Leeches and a History of Medicine

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Leeches and a History of Medicine
« on: August 26, 2011, 08:02:49 AM »
Leeches and a History of Medicine

For over 4000 years, the leech has been a familiar remedy, with Greek and Roman physicians praising the application of this clever invertebrate.
In the 19th century leeches were enjoying a golden age. Millions were raised for medical use as their fame as a cure-all ensued. The mid 1800s saw their constant use for local bloodletting. Druggists administered thousands of leeches to patients with anything from gumboils to facial discolouration. Leeches were applied to the mouth and inside of the throat using a leech-glass, although patients frequently swallowed them. Patients were relieved only with a salty drink of water or perhaps the most popular cure-all of the day, a couple of glasses of wine. Sometimes the leech would not drink and then had to be encouraged by some blood or cream smeared at the puncture site or bathed in a warm glass of beer until ready.
Once sucking, an average leech would drink blood weighing as much as itself in about 15 minutes and consume between 2.5-5.5 grams of blood (half a teaspoon). If the bite failed to stop bleeding after the leech was removed then vinegar, silver nitrate and hot wires were applied.
Apart from using the English and Scottish leeches, huge numbers were imported from France, Hungary, the Ukraine, Turkey, Rumania, Russia, Egypt and Algeria. In 1846 in France alone, 30 million leeches were used. Hospitals in both London and Paris required 13 million between them for that single year. America produced their own leeches and one farm sold over a thousand per day. Leeches were also caught from the wild by many interesting ways, including men bathing a muddy ditch or in a stream with a glass of pig blood, rolling their trousers up and wading into the water. Here they would wait patiently for leeches to adhere themselves to their legs. After a while, back on land the feeding leeches would be stripped off and sold to leech dealers. The leech industry began its decline due to the over collection of the animal and its discredit by the medical profession. By the end of the 19th century the golden age of the leech had passed.
Today leeches are bred in captivity in many institutions including Bristol Zoo Gardens. Leeches have found new fame in microsurgery, where doctors require the precision of the leech to drain congested blood from wounded sites. Plastic surgeons are particularly grateful for the contribution made by the leech, due to their use in the treatment of difficult grafts and reconstructive surgery.

Leech Maintenance
As specialists in leech biology we have prepared the following to help those of you directly involved in caring for the medicinal leech for fishing purposes.
The two most important things to avoid are heat and chlorinated tap water. Leeches can live for months on a blood meal so feeding is unnecessary.

Temperature
The leeches will survive quite happily in a refrigerator or in a cool place, provided the temperature does not exceed 25?C. Special care and attention should be taken to avoid sudden temperature changes. Keep them as cool as possible until they are needed. Never put leeches into direct sunlight.
 
Water
For best results we would recommend using bottled (still) spring or mineral water (preferably the Welsh type!) or alternatively de-chlorinated tap water can be used. When changing the water please ensure that the replacement water is the same temperature as the original.

Container
A lid is essential. Leeches are amphibious and like to crawl about. Perforations are advised but they must be very small indeed, as the leech body is elastic and capable of going through remarkably small openings. A jam jar with cloth cover secured tightly with string, rubber band or alternatively our containers (5020F) would be advisable. Do not overcrowd, the greater the amount of water, the less it needs changing. For best results we would recommend no more than two leeches per 250ml  container but if you have the space to store them individually all the better.

For further products and information about prices for fishing leeches, please see our Products section.
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rogergatal

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2011, 08:04:04 AM »
Medicinal Leech (Hirudo Medicinalis)      

Roughly 600 leech species have been identified to date, but only about 15 are used in medicine. Leeches classified as “medicinal leeches”, Hirudo Medicinalis, in the narrower sense have been used to treat patients for centuries.
The first documented accounts of the use of Hirudo medicinalis for medicinal purposes date back to the time of Hippocrates. According to Sanskrit writings, Dhavantari, the father of Indian medicine, held nectar in one hand and a leech in the other. Leech therapy is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Paintings of medicinal leeches have been found in pharaohs tombs. The Solomon Parables also describe leech treatment use in ancient medicine. Leech therapy in Greek medicine can be found in the poem Alexipharmacia by Nicandros. Roman physician Galen classified leech terapy as a method for achieving healthy balance. Avicenna also used leeches for healing aids. In the past leeches have proved to be the most effective treatment in many cases. Leeches were especially useful in battle wound treatment. European countries in the 18th and 19th centuries imported over 100 million leeches every year to satisfy high demand.


