Where and how do leeches hibernate. Ecological groups of leeches and their relation to environmental factors. Medical leeches: price

Wondering how many teeth a leech has? What a score! You have found the right site! Learn the structure of a leech from an expert - doctor - hirudotherapist A. Novocidu

Leeches are not only a medicine for me, but also an object of tender passion and scientific interest. There was even a case, I was engaged in breeding them. I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and only the truth, how many teeth a leech has, otherwise there are so many nonsense written on the Internet about this that it becomes a pity for misinformed readers. But first, a few words about the structure.

Structural features

There are about 400 species left on earth, most of them on the verge of extinction. The natural medicinal leech in Russia is listed in the Red Book. They are called bdella in another way, and in old books hirudotherapy was called bdellotherapy. In Europe, three varieties of leeches are medicinal for humans:

• Apothecary Hirudo Medicinalis Officinalis
• Medical Hirudo Medicinalis Medicinalis,
• Eastern Hirudo Medicinalis Orientalis

The external structure of the leech resembles the structure of annelids with a round body, slightly flattened from the back and abdomen. With the naked eye, you can see 2 suction cups at the ends. One, clearly visible, in the tail. It does not seem to be of any interest, and is only needed as a means of movement and attachment to surfaces. The second is almost imperceptible, but it hides the most interesting thing, the mouth opening. An adult is up to 20 cm long.

The leech has a very original structure body. It has four layers of different muscle fibers, these are:

• circular fibers, the functional duties of which include the process of suction of the nutrient medium, that is, blood;
• diagonal and longitudinal muscles responsible for contractile and tensile body movements;
• dorso-abdominal muscles, with the help of which the leech can sleep almost flat,

Its connective tissue is also distinguished by a structural feature. It is slightly denser than other representatives of this species, very elastic, and covers not only the muscles, but also other organs.

The leech has an elastic and elastic body with each type of muscle perfectly developed in its structure. It is divided into several dozen segments, on the surface of each there are sensory papillae. The coloration is dark, greenish-brown, with a reddish stripe on the back, which is better visible when the leech swims in the water. The belly is lighter than the back. In a pregnant female, a yellowish belt can be seen closer to the anterior end of the body, and genitals. The leech is a hermaphrodite, so both the female opening and the male tubercle are visible on her belly. They mate in water and lay cocoons in peat.

The sense organs of leeches are something incredible. Her structure did not provide, as such, no ears, no nose, not even a tongue. But, on the other hand, the leech has five pairs of eyes. True, such an amount does not make her eyesight sharp, leeches are able to distinguish only light and shadow, and, well, a little outline of objects. But, this is compensated a hundredfold by the presence of feeling the slightest fluctuations in water.

The question is brewing, how is it possible to live with only part of the senses. Everything is much simpler and more ingenious. The structure of the skin of a leech is worthy of attention even by a science fiction writer. It is all dotted with nerve endings, or, in other words, sensitive kidneys. No wonder leeches, wherever they are in the pond, instantly rush to where the source of noise is, especially if alluring smells come from there, portending the opportunity to eat tightly.

At one time, even before the creation of leech farms, Duremar catchers used these qualities of leeches. Entering the pond, they tried to make as much noise as possible, and the more intense the noise, the more leeches flocked to them. Then it remained only to unhook them from the top of the boots.

Interestingly, if you throw new and worn shoes into the pond, the leeches will be primarily interested in the one that has been used and soaked with the smell of its owner.

Leeches perfectly feel the change in the weather, no matter how strange it may seem, but in bad weather and rain, leeches do not leave their shelters, they can only be attracted on quiet sunny days.

But, the most interesting thing is the digestive system of leeches, which should be discussed separately.

The digestive system or how many teeth a leech has

But the leech has three of them. The expression "armed to the teeth" can be safely attributed to leeches, as each of their jaws is equipped with an incredible amount of strong chitinous teeth.

