The Medical Case for Leeches
In my research and practice, I’ve seen leeches have great therapeutic effect for certain conditions
For most of us, leeches conjure up feelings of fear and revulsion. The idea of one of these strange creatures attaching itself to you in order to drink your blood is probably quite disturbing. This is a normal reaction. I used to feel the same way. That said, leeches are one of the oldest medicinal products in the world. These tiny but effective animals should not be underestimated.
My first encounter with leeches was in March 1992. It left a deep impression on me. I had just transferred from the cardiology department at Berlin’s Humboldt Hospital to the department for naturopathy at what was then the Moabit Hospital. That’s where I was supposed to admit a new patient, a woman in her mid-sixties. She suffered from such severe osteoarthritis of the knees that she was barely able to climb stairs, and could get into a car only with great difficulty. The attending physician ordered leech therapy for the next day.
I was surprised. I had heard that leeches were used in some areas of naturopathy — usually by alternative practitioners — but at a renowned hospital? When the appointed time for the leech therapy arrived, I met the nurse who was already on her way to the patient with a pot…