Today, doctors use leeches for treating abscesses, painful joints, glaucoma, myasthenia, and to heal venous diseases and thrombosis. Medical leeches are used in plastic surgery, for improving brain circulation and for curing infertility.

The general indications for leech therapy are:
Inflammatory Reactions
Heart Diseases
Rheumatic Diseases
Tendovaginitis and Tendinitis
Venous Disease and Varicose Veins
Arthrosis
Arthritis
Muscle Tension
Antidyscratic therapy ( blood purification and regeneration) of toxicoses and mental illnesses
Thrombosis and embolism
Passive congestions and spastic conditions
Vertebrogenic Pain Syndromes
Transudates and exudates

A simple principle lies at the heart of all hirudo-miracles. During the process of feeding, leeches secrete a complex mixture of different biologically and pharmacologically active substances into the wound. Hirudin is the best known component of leech saliva. Hirudin is sometimes used to describe all active substance in leech saliva. In reality, Hirudin refers only to one specific active substance in leech salive. Components of medicinal leech saliva that exert effects in the host's body are:

 
Hirudin    Inhibits blood coagulation by binding to thrombin
Calin    Inhibits blood coagulation by blocking the binding of von Willebrand factor to collagen. Inhibits collagen- mediated platelet aggregation
Destabilase    Monomerizing activity. Dissolves fibrin. Thrombolytic effects
Hirustasin    Inhibits kallikrein, trypsin, chymotrypsin, neutropholic cathepsin G
Bdellins    Anti-inflammatory. Inhibits trypsin, plasmin, acrosin
Hyaluronidase    Increases interstitial viscosity. Antibiotic
Tryptase inhibitor    Inhibits proteolytic enzymes of host mast cells
Eglins    Anti-inflammatory. Inhibit the activity of alpha-chymotrypsin, chymase, substilisin, elastase, cathepsin G
Factor Xa inhibitor    Inhibits the activity of coagulation factor xa by forming equimolar complexes
Complement inhibitors    May possibly replace natural complement inhibitors if they are deficient
Carboxypeptidase A inhibitors    Increases the inflow of blood at the bite site
Histaminelike substances    Vasodilator. Increases the inflow of blood at the bite site
Acetylcholine    Vasodilator
Anesthetics subsctance    Anesthetic
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 08:07:49 AM by rogergatal »
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rogergatal

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2011, 08:09:32 AM »
Demi Moore Leech Therapy?
March 19, 2009 5:44 AM

CBS News' Michelle Miller looks at fact vs. fiction on bloodletting's approved medical uses. Arya Nielsen, an integrative medicinal practitioner, talks about leeches with Maggie Rodriguez.
Leeches: Beauty Treatment Or Pain Reducer?

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4861849n#ixzz1WCu0RClM
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 08:10:49 AM by rogergatal »
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OMG

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2011, 12:52:38 PM »
very informative and why not try for beauty treatment like Demi Moore as claimed ;D

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rogergatal

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2011, 03:53:34 PM »
very informative and why not try for beauty treatment like Demi Moore as claimed ;D
i told ya, thats why don't be scared bro.. infact we have a lot of leeches in our farm at gatal park in ubay in the ricefield areas, whew!
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felix

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2011, 11:07:42 PM »
thanks for sharing partner..yah this is true
"Good people are like wind. You cannot see what is inside thier hearts but you can always feel their goodness and sincerity"

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bakikang

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2012, 09:22:23 PM »
Demi's detox therapy that includes leech? She a stupid s*%$ who tried so hard to fit into his young husbands lifestyle, and guess what it didnt work! BALONY!

Arthitis and other illness yes but for aesthetic purposes like Demi does? DONT DO IT!
"Elegance does not consist of putting on a new dress. -Coco Chanel
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bakikang

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2012, 09:25:45 PM »
i told ya, thats why don't be scared bro.. infact we have a lot of leeches in our farm at gatal park in ubay in the ricefield areas, whew!

You cant use them Rog kay naa man na silay bacteria sa yuta ug sa stagnant nga tubig which could transfer to u instead of healing you...these are breed carefully.

But they have to put me to sleep before the procedure! Nag tan aw ko ani kaihion naman gani ko sa ka ngilo! hahahahahahha
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OMG

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Re: Leeches and a History of Medicine
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2012, 05:57:38 AM »
Demi's detox therapy that includes leech? She a stupid s*%$ who tried so hard to fit into his young husbands lifestyle, and guess what it didnt work! BALONY!

Arthitis and other illness yes but for aesthetic purposes like Demi does? DONT DO IT!
she ended up an addict?