How many teeth does a leech have? According to various sources, their number can be from 70 to 100 on each jaw. But I asked Professor Sergei Utevsky, a world-famous expert on leeches, if there was any species difference. The professor said that Hirudo Orientalis leeches have an average of 80 teeth per jaw, ranging from 71 to 91 teeth. Other species have up to 100 teeth per jaw. That's it! Between the teeth there are holes through which saliva is supplied to the wound. And these jaws work no worse than an oil drill, since the main task is not to bite, but to quickly drill a hole and inject saliva into it, which does not allow blood to clot. The bite leaves a mark resembling an inverted Y inside a circle - the sign of Mercedes. After piercing the skin and injecting an anticoagulant (hirudin) and anesthetics, they suck out blood. Large adults can consume up to ten times their body weight in blood per feeding, averaging 5-15 ml. The process of sucking blood takes from 10 to 30 minutes. Having satiated, the animal can live quietly for up to one and a half years without harming itself.

This is where new miracles begin. The structure of the intestines of the leech allows you to keep the blood fresh, preventing it from spoiling or coagulating. The trick is that the leech has no digestive enzymes, these wonderful creatures got out of the situation in a completely original way. They got themselves a faithful assistant and guard in one person. This is the beneficial bacterium Aeromonas. hydrophila Aeromonas veronii, and its varieties. In addition to the fact that the bacterium contributes to the uniform digestion of food, it, like a faithful guard, disinfects the blood eaten, and does not let any pathogenic microbes into its dwelling. This microorganism is credited with an immunostimulatory effect on the human body. Every time a leech feeds on human blood, tiny amounts of the microbe enter the bloodstream and act like a vaccine. In response to its introduction, antibodies are produced. However, there are cases when, having entered the body of weakened patients, the microbe caused the disease. Read about and about and for what they put

Bibliography: Comparative structural analysis of jaws of selected blood-feeding and predacious arhynchobdellid leeches (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinida) M. V. Kovalenko S. Y. Utevsky in Zoomorphology

pijawka) formed from the verb *pjati, multiple verb from *piti"drink". At the same time, in Russian the form would be expected *leech(cf. Ukrainian p᾽yavka), and and in this case, they explain it by a secondary rapprochement with the verb "drink" according to folk etymology.

In Latin hirūdō find the same suffix as in testūdō"tortoise", however, the etymologization of the root causes difficulties. As possible relatives are called hīra"small intestine" and haruspex"haruspex".

Structure

The body length of different representatives varies from a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. The largest representative Haementeria ghilianii(up to 45 cm).

The anterior and posterior ends of the body of leeches bear suckers. At the bottom of the anterior there is a mouth opening leading to the pharynx. Proboscis leeches (detachment Rhynchobdellida) the pharynx is able to move outward. In jaw leeches (for example, medicinal leeches), the oral cavity is armed with three movable chitinous jaws that serve to cut through the skin.

