Hirudotherapy: indications and contraindications for treatment with leeches

Hirudotherapy: features of the technique

Bleeding using leeches is one of the most ancient medical procedures.
The first mentions of it are found in ancient chronicles, but the peak of popularity occurred in the Middle Ages. Doctors actively used bloodletting for a variety of ailments, from complications during childbirth to migraines. In some cases, up to 40 leeches were attached to the patient’s body at the same time. It was believed that worms were able to suck out “bad blood,” which would help avoid apoplexy, cure various pathologies of internal organs, and even save them from poisoning or gangrene. Today, hirudotherapy is outside the brackets of official medicine. However, doctors admit that in some cases, leeches can alleviate the patient's condition. You should not rely only on this technique; bloodletting demonstrates the best effect in combination with other medical procedures: massages, manual therapy, taking medications.

Treatment with leeches is carried out in specialized hirudotherapy centers.

The procedures require medicinal leeches, a type of annelid worm that feeds on blood. In the wild, they live in freshwater bodies, but only individuals grown in special biofactories under sterile conditions are used for medicinal purposes.

Modern hirudotherapy involves several options for using leeches:

Live. The worms attach themselves to the skin, biting through it and at the same time injecting an anesthetic substance. The patient does not feel any discomfort; after saturation, the bloodsucker falls off on its own. A wound remains at the site of the bite, which heals after a couple of days.
In the form of sublimates. Medicinal extracts are made from the leeches themselves or their salivary glands. The remedies can be used in courses; they are suitable for people who do not tolerate traditional hirudotherapy well.
In the form of recombinant drugs. Medicines of artificial origin are made based on the gene of medicinal leeches introduced into the DNA of microorganisms. The drugs are well absorbed and cause minimal side effects.

During a session, one leech drinks up to 15 ml of blood. After use, the worms are destroyed and reuse is prohibited.

When treating with live leeches, the main therapeutic effect is associated with the forced outflow of blood. Reducing the filling of blood vessels can reduce blood pressure and improve the patient's condition. An additional effect is provided by the placement of leeches in accordance with the rules of acupuncture. Micro-punctures create an acupuncture effect and affect the condition of certain organs. It is worth considering the medicinal properties of leech saliva. It consists of the following components:

Hirudin. An anticoagulant protein, an analogue is found in the venom of some reptiles. Reduces blood clotting, prevents thrombosis, improves vascular patency.
Collagenase and asperase. Enzymes that inhibit platelet aggregation.
Protein inhibitors. Substances that block protoinases and prevent the destruction of protein molecules.
Vasodilators. Compounds that improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels.
Anesthetic components. They have an analgesic effect, thanks to which the patient does not feel discomfort during and after the procedure.

For treatment, you can use synthetic drugs created based on the leech gene.

We treat ourselves with leeches

Hirudotherapy has experienced two stellar periods. The first began 200 years BC. A certain Nikander from Colophon discovered that the leech brings relief for various pains and ailments. He is considered the founder of the healing method called gerodotherapy. This name comes from the Latin word Hirudina

, which means "leech". The popularity of leeches grew year by year. With their help, they got rid of illnesses in different countries - in Egypt, India and China.

Legend has it that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra was able to become pregnant only thanks to leeches. It was a matter of honor for her to give birth to an heir from Julius Caesar. But no folk remedies and the best Egyptian aesculapians could save the queen from infertility. Then she listened to the advice of another unknown doctor Cleoman. He recommended that she put leeches. Just a few sessions, and Cleopatra felt that she was expecting a child. In gratitude for this, images of leeches appeared on the walls of the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs.

The fame of leeches grew. They were used for heart disease, shortness of breath, dizziness, infertility and even obesity. The fact that hirudotherapy promotes weight loss was discovered in the Middle Ages. For residents of many countries, the problem of obesity has become almost paramount. The cult of the big body was widely popular at that time and knew no boundaries, so it became a medical problem. Obesity affected people's well-being, their heart problems and the development of other diseases. We had to fight it with radical means, which turned out to be the same leeches. Small blood-sucking creatures allowed people to lose weight so much that they lost up to 10 kg of weight, not only without experiencing any damage to their health, but also feeling much better than before. This is written in ancient manuscripts found during excavations of ancient libraries.

