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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 $ o7 X+ I( f( B1 v9 ]) |2 Q人在德国 社区4 r3 F" }4 S6 O- Y
Leeches have been used in medicine for thousands of years. By attaching themselves to the body, and sucking blood from a patient, they were thought to bring health benefits. 6 E. k# |( _5 E! @2 ? 5 d1 y1 s6 r. v7 uThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood.3 H! V. b6 p( s/ x9 g6 W
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That idea fell out of fashion during the 20th century, with the discovery of modern drugs. But today, as interest in traditional medicine grows, they are making a comeback - particularly in the former Soviet State of Georgia. . H; y: o2 E# s8 T0 T* k- I5 N! t: m* H4 \
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.