Nutrition

Biology of the body

The body is elongated or oval, more or less flattened in the dorsal-abdominal direction, clearly divided into small rings, which in number 3-5 correspond to one segment of the body; numerous glands in the skin that secrete mucus; at the posterior end of the body there is usually a large sucker, often at the anterior end there is a well-developed sucker, in the center of which the mouth is placed; more often, the mouth is used for suction. At the anterior end of the body there are 1-5 pairs of eyes arranged in an arc or in pairs one after the other. Powder on the dorsal side above the rear suction cup. The nervous system consists of a two-lobed supraesophageal ganglion, or brain, connected to it by short commissures of the subpharyngeal ganglion (derived from several merged nodes of the abdominal chain) and the abdominal chain itself, located in the abdominal blood sinus and having about 20 nodes. The head node innervates the sense organs and the pharynx, and 2 pairs of nerves depart from each node of the abdominal chain, innervating the body segments corresponding to them; the lower wall of the intestine is equipped with a special longitudinal nerve that gives branches to the blind sacs of the intestine. The digestive organs begin with a mouth armed with either three chitinous toothed plates (maxillary P. - Gnathobdellidae), which serve to cut through the skin when sucking blood in animals, or a proboscis capable of protruding (in proboscis P. - Rhynchobdellidae); numerous salivary glands open into the oral cavity, sometimes secreting a poisonous secret; the pharynx, which plays the role of a pump during sucking, is followed by an extensive, highly extensible stomach, equipped with lateral sacs (up to 11 pairs), of which the posterior ones are the longest; the hindgut is thin and short. The circulatory system consists partly of real, pulsating vessels, partly of cavities - sinuses, representing the remainder of the cavity (secondary) of the body and interconnected by annular channels; blood in proboscis P. is colorless, in jawed - red due to hemoglobin dissolved in the lymph. Special respiratory organs are available only in the river. Branchellion, in the form of leaf-like appendages on the sides of the body. The excretory organs are arranged according to the type of metanephridia, or segmental organs of annelids, and most P. have a pair of them in each of the middle segments of the body. P. - hermaphrodites: the male genital organs consist of most of the vesicles (testes), a pair in 6-12 middle segments of the body, connected on each side of the body by a common excretory duct; these ducts open outwards with one opening lying on the ventral side of one of the anterior rings of the body; the female genital opening lies one segment behind the male and leads into two separate oviducts with saccular ovaries. Two individuals copulate, each simultaneously playing the role of a female and a male. P. during laying of eggs allocates with glands lying in the genital area, thick mucus surrounding the middle part of P.'s body in the form of a cover; eggs are laid in this sheath, after which P. crawls out of it, and the edges of its holes come together, stick together and thus form a capsule with eggs inside, usually attached to the lower surface of the algae leaf; the embryos, leaving the facial membrane, sometimes (Clepsine) keep for some time on the underside of the mother's body. All P. are predators, feeding on the blood of mostly warm-blooded animals or mollusks, worms, etc.; they live mainly in fresh water or in wet grass, but there are also marine forms (Pontobdella), just like terrestrial forms (in Ceylon). Hirudo medicinalis - medical P. up to 10 cm long and 2 cm wide, black-brown, black-green, with a longitudinal patterned reddish pattern on the back; the belly is light grey, with 5 pairs of eyes on the 3rd, 5th and 8th rings and strong jaws; distributed in the swamps of the South. Europe, South. Russia and the Caucasus. In Mexico, Haementaria officinalis is used in medicine; another species, H. mexicana, is poisonous; in tropical Asia, Hirudo ceylonica and other related species living in humid forests and in the grass are common, causing painful bleeding bites to humans and animals. Aulostomum gul o - horse P., black-green in color, with a lighter bottom, has a weaker armament of the mouth and therefore unsuitable for therapeutic purposes; the most common species in the north. and central Russia. Nephelis vulgaris is a small P. with a thin narrow body, gray in color, sometimes with a brown pattern on the back; equipped with 8 eyes located in an arc at the head end of the body; related to her original Archaeobdella Esmonti, pink, without posterior sucker; lives on the silt bottom in the Caspian and Azov seas. Clepsine tessel ata - Tatar P., with a wide oval body, greenish-brown in color, with several rows of warts on the back and 6 pairs of triangular eyes, located one after the other; lives in the Caucasus and Crimea, where it is used by the Tatars for medicinal purposes; the transitional place to the order of bristle-legged (Chaetopoda Oligochaeta) worms is occupied by Acanthobdella peledina, found in Lake Onega.

History of medical use

Medical leech ( Hirudo officinalis) - found in the north of Russia, so especially in the south, in the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, in Poti, Lankaran. In the 19th century, leeches were a profitable export item: Greeks, Turks, Italians, and others came to the Caucasus for them. In addition, artificial breeding of leeches was carried out in special pools or parks according to the Sale system in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Pyatigorsk and Nizhny Tagil. Based on the laws in force, catching leeches during their breeding season - in May, June and July - is prohibited; when fishing, only those suitable for medical use should be selected, that is, not less than 1 1/2 inches in length; leeches are small, as well as too thick, should be thrown back into the water when catching. To supervise the observance of these rules, the provincial medical departments are entrusted with the duty to testify the stocks of leeches from barbers and other merchants who trade them. Since medicine expelled leeches from use, the leech trade has fallen completely.

