Leech therapy is a natural method for treating various ailments using leeches, practised worldwide since ancient times. Modern scientific research has shown that leeches are an excellent living pharmacological laboratory. Their saliva contains precious substances, including hirudin, which prevents blood clotting; histamine, which causes the dilation of blood vessels; and a whole host of substances that cannot be produced under artificial laboratory conditions. No wonder leech treatment is returning to favour after years of hiatus.
Unconventional treatment methods are often ineffective, which makes people approach leech therapy sceptically. However, the effects of its application, which often exceed the wildest expectations of patients and doctors, cannot be denied. Have you been struggling with a disease that affects the quality and lowers the comfort of your life for a long time? Leech therapy may completely solve your problems or alleviate the symptoms you experience. In the rest of the article, you will find advice and tips on preparing for a leech therapy session; you will also learn about the process of applying leeches and how to proceed after its completion.
Before the leech therapy session – recommendations
Before deciding on applying leeches, a medical consultation should be held. During the visit, the leech therapy specialist will recommend performing necessary tests, which will allow them to assess whether the patient has any contraindications to undergo the leech therapy session.
During the consultation, the procedure’s course will be discussed, and rules for behaviour before and after leech therapy will be conveyed. The leech therapist will answer patient questions and dispel doubts directly related to the procedure.
Each patient is different, and some recommendations regarding behaviour before the leech therapy session may vary in many cases. Most of them, however, apply to all patients.
On the day of the procedure, it is forbidden to drink alcohol, coffee, or strong tea, as the substances they contain contribute to the dilation of blood vessels. It is advised against eating spicy foods, especially onions and garlic. The patient should not smoke cigarettes before applying leeches. The body must be clean, so do not use scented soaps, perfumes, creams, body lotions, antiperspirants, deodorants, or medicinal ointments. Before the procedure, washing the body with plain soap is best. On the day the leech therapy session is to be conducted, it’s best to rest and refrain from physical activity.
The patient must discontinue anticoagulant drugs seven days before the planned procedure. If they are taking any medication regularly, the prescribing doctor should be informed about the intention to undergo leech therapy, as compounds from the drugs may interact dangerously with those injected into the bloodstream by leeches.
Based on the tests provided by the patient, the leech therapy specialist assesses their health condition and decides whether conducting the procedure in their case is entirely safe. Contraindications to leech therapy include, among others, pregnancy, anaemia, haemophilia, thrombosis, or cancers.
The process of applying leeches
Applying leeches is simple, but only if an experienced and knowledgeable leech therapist performs it.
Medicinal leeches specially bred in sterile laboratories with European certificates are used for leech therapy. Leeches are applied to healthy, undamaged skin areas within the treatment site. One leech has about 270 microscopic teeth, which allow it to bite through human skin to about 1.5 millimetres. It’s worth noting that the procedure is not painful, so there’s no need to fear it. Patients usually do not even feel the moment when the leech “bites” into them. This is due to the pain-relieving and slightly anaesthetizing substances the sponge releases into the bloodstream. They cause the dilation of blood vessels and inhibit the process of bacterial multiplication.
The leech therapy session lasts from 30 to even 180 minutes. The duration depends on the site of leech application, the disease’s advancement, and the intensity of related symptoms, similar to the number of leeches applied. Usually, a series includes 5 to 10 leeches. The procedure is completed spontaneously when the leeches detach from the application site.
After the leech therapy session – recommendations
After the leech detaches, a light dressing of sterile compresses and cotton is applied to the part of the skin to which it was attached. Bleeding from the leech attachment sites can last several to even 24 hours and is a normal phenomenon that should not be worrisome. In no way will it harm the body or negatively affect health; on the contrary – bleeding is one of the components of therapy and should be allowed for at least a few hours.
After the procedure, it is necessary to rest, completely abstaining from physical activity. During bleeding, it’s best to lie down. Once the blood stops seeping from the wound, the dressing should be promptly removed and the site left open – do not apply plasters or wrap it with a bandage. The wound can be wiped with medical alcohol used on cotton or gauze to prevent infection. Under no circumstances should the wound be washed or soaked. A full bath can be taken only after the wounds completely heal, approximately on the 3rd day after the procedure. Avoid scratching the scars, which could lead to infection and associated complications. Apart from alcohol, no other disinfectants should be used.
If bleeding persists for more than 24 hours, a pressure dressing should be applied. Be prepared for redness, slight itching, swelling, and bruising at the leech attachment sites – these symptoms usually subside within a few days after the procedure. If their diameter is not larger than 4 – 5 cm, it should not be a cause for concern. Sometimes permanent, minor marks on the skin may remain in those places.
The patient may feel weakened immediately after leech therapy, and their blood pressure may be lower than usual. In such a case, consuming bitter chocolate or drinking tomato juice is recommended. Directly after the procedure, it is advised to abstain from using the sauna, swimming pool, fitness club, and gym.
Applying leeches is not a panacea for all ailments; treating some can effectively help. Currently, leech therapy is used for vascular diseases, digestive system disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, and dental, dermatological, neurological, or gynaecological diseases. Leeches accelerate wound healing and positively affect skin conditions. If you want to know whether leech therapy can also help you get rid of persistent ailments, make an appointment with a leech therapist and let them help you.