Not only written evidence of the popularity of hirudotherapy has been preserved, but also its artistic recognition. Treatment sessions with leeches during the Renaissance became so common that artists captured them on their canvases. Thus, the magnificent master Botticelli, who glorified the beauty of the female body, depicted these very outwardly unsightly creatures during a healing session.

By the way, women not only did not disdain these black slippery creatures, but also willingly used them for their attractiveness. Without powder or blush, they knew an excellent method for bringing beauty. For these purposes, they used leeches, which they placed on the skin behind the ears a few hours before a date or a ball. The effect was amazing: the eyes sparkled with fire, a blush played on the cheeks, and there was enough energy to dance until the morning! Even the royal seven used this method. In addition to the purely cosmetic effect, an extraordinary sexuality appeared in the woman, allowing her to win the hearts of gentlemen. Therefore, it was unthinkable to go to a ball without the influence of leeches, just as in our time - without good cosmetics and hairstyle. Only modern scientists have been able to establish why the action of a leech causes such a reaction. It turned out that in response to a leech bite, the body releases special hormonal substances - endorphins, which have an analgesic and calming effect, giving an elevated mood, that is, euphoria, a feeling of happiness.

Hirudotherapy reached its peak at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. Almost any disease was treated with the help of leeches. Therefore, leech production has been established in many countries. So, France began to export leeches to England. The leech fishery in Europe reached such proportions that soon the number of these valuable creatures in nature decreased significantly. Ponds and other bodies of water, once teeming with leeches, are empty. Then European entrepreneurs began to rent entire lands in Russia, catch leeches in them and transport them abroad. But soon it became a very profitable business for our country, which became the main supplier of live goods. The export of leeches brought an annual income of more than 6 million silver rubles. If you consider that a cow could be bought for only 3 rubles, it becomes clear what scale the trade in leeches had reached.

But in 1850, the Russian authorities put a barrier to the destruction of leeches, prohibiting their capture and export, and issued a decree on the creation of special nurseries for breeding leeches.

The first leech farm appeared in Moscow at the beginning of the 19th century. About 700 thousand leeches were grown there, which were in great demand not only among doctors, but also among people of other specialties. Then even barbers (hairdressers) and shopkeepers kept leeches and, on occasion, gave them to those in need. And any self-respecting doctor always carried a jar of leeches with him. In those days, “letting out the bad blood” meant getting rid of pain and suffering, rejuvenating the body and injecting fresh strength into it. Therefore, bloodletting was considered the only dignity of a living healer. The great Russian doctors of that time, among whom was Pirogov, also considered hirudotherapy to be the strongest remedy for treating many ailments. At the beginning of the 19th century, about 30 million leeches were used annually in Russia. There was not a single pharmacy that did not sell bloodsucking doctors.

With the development of science and the medical industry, the need for leeches gradually disappeared. Strong medicines and antibiotics have appeared that can quickly destroy bacteria and cope with infections. Bloodletting was noticeably inferior compared to them, and the other advantages of a medicinal leech were not yet known at that time. Therefore, by the beginning of the twentieth century, hirudotherapy was undeservedly forgotten.

But in the 1990s, interest in leeches flared up with renewed vigor. Scientists have discovered and proven that the effect of leeches is not limited to bloodletting alone. It turned out that the main therapeutic effect of this bloodsucker is the biological value of its saliva. The discovery of more than 15 biologically active substances with unique healing effects in the secretions of the salivary glands of the medicinal leech created a sensation in the medical world. Moreover, scientists have still not been able to artificially obtain such natural compounds. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being allocated to work on their creation in the USA, Israel and England. But even with the help of genetic engineering, this issue has not yet been resolved.

Currently, hirudotherapy methods are used not only in folk medicine, but also in official medicine. Doctors in America and Europe actively use leeches in ophthalmological practice and plastic surgery, and Chinese doctors treat atherosclerosis using hirudotherapy. In Russia, leeches are used in the treatment and prevention of many diseases, mainly of a non-infectious nature. Doctors use leech treatment along with herbal medicine and reflexology. And the leech itself is recognized as a medicine and is included in the Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation. There is a World Society of Hirudotherapy, and international congresses on hirudotherapy are held. Adherents of this method note that its main advantage lies in the comprehensive improvement of a person’s health, the absence of any complications from treatment and a minimum number of contraindications.