Notes

Sources

• Ruppert E.E., Fox R.S., Barnes R.D. Invertebrate zoology. Vol. 2: Lower coelomic animals. M., "Academy", 2008.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

• Semipalatinsk region
• Kunduz

See what "Leech" is in other dictionaries:

leeches- (Hirudinea), a class of annelids. Length from several mm up to 15 cm, rarely more. Descended from small-bristle worms. The body is usually flattened, rarely cylindrical, with two suckers (oral and posterior); consists of a head blade, 33 rings ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

leeches- LEECHES, a class of worms. Length 0.5-20 cm. Body usually flattened, with 2 suckers. About 400 species live in fresh and marine waters. Most leeches are bloodsuckers, the salivary glands of which secrete the protein substance hirudin, which prevents ... ... Modern Encyclopedia

leeches- class of annelids. Length 0.5-20 cm. They have front and back suction cups. 400 species. In fresh and marine waters. Most leeches are bloodsuckers whose salivary glands secrete hirudin, which prevents blood clotting. Medical leech ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

leeches- (Hirudinei) detachment of the class of annelids. The body is elongated or oval, more or less flattened in the dorsal-abdominal direction, clearly divided into small rings, which in number 3 5 correspond to one segment of the body; Numerous glands in the skin... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

More and more people are interested in alternative treatment, which has been known since ancient times - hirudotherapy. Treatment with leeches does not require the use of medications, but the effect of it can be significant.

We will talk about how a treatment session is carried out, what diseases can be dealt with in this article.

The effect of leeches on the body

The diverse composition of leech saliva provides the benefits of leech treatment at home. The following elements in saliva have a complex effect on the body:

• hirudin is involved in improving blood circulation, has an analgesic effect;
• apyrase is effective against atherosclerotic plaques;
• destabilase has a positive effect on the processes of thrombosis;
• hyaluronidase is involved in the resorption of scars;
• thanks to eglins, the inflammatory process in tissues is reduced;
• bradykinins have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Organization of a hirudotherapy session

To ensure better contact of the leech with the human body, on the eve of the session, you should refuse to take a bath with soap that has a strong aroma, you should not use deodorants.

Attachment points must be processed. This is done immediately before the procedure. You should shave off the hairline, wash the skin with warm water and odorless soap. It is necessary to wipe the skin with special cotton swabs.

The skin in the places of future attachment must be treated with a glucose solution. Then the leech is placed in a test tube. Her tail should be pointing down. The test tube is applied to the body area.

When the leech has sucked, the test tube is removed, and a piece of cotton wool is applied to the tail to prevent the second sucker from attaching.

The session continues until the worm detaches itself after full saturation. This can happen up to an hour after the start of the procedure. To disconnect the leech, they bring cotton wool with alcohol to it. After that, using tweezers, it must be placed in a container and poured with a special solution.

Apply the worm only once.

The effect of treatment with leeches is significant, but it is important to monitor the condition of the wounds. Immediately after the session, they are covered with a bandage of cotton and gauze. Bleeding may continue for days. In this case, the bandage must be changed. A day later, the wounds are treated with iodine and covered with a bandage for several days.

If the bleeding has not gone away, then it is necessary to treat the wound with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and cover it with a bandage for several days.

Indications and contraindications for treatment with leeches

With the help of hirudotherapy, you can get rid of problems such as:

• heart disease and vascular problems;
• problems in the field of gynecology and urology;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and metabolic disorders;
• ENT diseases and eye diseases;
• deviations of the thyroid gland and nervous system;
• spinal problems and joint disorders.

Also, with the help of such treatment, you can normalize the immune system and improve the body as a whole. This confirms the enormous benefits that a person receives from hirudotherapy.

At the same time, before starting the procedures, you should consult with your doctor. It is better not to participate in such sessions in case of blood clotting disorders, severe anemia, the presence of bleeding and allergic reactions, and cachexia.

Also, 12-15 hours after the third procedure, the patient may experience itching, swelling, and fever. Lymph nodes can also increase, well-being worsens, which is typical of 80-85% of people. These are normal phenomena that are the result of the action of the immune system.

The therapeutic effect of hirudotherapy

Leech therapy has a positive effect on many diseases, but their use in different cases is individual.

Treatment of cardiovascular disorders

Of particular importance in general therapy is the treatment of blood vessels with leeches. They are used to combat diseases such as atherosclerosis, thrombophlebitis, ischemic stroke, hypertension, thrombosis, etc. They also produce a preventive effect by cleansing the circulatory system.

With their help, you can normalize metabolic processes, remove harmful substances and toxins. The location of the leeches on the body is determined by the doctor based on the results of the research.

Prevention of varicose veins

If you have varicose veins, treatment should be started as soon as possible. But the procedures must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist who can correctly determine the scheme where to put the leech.

