Leeches have been used in medical treatments for a very long time. So far there have been identified over 600 species of leeches, but only a few are currently being used in medical fields. The first documented usage of this type of treatment dates as far back as 800 BC. During that period of time, leech therapy was used for treating skin diseases, sciatica, as well as various muscle pains. Over the years, people have been experimenting with this type of therapy, discovering new uses for it. While physiotherapy is considered to be more efficient for muscle injuries than traditional cures, many people seem to prefer leeches, as it offers them the feeling that they rely on an ancient knowledge. Trying out this type of treatment will not cost you a thing; while the benefits could be immeasurable. If you wish to resort to leeches treatment, you should first go to a clinic for hair removal, to ensure the leeches will be unhindered during the treatment. A physiotherapy specialist can help you cure muscle sores completely in just a matter of time. According to certain scientists, leech therapy can even prove to be useful in cancer treatments. However, the use of leeches in modern medicine is still controversial.
It took a long time for medical leeches to be approved by the modern medical community. However in 2004, the Food And Drugs Administration approved the use of leech therapy. As a result, leeches were no longer part of alternative medicine and could be widely used in hospitals across the world. Nowadays, if you need to sort out your injuries, you require the help of a professional physiotherapy Ottawa specialist, if you wish to have the expenses covered by your healthcare system. Before the treatment patients and especially males are advised to resort to hair removal in Toronto, because the hair can obstruct the leeches. In order to recognize the importance of leeches, the blood sucking organisms were given a special conservatory status. Despite the fact that they were once found without difficulty in all types of muddy ponds, the modernization of farming techniques dramatically decreased the leeches’ eating possibilities and caused several populations to be extinct. The medical community is now protecting the leeches and is trying to impede their extinction.
Hirudo medicinalis is the most common leech used in therapy and ever since it was legally approved it has been intensely used. The most common use is in plastic and reconstructive surgeries. Its secret is a natural anticoagulant that can be efficient against blood clots and can restore the natural blood flow, thus working as an anti inflammatory. Had it not been approved in modern medicine, a lot of body part reattachment would have certainly failed. The technological methods used to get blood to flow through reconstructed veins often fail, which is when medical leeches come to the rescue. They are also very effective in treating burns and work as a natural anesthetic.
The fact that medical leeches have proved so effective in various medical situations have led biomedical researchers to put a lot of effort into studying their properties. Numerous research programs use leeches in order to study blood coagulation, neurobiology, as well as developmental genetics. However, a recent discovery revealed the fact that the species that has been so extensively used in medical therapies and studies is not Hirudo medicinalis, but another subspecies called Hirudo verbana. This discovery has both good news and bad news. The negative aspect is that this sub-species that has been so intensely used does not benefit from a special conservatory status, therefore its usage has been rather chaotic. On the bright side, this means that there is a wider range of medical leeches and their distinct properties can help researches discover new uses for them. We can only hope that more effort will be put into protecting these little medical miracles. The fact that they have been successfully used for thousands of years means that they truly have amazing properties. Using such a therapy may not be pleasant, but leeches have helped countless people.