Indications for the procedure

Hirudotherapy cannot be considered a universal remedy for all diseases. However, the list of ailments for which bloodsuckers can help is very extensive. Before starting the procedures, you need to undergo a full examination by a therapist and take tests. Treatment is best carried out in specialized centers, under the supervision of specialists. The duration of the course and the duration of the procedures are calculated individually. It is difficult to achieve the desired effect at home; you will need the help of an assistant.

Hirudotherapy for chronic diseases

Very often, patients suffering from joint pathologies turn to hirudotherapy. Leeches are used to treat spinal osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernias. The procedures help relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, reduce stress on the back, and prevent complications. Leeches are placed between the spinal discs, above and below the affected area. The procedures are combined with massage, taking medications, and a diet recommended by the doctor.

The procedure may be beneficial for varicose veins. At the site where leeches are installed, blood flow is normalized, swelling of the lower extremities is relieved, pain and a feeling of heaviness are reduced. However, many phlebologists do not share the enthusiasm of hirudotherapists. Before treating varicose veins with leeches, you need to get your doctor's approval.

Treatment should be carried out by a certified hirudotherapist who has completed special courses. A diploma of higher medical education is required.

Hirudotherapy is prescribed for arterial hypertension. The main goal is to reduce the pressure inside the vessels. Regular sessions reduce tinnitus, prevent migraines, dizziness, nausea, and heart pain. In the absence of contraindications, preventive sessions are possible to avoid sudden attacks.

Leeches can relieve discomfort from hemorrhoids and prostatitis. The purpose of the procedure is to reduce blood flow to the affected vessels and prevent their further deformation. The procedure must be carried out by a doctor; it will require only 3-4 individuals per session. They are attached to the skin in close proximity to the affected area: near the anus, on the tailbone area or lower abdomen.

Hirudotherapy can also be recommended for the treatment of other ailments: type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney pathologies, thyroid dysfunction, thrombophlebitis.

Creams based on hirudin reduce dry skin, smooth out wrinkles, and treat local inflammation and swelling.

History of hirudotherapy

The history of using leeches for medicinal purposes goes back more than two thousand years. Information about their use of leeches for medicinal purposes is found in the holy books of different religions - in the Bible and the Koran. These little bloodsuckers saved the Egyptian pharaohs from high blood pressure, headaches and other ailments

Legend has it that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra was able to become pregnant only thanks to leeches. It was a matter of honor to give birth to an heir from Julius Caesar, but neither the best Egyptian aesculapians nor folk remedies could save the queen from infertility. In desperation, she listened to the advice of the unknown doctor Cleoman, who recommended that she be given leeches. After just a few sessions, the queen felt that she was expecting a child. In gratitude for this, images of leeches appeared on the walls of the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs.

The founder of the healing method called hirudotherapy is considered to be the Greek poet Nikandros from Colophon, who back in the 2nd century BC. e. along with the treatment of snake and insect bites, he was the first to describe the beneficial properties of the leech. The name of the method comes from the Latin word Hirudina, which means “leech”. The first methods of hirudotherapy were described by Galen (130-200) and Avicenna (980-1037).

In the Middle Ages in Europe, treatment with leeches became an officially recognized method and gained enormous popularity, which later had extremely negative consequences. Leeches were sold everywhere, doctors prescribed them for literally all diseases, sometimes prescribing them in unimaginable “dosages” - up to 200 leeches in one session! Such excesses in treatment greatly damaged the reputation of leeches, and their effectiveness began to be questioned.

Hirudotherapy reached its peak at the end of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century. Almost any disease was treated with the help of leeches, which led to the establishment of blood-sucking production in many European countries. This method was most popular in France, which then began to export leeches to England. From Napoleon's records it is known that six million leeches were imported from Hungary alone during the year to treat the soldiers of his army.