As a rule, worms are placed on the principle of a chessboard. They cannot be placed on a vein or nodes. It should be placed at a distance of 2 to 10 cm from the vein.

Due to blood thinning, dissolution of blood clots, itching and irritation go away. The walls of blood vessels are also strengthened.

Use in gynecology

Leeches can be an effective remedy for infertility caused by endometriosis, adhesions, inflammation, etc.

A woman's hormonal background, immune system, and blood circulation are restored. This contributes to the establishment of reproductive function.

Treatment of joints and spine

Hirudotherapy can help eliminate many problems with the spine. Also, leeches are effective in the treatment of arthritis, arthrosis, sciatica, joint problems. There is an improvement in blood circulation and the elimination of congestion, spasms. Patients can get rid of cervical osteochondrosis, headaches, insomnia.

We talked about the main positive properties of hirudotherapy and the effect that it has on the human body. However, before starting a course of treatment, you should always consult with your doctor.

Photo of the treatment process with leeches

Names: medicinal leech, common leech.

Area: Central and Southern Europe, Asia Minor.

Description: medicinal leech - a ringed worm of the class of leeches. Respiration is cutaneous, gills are absent. The muscles are well developed (about 65% of the body volume). The outer integument is called the skin, which consists of a single layer of signet-shaped cells that form the epidermis. Outside, the epidermal layer is covered with a cuticle. The cuticle is transparent, has a protective function and continuously grows, being periodically updated during the molting process. Shedding occurs every 2-3 days. The shed skin resembles white flakes or small white sheaths. The body of the leech is elongated, but not whip-like, and consists of 102 rings. On the dorsal side, the rings are covered with many small papillae. On the ventral side, the papillae are much smaller and less visible. The head end is narrower than the rear end. There are special suction cups at both ends of the body. The anterior sucker surrounding the oral opening is the sosal circle. It is triangular in shape with three strong jaws, each of which has up to 60-90 chitinous teeth arranged in the form of a semicircular saw. There is an anus (powder) near the posterior sucker. There are ten small eyes on the head of the leech, located in a semicircle: six in front and four on the back of the head. With their help, a medical leech saws through the skin to a depth of one and a half millimeters. At the edges of the jaws, the ducts of the salivary glands open. Saliva contains hirudin, which prevents blood clotting. There are no kidneys. Two genital openings are located on the ventral side of the body, closer to the head end.

Color: medical leech is black, dark gray, dark green, green, red-brown. On the back there are stripes - red, light brown, yellow or black. The sides are green with a yellow or olive tint. The belly is motley: yellow or dark green with black spots.

The size: length 3-13 cm, body width up to 1 cm.

Lifespan: up to 20 years old.

Habitat: fresh water bodies (ponds, lakes, quiet rivers) and damp places near water (clay, damp moss). Leeches love clean, running water.

Enemies: fish, desman.

Food/food: the medical leech feeds on the blood of mammals (humans and animals) and amphibians (including frogs), however, in the absence of animals, it eats the mucus of aquatic plants, ciliates, mollusks, insect larvae living in the water. It bites the skin gently and sucks out a small amount blood (up to 10-15 ml). It can live for more than a year without food.

Behavior: if the reservoir dries up, the leech burrows into the moist soil, where it waits out the drought. In winter, it hibernates, hiding in the soil until spring. Does not withstand freezing soil. The characteristic posture of a hungry leech is that, having stuck its back sucker to a stone or plant, it stretches the body forward, making circular movements with its free end. Responds quickly to many irritants: splash, temperature and smell. When swimming, the leech strongly stretches and flattens, acquiring a ribbon-like shape and curving in waves. The rear sucker in this case performs the function of a fin.

Reproduction: hermaphrodite. After fertilization, the leech crawls ashore, digs a small depression in the moist soil, in which it makes a foamy mass from the secretion of the oral glands. It lays 10-30 eggs in this depression, after which it returns to the water.

Season/breeding period: June August.

Puberty: 2-3 years.

Incubation: 2 months.

Offspring: newborn leeches are transparent, similar to adults. They spend some time inside their cocoons, feeding on nutrient fluid. Later, they crawl into the water. Before reaching puberty, young leeches feed on the blood of tadpoles, small fish, earthworms or snails. If after three years the leech never drinks the blood of mammals, then it will never reach puberty.

