Medicinal Leeches (India)

Leeches are segmented hermaphroditic worms that are widely distributed and are able to ingest ten times their body weight (between 5 and 15 ml). When leeches attach with their suckers, ready to feed, they secrete an anaesthetic which acts locally as an anticoagulant, called hirudin, so that bloodflow is not hindered. It is the method of feeding which has proved useful to medicine. Leeches are again widely used in Russia for the therapy of a number of conditions in areas such as cardiovascular disease, opthalmology and dermatology. They are thought to act as anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombolytic and anti-hypertensive agents. They are even thought by some to be practitioners to be the saving grace for treating terminal glaucoma.
The main leeches used in medicine are of the species Hirudo medicincalis (European medicinal leech) although the species Hirdinaria manillensis (Asian medicinal leech) and Haementeria ghillanii (Amazon leech) may also be used. The actual benefit in modern medicine is to provide a good bloodflow at the required site in cases such as post-surgery. It is especially useful in plastic and reconstructive surgery as the leech induces bloodflow that lasts up to ten hours. This has a tremendous benefit to the surgical site in shortening time.

The main problem associated with leech use in medicine is patient acceptability. Older patients who remember their use earlier when they were young find the use of leeches more acceptable. In other patients, however, basic education on the benefit of leeches is needed before they can be used. The actual procedure is painless because of the leeches secretion of local anaesthetic.