In Russia, occupational therapy has become very popular thanks to the great doctors Pirogov, Mudrov, and Zakharyin. N.I. Pirogov (1816-1881) when summarizing observations of military field practice during the Crimean War and the Caucasian expedition of Fr. G.A. Zakharyin (1829-1987), during his 45 years of practical work, also used leeches for various diseases, including for the treatment of the royal family. In his lecture G.A. Zakharyin told a case when one patient’s bleeding did not stop for several days with any of the medications (nosebleeds were caused by menstrual irregularities). However, the blood stopped immediately as soon as the leeches were placed.

The leech fishery in Europe reached such proportions that soon the number of these valuable creatures in nature decreased significantly. Ponds and other bodies of water, once teeming with leeches, are empty. Then European entrepreneurs began to rent entire lands in Russia, catch leeches in them and transport them abroad. But soon it became a very profitable business for our country. The export of leeches brought an annual income of more than 6 million rubles in silver, which is quite comparable to the export of grain. If you consider that a cow could be bought for only 3 rubles, it becomes clear what scale the trade in leeches had reached.

In 1850, the Russian authorities put a barrier to the destruction of leeches, prohibiting their capture and export, and issued a decree on the creation of special nurseries for breeding leeches.

The first leech farm appeared in Moscow at the beginning of the 19th century. About 700 thousand leeches were grown there, which were in great demand not only among doctors, but also among people of other specialties. Even barbers (hairdressers) and shopkeepers kept leeches and, on occasion, gave them to those in need. Of course, any self-respecting doctor always carried a jar of leeches with him. In those days, “letting out the bad blood” meant getting rid of pain and suffering, rejuvenating the body and injecting fresh strength into it. Therefore, bloodletting was considered the only dignity of a living healer. At the beginning of the 19th century, about 30 million leeches were used annually in Russia. There was not a single pharmacy that did not sell bloodsucking doctors.

Interest in leeches flared up with renewed vigor only in the 1990s. This was significantly facilitated by the emergence of new, previously unknown scientific data showing that the effect of leeches is not limited to bloodletting alone. The discovery of more than 15 biologically active substances with unique healing effects in the secretions of the salivary glands of the medicinal leech created a sensation in the medical world. Scientists have still not been able to artificially obtain such natural compounds. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being allocated to work on their creation in the USA, Israel and England. But even with the help of genetic engineering, this issue has not yet been resolved.

Application in cosmetology

Leeches will benefit not only health, but also beauty. For cosmetic procedures, it is not live worms that are used, but preparations prepared from them. Creams, serums and ointments with active ingredients can:

remove dry skin and prevent flaking;
activate metabolic processes;
accelerate skin cell renewal;
remove hematomas and swelling that occur after operations.

Creams based on extracts from leech saliva slow down skin aging, cope well with fine wrinkles, reduce inflammation and fight stress. Bath tablets with hirudin can improve the condition of the body's skin. They improve skin tone and have a calming and relaxing effect.

Some beauty salons offer masks, wraps and other procedures with preparations containing leech extract. Free samples and introductory sessions at a special price will help you understand whether products are suitable for a particular skin type.

Leeches are also used to eliminate cellulite. Bloodsuckers attached to the skin in problem areas activate lymph flow, accelerate the burning of fat cells, and stimulate metabolism. The effect is enhanced by massage and the use of body creams based on hirudin.

Author's courses. Leeches. 8-800-100-88-46.

General idea.

Hirudotherapy - a system of knowledge on preserving and restoring health using biologically active enzymes of the salivary glands of living leeches and hirudotherapy - the use of medicinal leeches for therapeutic and preventive purposes - are some of these methods.
It is known that the general state of health of the body, the functions of its systems and organs is manifested in appearance, primarily by cosmetic defects of the skin. Their appearance also depends on age, exposure to adverse internal and external factors. Hence the growing interest in non-surgical interventions such as hirudotherapy on the part of professionals and spa users. Hirudotherapy, as a method of primary and even secondary prevention of diseases and pathological conditions, is indispensable as a means of monotherapeutic influence. Moreover, the psychotherapeutic and physiological aspects of the effect of leeches on the human body are so great that one cannot but agree with the need to provide the therapeutic and preventive process with legislative and constructive and methodological documents in the field of hirudotherapy and SPA technologies.

History of origin.

