Leeches, the tiny blood-sucking parasites used by doctors to treat a variety of ailments before the advent of modern medicine, can help relieve chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Researchers in Germany said the slimy creatures relieved pain without any side effects in 10 patients suffering from osteoarthritis in a small pilot study.
"We regard the observed clear treatment effect as remarkable. Treatment with leeches reduced pain significantly after 3 days and up to 4 weeks. The leeches were left on the patients' knees for 80 minutes. Some complained that the initial bite of the leech was painful.
The researchers said the blood suckers produced faster pain relief than conventional drugs given to patients in a control group.
Leeches remove blood through a tiny incision in their teeth. The saliva of leeches contains analgesic and anaesthetic compounds, as well as hirudin, an anti-blood clotting agent.
Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 2001;60:986
An interesting approach for arthritis. However even though this is a "natural" therapy, unlike the maggot therapy described in this issue I can not, in most cases recommend it.
Why you ask?
Because we have even better natural therapy.
Osteoarthritis frequently responds to the eating plan.
NST is also incredibly helpful to restore pain free joint function.
I have also been absolutely amazed at the effectiveness of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) at producing dramatic and rapid relief for most types of arthritis.
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