The first written mention of leech treatment is associated with the name of the famous Imhotep. The heyday of hirudotherapy began in the 18th century, when Russia exported medical leeches along with grain . Contraindications were not discussed at that time. It just was fashionable. And here is another boom.
Meet Hirudo medicinalis
Leech medical - annelid worm (length up to 12 cm). The dorsal surface is greenish with black dots and orange stripes. Has 3 movable chitin jaws, 5 pairs of eyes.
The natural habitat of a medical leech is fresh water in Europe and Asia. The food for her is the blood of large mammals that have entered the water. Due to the presence of hirudin in its saliva, which prevents normal blood coagulation, wounds bleed for a long time after leeches.
On our planet, there are about 400 types of leeches, but only the medical and some of its subspecies (pharmacy and medical) are used for medicinal purposes.
Indications for the use of hirudotherapy can be various diseases: infertility, arthritis, digestive problems, circulatory disorders, varicose veins and many others. Achieving a therapeutic effect occurs due to the activation of the protective mechanisms of the body. With the correct use of hirudotherapy, no side effects were observed.
It turns out that everyone can put leeches?
Contraindications for hirudotherapy are as extensive as the indications. And they follow from the biological characteristics of the leech medical. Each of the three jaws contains from 70 to 100 chitinous teeth. The ducts of the salivary glands located between them secrete a secret that prevents blood coagulation.
In diseases associated with impaired blood clotting - angiohemophilia, hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic diathesis and coagulopathy, it is strictly forbidden to use a tool such as leeches.
Contraindications to hirudotherapy:
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- hypotension;
- exhaustion;
- acute cardiovascular failure;
- cerebrovascular accident;
- heart attack;
- mental illness ;
- fever of unknown origin;
- oncological diseases;
- children's age up to 7 years.
Use with extreme caution during pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis. With parasitic infestations, they are wary of putting leeches. Contraindications to hirudotherapy are not only diseases, but also physiological conditions, especially of the female body. After the birth of a child, during menstruation or shortly before it, setting leeches can increase bleeding. After cesarean section, hirudotherapy is contraindicated for 4 months.
The list of contraindications can be extended with an extremely negative attitude of the patient to leeches. And also they are not recommended to be used when there is a likelihood of cosmetic defects from their use. In this case, it is better to apply a cream with leeches (based on leech). The modern market for medical cosmetics has dozens of similar products for various parts of the body, starting with the face and ending with the legs.
The seriousness of contraindications obliges doctors and patients to pay attention to hirudotherapy with appropriate attention. Treatment with leeches should be started only after a full laboratory examination and consultation with the treating doctor.