Benefit / harm to humans: The first information about the use of leeches for medical purposes dates back to Ancient Egypt. The medicinal leech is used for bloodletting for medicinal purposes. In modern medicine, leeches are used to treat thrombophlebitis, hypertension, pre-stroke conditions, etc. Leech saliva that enters the human body has healing unique properties - it contains more than 60 biologically active substances.

Literature:
1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia
2. Vladislav Sosnovsky. Magazine "In the world of animals" 4/2000
3. Yan Zhabinsky. "From Animal Life"
4. D.G. Zharov. "Secrets of hirudotherapy"
Compiler: , copyright holder: portal Zooclub
When reprinting this article, an active link to the source is MANDATORY, otherwise, the use of the article will be considered a violation of the "Law on Copyright and Related Rights".

Treatment with leeches is the oldest method of treatment of many, often completely diverse, diseases. Despite the fact that this method of treatment belongs to the methods of alternative medicine, its unique healing properties are also recognized by official medicine. The popular name of these organisms - "living pharmacy" - also speaks of such an influence on a person.

Did you know? The leech is a full-fledged medical remedy, and this fact has been recognized since 1990.

The body of a medical leech is smooth and elongated, reaching a length of 3 to 13 cm and a width of 1 cm, slightly flat in the abdominal region.

The structure of the body is annular, like that of an earthworm, but less segmented. The body can be black, dark green or gray, brown-red with contrasting body color stripes of yellow, red or black.

The anterior and posterior ends of the body have suction cups:

• the anterior one is intended for attachment (suction) to objects, in the center of it is the mouth. In the mouth opening there are three toothed plates designed to break the integrity of the skin and suck out blood;
• the back is designed to attach the body when moving.

These organisms have male and female sexual characteristics and are hermaphrodites, but for reproduction (laying eggs) they need the participation of a second individual.

You should not look for medical specimens in a wide sale - this is not a mass-produced product, although some pharmacies sell them. It is recommended that these organisms be used under the guidance of a leech specialist (hirudotherapist) in a medical facility.
This approach will help to avoid the purchase of "low-quality goods", because. dishonest scammers under the guise of medical supplies supply the usual "river".

Important! Ordinary freshwater (or river) leeches do not benefit the human body.

Supplies for hirudotherapy sessions are made from special biofactories where leeches are grown under sterile conditions. Such cultivation makes them safe and "tame", which greatly simplifies the work of health workers with them.

The safety of the procedures performed will be indicated by the immediate disposal of organisms by a health worker immediately after use.

The benefits of hirudotherapy sessions depend not only on the ongoing process of bloodletting, but also on the contents of the salivary glands of leeches, the composition of which is unique and invaluable. At the moment of biting through the skin and in the process of blood consumption, biologically active substances contained in saliva enter the human body. Among these substances, the most useful:

• hirudin anticoagulant, which prevents blood clotting. In addition to thinning, it helps to cleanse the blood of blood clots and clots;
• the enzyme hyaluronidase, which increases the permeability to incoming active substances of tissues and blood vessels;

Did you know?Leeches are afraid of noise, the excitement of high vibrations exhausts and weakens their body, which can lead to their death.

• destabilase enzyme, contributing to the reduction of inflammatory processes in the body;
• asperase enzyme, which helps to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol and prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. This effect speeds up metabolic processes in the body, which contributes to weight loss.

In one session, each leech consumes from 15 to 20 ml of blood, while no more than 7 individuals are used. As a result, the volume of blood in the human body decreases, but at the same time, the supply of oxygen and nutrients increases.

Also, hirudotherapy is often compared with acupuncture sessions. The thing is that leeches stick only to biologically active points (acupuncture) on the body, which is comparable to the effect of punctures. Such a positive effect on the body also takes place in modern alternative medicine.

Indications for treatment are disorders in the functioning of the body associated with:

• with a failure in metabolism for its normalization;
• with violations in the endocrine system for its settlement and obtaining normal test results;
• with diseases of the spine to improve physiological norms and increase the amplitude of actions;
• with disorders in the hematopoietic system, in particular, to reduce the likelihood of blood clots;
• with diseases of the urogenital area, to obtain a positive result of treatment.

