% E& B# q+ m/ T1 N+ CWomen turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011' a9 L( p: z6 O* Q* h+ j
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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. U" X1 {8 R9 G/ d& Q. _. P- D" G9 \7 k1 R5 ] L1 A( ~8 p
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 8 I! A- H3 i3 S* J0 f * k, _! p" A$ ? ?1 ^5 F* _' ^csuchen.deThat 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. ! @# f& t5 \: z) D; z) }( ?9 gcsuchen.de$ ~+ A/ ]* p" e x7 V5 M0 K0 o
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.