Traditional and Constitutional Concepts of Efficacy of Leech Therapy |
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The Scientific Basis of Leech Therapy The Technique of Leech TherapyPreparation Application Procedure
Adverse Effects of Leech Therapy
Case history and articles:
Effect of leech therapy in different regional pain syndromes (T.Rampp)
Where to buy the medical leeches
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In European, humoral, and Arabian medicine, as well as in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), leeching is closely associated with the constitutional theories and concepts of disease. In these systems of medicine, local and systemic states of surplus and deficit, heat and cold are considered when assessing the patient. All of these systems describe treatments involving local skin irritation and venesection as "drainage of surplus fluids." It is theoretically possible yet methodologically difficult to analyze treatment responders according to these criteria. First of all, adequate standardization of the relevant terminology and clinical classifications is
lacking. Secondly, responder analyses require a very large number of cases and a study design amenable to such an analysis. In our studies we were unable to demonstrate a correlation between the efficacy of leech therapy and initial hematocrit levels, the extent of blood extracted by the leech, or the body mass index (BMI), which were used as approximate parameters of constitution. However, no specific techniques of constitutional medicine (e.g., tongue
diagnosis) were used to evaluate the patients. Therefore, it is not possible to rate the response to leech therapy based on traditional concepts of constitutional medicine at present. Even though the models underlying these traditional concepts now have a more metaphorical sense that does not comply with modern pathophysiological concepts and action principles, the fact that they served as the basis for proper and presumably successful leech treatment for centuries must be emphasized. Comprehensive scientific analyses of leech therapy should therefore take such aspects into consideration if possible. |
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Indications for Leech Therapy:
Inflammatory Reactions Rheumatic Diseases Tendovaginitis and Tendinitis Venous Disease and Varicose Veins Muscle Tension Vertebrogenic Pain Syndromes |
Contradictions for Leech Therapy:Hemophilia, Anemia, Anticoagulant Medications
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