Leech therapy has long been recognized as one of the traditional methods of treatment. It utilizes substances contained in leech saliva to treat several health problems. How is leech therapy performed, and is it effective? Check out the following review.

What is Leech Therapy?

Leech therapy, also known as hirudotherapy, has been around since the Egyptian civilization. In those days, Egyptians used leeches to draw blood (bloodletting, or phlebotomy) from a person's body to treat problems such as bruises, headaches, and others.

The leech most commonly used for this treatment is Hirudo medicinalis, which generally comes from Hungary or Sweden. This medicinal leech has three jaws with rows of small teeth. When used in therapy, the leech will pierce the human skin with its teeth and then introduce an anticoagulant (a substance that decreases the blood's ability to clot) through its saliva.

The leech will then draw blood for 20–45 minutes at a time until it leaves the body on its own. Blood drawn is usually up to 15 mL per bite. When leeches suck blood, this mechanism is believed to improve blood flow by breaking up blood clots.

This is due to the content of leech saliva, which contains chemical compounds that are useful for reducing swelling and anticoagulants that reduce the blood's ability to clot and improve blood flow. There is also said to be antibiotic content in leech saliva that can kill bacteria.

Read more: Spa Ikan, Kenali Manfaat dan Risikonya

Health Benefits of Leech Therapy

Leech therapy has been recognized in contemporary medicine as it is supported by several scientific studies. Leech therapy is currently listed in the Indonesian Nursing Intervention Standards (SIKI) and can be used for several conditions.

Beberapa potensi manfaat dari terapi lintah antara lain:

Lowers the risk of heart disease

One of the potential benefits of leech therapy is to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow. Due to the anticoagulant content in leech saliva, leech therapy may be a viable alternative therapy for patients with heart disease.

Lowers the risk of cancer

Cancer treatment using leech therapy is being studied because leech saliva contains platelet inhibitors and special enzymes. Although not all cancer patients can apply this therapy, such as those with certain blood cancers, there are studies that have found that saliva from leeches can slow the effects of small cell lung cancer. An animal test also showed that injecting leech saliva directly into mice helped prevent the colonization of cancer cells.

Read more: Benarkah Terapi Ear Candle Efektif Membersihkan Telinga?

Lowers the risk of amputation in people with diabetes

One of the complications of diabetes is that it causes tissue damage and affects wound healing, leading to amputation in severe cases of tissue death. A study revealed that leech therapy may be beneficial in reducing the risk of amputation due to the hirudin in their saliva, which prevents blood from clotting and improves blood circulation in the body.

Help with plastic surgery 

During tissue removal or grafting in plastic surgery, the blood supply to the area can be disrupted and blocked. Placing leeches in the area is expected to remove the clotted blood so that blood flow becomes smoother.

Side Effects of Leech Therapy

Leech therapy is easy to perform and has a fairly low risk of side effects. However, it also has risks, such as the risk of bacterial infection, and sometimes involves drug-resistant bacteria.

If something goes wrong during leech therapy, blood will leak out of the treated area, and the leech bite site will not close. Leeches may also shift to other areas of the body that do not require treatment, causing unnecessary blood loss. Another side effect is that leech saliva can cause allergic reactions such as itching and swelling.

Leech therapy is one of the traditional therapies that is widely used to treat health problems. However, not everyone is recommended to undergo this therapy.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

Looking for more information and tips regarding health. first aid, and home remedies? Click here!