Leech treatment has been around for as long as humanity. Our ancient ancestors also noticed that leech bites could be beneficial. The discovery of these healing qualities occurred almost simultaneously in Ancient India, Egypt, Iran, and China. The Greeks and Romans used this method; from the latter, treatment with leeches received its modern name hirudotherapy. After all, hirudina translated from Latin means “leech.”

Ancient world

The first evidence of the development of hirudotherapy in the Ancient world was found in Egypt. During excavations in the tomb of the pharaoh, archaeologists discovered a painting that was unusual in its content. It depicted a healer placing a leech on the parietal part of the head of the late ruler. It is known that the Egyptians considered hirudotherapy effective for restoring potency and treating urological problems.

In many nations, leech is associated with procreation and not only for men. The legend about the beautiful Cleopatra, who could not get pregnant, has survived to this day. But a bet was placed on the birth of a son from Caesar in a big political game. The queen turned to the most famous doctors, but their advice did not help. Then the queen decided to entrust the fate of herself and the state into the hands of the unknown doctor Cleoman. He advised the queen to undergo treatment with leeches , and after a short time Cleopatra became pregnant. In gratitude for finding her son, Cleopatra ordered to depict these inconspicuous but healing creatures on the walls of tombs and sacred buildings.

Descriptions of how to treat people with leeches are found in Indian, Jewish, and Persian texts. Hippocrates, Galen and Pliny the Elder wrote about treatment with a “living needle”. The latter compiled a detailed description of blood-sucking leeches and their healing properties. He paid special attention to the positive effect of leeches in febrile conditions. In Ancient Greece, this method was widely used by the physician Nikander from Colophon. But, as we see, many doctors, famous healers and different cultures can challenge the primacy. In Ancient Armenia, young men resorted to hirudotherapy to have healthy offspring, and those who were about 65 years old to prolong life. Particular attention was paid to the treatment and prevention of prostate adenoma. The great Avicenna devoted deep medical research to hirudotherapy.

Middle Ages

As we see, hirudotherapy covered different areas of medicine, was loved and revered by kings and ordinary people, but then World History intervened. With the onset of the early Middle Ages, called the “Dark Ages,” the knowledge accumulated by the doctors and healers of antiquity was partly forgotten and partly questioned. The blood-sucking creatures seemed seditious, prone to vampirism, heretics. And it already smelled like a fire. Moreover, the Catholic Church has banned the use of leeches for medicinal purposes. Therefore, hirudotherapy was preserved only among rural healers. Many areas of knowledge have declined. There is reason to believe that even at this time they resorted to hirudotherapy, but this area of knowledge could not develop.

But the Renaissance, having revived much lost knowledge, did not forget the treatment with leeches. We can safely say that hirudotherapy has become fashionable. It was used for heart disease, shortness of breath, dizziness, infertility and even obesity. The latter was very relevant. After all, the Renaissance is not only the flowering of the arts, but also the cult of a large body and abundant food. The negative consequences of constant feasts and libations affected health immediately. Obesity provoked heart problems and influenced the development of other diseases. We had to fight it with radical means, which turned out to be the same leeches. Small blood-sucking creatures allowed people to lose weight so much that they lost up to 10 kg of weight, not only without experiencing any damage to their health, but also feeling much better than before. This is written in ancient manuscripts found during excavations of libraries of that time. Treatment sessions with leeches during the Renaissance became so common that artists captured them on their canvases. Thus, the great Botticelli, who devoted himself to the cult of refined and reverent beauty, depicted unsightly leeches during a healing session.

The search for new areas where leeches could be used continued and in 1665 Hieronymus Nigrisoli published an essay entitled: “On the application of leeches to the internal parts of the uterus.” This is how leeches began to be widely used in gynecology .

18th century – 19th century

Hirudotherapy proved itself so well that doctors were constantly searching for new areas of its application and, according to researchers, by the end of the 18th century, the leech “occupied the red corner of the pharmacy.” It was the magnificent age of Enlightenment: balls, receptions, the first educated coquettes. Leeches have become an indispensable cosmetology product for fashionistas. To have a natural blush and maintain strength at the ball, leeches were placed behind the ears. The reason for the effectiveness of such procedures was revealed much later. It turns out that a leech bite causes a response in the body - the release of endorphins, hormonal substances that cause an elevated mood.

