Leech therapy
Leech therapy has been known as a local elimination procedure for around 2,000 years. During blood sucking, the leeches secrete various substances that have an anti-inflammatory, blood circulation and analgesic effect.
Leeches suck blood by drilling a small wound into the skin and settling. They release many different substances with their saliva, including Hirudin, Eglin or Calin.
Hirudin has an anticoagulant effect and improves the flow properties of the blood and lymph and thus contributes to better detoxification of the whole body. It also has an antispasmodic and decongestant effect.
Eglin inhibits inflammatory processes and relieves pain, Calin causes the wound to be cleaned for up to 24 hours by subsequent bleeding, which is equivalent to a gentle bloodletting. This effect is deliberate, as it eliminates local metabolic waste, acids, inflammation substances etc. for hours and thus relieves the tissue.
In leech therapy, the active ingredients in the saliva of the leech are primarily used, but bite irritation and postoperative bleeding are also therapeutic aspects. Leech therapy is used for local pain - especially on joints and large muscle groups, tension, varicose veins, arthrosis, tinnitus, hearing loss, fibromyalgia and other complaints.
Did you know that leeches are an approved drug under the German Medicines Act?
The following is an overview of areas of application in which leeches are successfully used. Scientific studies have already been made on the underlined entries.