.
Who is Leech Therapy Not Applied to?
In cases with congenital coagulation problems such as hemofolia, in cases where we make the bleeding time very long by using blood thinners, in cases of severe anemia, if Hb is lower than 10 g, it should not be used in pregnant and lactating women. (Physician evaluation is important)
In Which Areas Leech Therapy Is Not Applied?
It should not be applied to the eyelids, soles of the feet, neck, armpits, groin areas.
Things to Know Before Leech Therapy
The case to which the leech will be applied should be adequately questioned and examined by the relevant physician. The patient should not be hungry for treatment. Personal hygiene should be appropriate. The allergic status of the person should be questioned. Dressings should not be opened for 24 hours after the application. Do not swim in the sea and do not shower 24 hours a day. After the treatment, cereal foods, lentils, extremely sweet or extremely sour foods should not be preferred, and protein-based diet should be preferred for the first 24 hours.
Is Leech Therapy Application Painful?
The leeches cling to the application point by creating a pain as much as a needle prick at the point where they attach, and they create an anesthetic effect at the point related to the first enzyme they give. Therefore, the process after this stage is completely painless and painless. Leeches are found attached to the relevant point for 20-60 minutes depending on their size. In short, during the whole process, only a pain as much as the needle sticking moment or the pain of the needle applied while giving blood occurs.
Are There Any Side Effects in Leech Treatment?
In cases with sensitive skin, mild redness, crusting at the application point, bleeding in the form of leakage that lasts up to 12 hours may be a very short-term lymph node enlargement.
Benefits of Leech Therapy
Physical and mental relaxation, improvement in mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s, relaxation in circulation and blood flow, treatment in infections, relief of pain, treatment of skin problems, regeneration of brain cells and healing of nerve tissue, treats leg wounds, discoloration of the skin, relieves the digestive system, joints are strengthened, eye diseases ear diseases, gum diseases improve, sexual power increase, performance increase in both sexes.