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, hirudotherapy reached its peak. Patients highly appreciated its effectiveness, accessibility to all segments of society and absolute painlessness. It was at this time that almost any disease began to be treated with leeches.

In 1884, John Highcraft, a professor at King's College Birmingham, obtained an extract from the body of a leech that influenced the fluid properties of blood and prevented it from clotting. Further research helped to discover a special substance contained in the salivary glands of the leech. It was called hirudin.

This discovery, very important in itself, led at that time to undesirable consequences - hirudotherapy began to be considered a panacea. It was prescribed for any ailment. Leech export emerged. A very profitable business for those times. Then European entrepreneurs began to rent entire lands in Russia, catch leeches in them and transport them abroad. But our country realized in time how profitable it was and became the main supplier of healing bloodsuckers. The export of leeches brought an annual income of more than 6 million. rubles in silver. This was a lot of money at that time, since a cow could be bought for only 3 rubles. But the profitable enterprise turned into the destruction of leeches and the authorities banned their catching and export and even began to create nurseries for their breeding. The great Russian doctors of that time, among whom was Pirogov, also considered hirudotherapy to be the strongest remedy for treating many ailments.

With the advent of the 20th century, the situation changed. Synthetic drugs and antibiotics have appeared that make it possible to quickly destroy bacteria and change the microflora of the body. The “stunning” success of addictive drugs, new at that time, displaced the leech from its pedestal. But in the 1990s, interest in leeches flared up with renewed vigor. Scientists have proven that the effect of leeches is associated with the biological value of its saliva.

The discovery of more than 15 biologically active substances with unique healing effects in the secretions of the salivary glands of the medicinal leech created a sensation in the medical world. Until now, scientists have not been able to artificially obtain such natural compounds, despite the millions of dollars spent by developed countries. Today, even genetic engineering cannot solve this issue. Therefore, the material given by nature itself is actively used in various fields of medicine: ophthalmology and plastic surgery, in the treatment of atherosclerosis, in urology and gynecology, immunology and cardiology.

In Russia, leeches are used in the treatment and prevention of many diseases, mainly of a non-infectious nature. Nowadays, when the side effects of taking synthetic drugs have been proven, a method of treatment that has been proven for centuries is becoming popular again.

Now hirudotherapy is considered one of the most promising areas of psychosomatic science and practice of the 21st century , which is constantly and intensively developing. In hirudotherapy, the main principle is an individual approach to the patient. For each person, their own treatment regimen is developed, taking into account the basic mechanisms of the development of the disease and the characteristics of the body. Availability, effectiveness, relative ease of use, almost complete absence of side effects, the possibility of use regardless of gender and age, make treatment with leeches increasingly popular all over the world.

The author of the article is Doctor of Psychology, Professor Alla Sergeevna Konkova.

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Benefits of treatment: doctors' opinion

Supporters of official medicine are skeptical about treatment with leeches, emphasizing that in many cases there is a placebo effect that does not improve the patient’s condition. Carrying out the procedure at home can cause severe skin irritation. Open wounds get infected, which will have to be treated with potent drugs. The cause of trouble can be both the leeches themselves and the unpredictable reaction of the body.

The easiest and safest way is to use external products based on hirudin. They can improve skin condition, relieve swelling and local irritation. Cream purchased at a pharmacy must be used before the expiration date.

Before treatment, consultation with your doctor is necessary.

Contraindications and precautions

Despite the effectiveness of leeches, they cannot be recommended for all patients. Hirudotherapy is contraindicated for pregnant women and women breastfeeding. An indirect contraindication will be tumors of any nature, including benign ones. Procedures with leeches should not be carried out if:

decreased blood clotting (hemophilia);
autoimmune diseases;
diabetes mellitus type 1 in the acute stage;
tuberculosis;
severe anemia;
weight deficiency;
allergies to hirudin and other active substances.

Contraindications will be increased skin sensitivity, the presence of any fungal, viral or infectious diseases. High temperature and general deterioration in health are reasons for urgent interruption of the course. It will be possible to resume it only after the therapist confirms that the patient is completely healthy.