Most blood-sucking animals are harmful due to the transmission of various pathogens, e.g. B. the tick as a carrier of Lyme disease or early summer meningoencephalitis. Leeches (Hirudo verbana or Hirudo medicinalis) have chosen a different strategy. They give their donor a variety of highly effective medicinal substances. Leeches only bite again at the earliest 5 months after the last meal, so there is a natural quarantine period. Leeches for medical use are medicinal products and are therefore subject to all provisions of the Medicinal Products Act.
Leeches are sensitive, they are reluctant to bite in the event of a thunderstorm or restlessness, smell of cigarettes or perfume.
Active substances and mode of action of the leech saliva
The main ingredients are hirudin, calin, Bdelline and Egline, histamine-like substances and organase. In summary, the mode of action can be described as anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory), antibactericidal, anti-thrombotic (anti-clotting), accelerating lymph flow, improving the flow properties of the blood also in the capillary area, immunizing and circulatory-friendly local bloodletting. The leech therapy works locally, e.g. B. in degenerative joint diseases as well as systemically, e.g. B. in fibromyalgia.
What is the procedure for leech therapy?
An average of 4-6 leeches are placed at the previously defined points per session. The leech sucks itself up and sabers into the skin with its lime teeth. This process is almost painless. Within 15 minutes to 2 hours, the medicinal substances in the leech's saliva are transferred into the tissue. Depending on the size, the leech drinks between 25 and 40 ml of blood and then falls off on its own. The small bite wound continues to bleed for up to 12 hours. The additional bleeding has the advantage that the wound cleans itself and waste products are removed from the tissue.
Before each treatment there is a detailed informational discussion about the course of treatment, indications and contraindications. I am happy to inform you in advance without obligation by phone or email if you are unsure. It takes a little effort to overcome the first bite, but the help of the little bites is usually used again.
Indications for leech treatment
Spinal disorders / arthropathies
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Coxarthrosis (hip arthrosis)
gout
Sliding vortex
Ileosacral joint arthrosis
Rizarthrosis (thumb saddle joint arthrosis)
LWS syndrome (lumbar spine syndrome)
Diseases of the arteries / veins / lymphatic vessels:
Arterial Disease
Circulatory disorder
Microangiopathy
Thrombophlebitis (phlebitis)
thrombosis
Varicose veins
Venostasis
Diseases of the soft tissue / muscles / tendons:
Bursitis (bursitis)
Tendinitis (tendinitis)
Fibromyalgia
Impingment syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Myogeleosis (muscle hardness)
Rheumatic diseases
Tennis elbow
Ankle torsion
Skin and subcutaneous diseases
abscess
Baker's cyst
boil
Herpes zoster
edema
Leg Ulcer
Wound healing disorder
cyst
Diseases of the inner ear:
Sudden hearing loss and tinnitus
Otitis media (otitis media)
Diseases of the nerves / polyneuropathies:
Sciatica
migraine
Pain syndrome
Trigeminal neuralgia
Osteopathies
Heel spur
Foot fracture
hallux valgus
Diseases of the female pelvic organs:
Adnexitis (inflammation of the ovaries)
Cystitis
Upper respiratory diseases:
bronchitis
Sinusitis
Further indications
Angina pectoris
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hemochromatosis (iron storage disease)
Liver enlargement
Mastitis (inflammation of the breast)
Crohn's disease
Dizziness
Scar treatment
Voices from the press
Doctors newspaper 20.11.2009:
"If nothing else helps, leeches help." says Professor Gustav J. Dobos from the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Clinical study on the use of leeches in gonarthrosis Essen 2004 (single use)
80% of patients experience pain relief
Half a year after treatment, 70% of the patients still improved