In addition, it is possible to use hirudotherapy sessions as a preventive measure to rejuvenate the body and maintain energy balance.

The mechanism of action of the leech lies in the fact that the enzymes and other active substances contained in the saliva of the leech, in the process of saturation, enter the human body and spread to nearby tissues and organs, where they begin their effect.
A feature of this mechanism is the fact that biologically active substances begin to act in the place where it is needed.

Hirudotherapy as an additional method of treatment is prescribed for diseases:

• in the field of gynecology for the treatment of chronic inflammation of the appendages, endometriosis, cystitis, infertility;
• in the field of dermatology for the treatment of dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic manifestations on the skin, acne and acne;

• in the field of cardiology and neurology in coronary heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis;
• in the field of endocrinology, especially in diabetes mellitus;
• in the field of urology for the treatment of renal colic, hemorrhoids, prostatitis;
• in the field of ophthalmology for the treatment of glaucoma and keratitis;
• in the field of phlebology for the treatment of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis;
• in the field of rheumatology for the treatment of rheumatic heart disease, arthritis, hernia and other diseases of the spine.

It is impossible to list all the diseases that a leech can cure, because. therapeutic and side effects depend on the characteristics of the organism of each person.

Important! The same leech, when used by different people, will not transmit possible infections and diseases from one person to another. the blood she has consumed cannot go back into the wound.

Contraindications for treatment

Despite the general positive effect on a person and his body, hirudotherapy has some contraindications. Sessions not allowed:

• with chronic hypotension (low blood pressure);
• with diagnosed hemophilia;
• with anemia (anemia);
• after a stroke or heart attack;
• with oncological diseases in severe forms;
• during pregnancy;
• with individual intolerance.

It is not worth starting to use leeches at home without prior preparation. It is preliminary recommended to obtain the necessary information about the rules of setting from a specialist, because. the process of hirudotherapy has its own characteristics.

For home hirudotherapy sessions you will need:

• leeches;
• a jar of water where well-fed individuals will be placed;
• tweezers;
• a test tube or small glass vessel with a narrow neck for placing individuals there before setting;
• dressings (cotton swabs, bandage);
• hydrogen peroxide.

Did you know? The blood consumed by a leech can remain in the organs of its digestion for more than 3 months, without clotting, and without signs of putrefaction.

Despite the fact that leeches feel active biological points on the body, it is possible to adjust the place of setting, but with prior consultation with a specialist. Each disease for which they are used has its own area for staging.

The process of hirudotherapy occurs in the following order:

1. the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe body where leeches will be applied must be thoroughly rubbed, warming it up in this way;
2. a leech, taken by the tail with tweezers, is placed in a glass vessel and applied to the skin in the required place. The vessel does not need to be removed immediately, but it is necessary to hold it on the body a little so that the leech sticks firmly;
3. the session lasts until the leech is saturated and falls off by itself. Such an individual must be immediately placed in a jar of water. There is another way to conduct a session, when the leech is given the opportunity to suck well, but the process of its saturation is forcibly interrupted by applying a tampon soaked in salt water or iodine solution to the back. This method has a positive effect, while blood loss is not allowed;
4. a clean napkin, a cotton swab and a bandage are applied to the bite site. on the first day, a certain amount of blood can be released from the wound;

Important! With abundant bleeding at the site of the bite, an additional bandage is applied, while the first bandage applied should not be removed, even if it is completely saturated with blood.

Scope for staging leeches for certain diseases:

• in the chest area- for the treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• in the region of the liver- with diabetes;
• at the bottom of the legs- for the treatment of varicose veins;
• in the occipital region of the head- for the treatment of hypertension;
• along the spine- for the treatment of osteochondrosis and hernias;
• in the lower abdomen- for the treatment of gynecological and urological diseases.

It is necessary to install leeches at intervals of 5-6 days, while it is important to use no more than 5-7 individuals in one session.

Leeches are unique organisms that can benefit a person by simply consuming his blood. For healing sessions, only the type of medical leeches is used, which may differ somewhat in their external manifestations, although this does not diminish their positive qualities. And do not forget that it is still better to entrust the procedure to a specialist.