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The Scientific Basis of Leech Therapy
Mechanisms of Leeching
The Technique of Leech Therapy
Preparation
Application Procedure
Indications for Leech Therapy:
Inflammatory Reactions
Heart
Diseases
Rheumatic Diseases
Tendovaginitis and Tendinitis
Venous Disease and Varicose Veins
Arthrosis
Muscle Tension
Vertebrogenic Pain Syndromes
Case
history and articles:
Effect of leech therapy
in different regional pain
syndromes (T.Rampp)
Where
to buy the medical leeches
Germany
France
Russia
Turkey
United
Kingdom
Unites
States & Canada
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Erosive Castritis and Potential Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurred on the day after leeching in one of our patients with gastroscopically confirmed erosive gastritis. This adverse event was also reported in another patient with coronary artery disease who was taking aspirin to inhibit platelet aggregation. Therefore, leech therapy should not be performed in patients with known peptic ulcers or erosive gastritis because the potentially systemic effects of hirudin may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Acute Stages of Infectious Disease
Experience has shown that the administration of leech therapy during the acute stages of infectious diseases may lead to subjective weakness and impaired wound healing. According to the broader concepts of naturopathic medicine and humoral pathology, any treatment that extracts blood from patients with infectious diseases is generally considered to be counterproductive and is not recommended. In plastic and reconstructive surgery, where leeching must often be performed in patients with severe infections, antibiotics are administered concomitantly with leech therapy.
Severe Allergic Diathesis
In patients with known protein allergies, the possibility of an allergic reaction to the foreign proteins in leech saliva must be considered. Leech therapy should not be performed in patients with a history of severe allergic diathesis and severe systemic reactions. Leech therapy can be performed with concomitant antihistamine therapy if the patient has only mild or uncertain intolerance reactions.
Pregnancy
Treatments involving the withdrawal of blood are generally contraindicated during pregnancy. Furthermore, leech therapy might result in side effects that would require treatment with chemical drugs.
General and Local Wound-Healing Disorders
The normally harmless leech bite can lead to local complications in patients with diseases associated with impaired wound healing (e.g., diabetes mel-litus). The case history must be thoroughly evaluated to determine whether any relative contraindications to leech therapy exist. In patients with localized areas of impaired wound healing (e.g., leg ulcers), leeches should not be applied directly to the affected region as this may create potential foci for new ulcers.
Other Contradictions for Leech
Therapy
Andreas Michalsen, MD, Department of Internal Medicine V, Germany
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