Leech Therapy

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How does leech therapy work?

Leech therapy is a centuries-old naturopathic method. The leech's body has tiny suckers on both ends. The animal uses one of these suckers to hold on to the patient and look for a suitable spot to bite. The other sucker contains the mouth opening, with which the leech attaches itself to the patient. The mouth has three jaws with about 80 tiny calcareous teeth. The focus is on the leech's secretion. The animal releases it into the wound during the sucking process. The leech's secretion contains more than 200 different ingredients. The most intensively researched, however, are the two substances eglin and hirudin.

Eglin is a substance that blocks the activity of enzymes that trigger inflammation. In research, eglin is therefore described in connection with inflammatory processes. Eglin is also attributed pain-relieving properties, which are discussed mainly in connection with chronic pain.

The second substance, hirudin, inhibits blood clotting by impairing the clotting factor thrombin. It is also described that hirudin influences the formation and activity of white blood cells, which are part of the immune system. In naturopathy, leech therapy is also associated with lymph flow.
The leech's bite is comparable to a mosquito bite. The only difference is that a small wound remains after the session, which continues to bleed for 12 to a maximum of 24 hours afterwards. This side effect is intended and should under no circumstances be interrupted. The wound heals 1-3 weeks after the treatment.

What preparations should be made before the treatment?

Since the little animals are very sensitive to different smells, you should avoid strongly scented skin care products such as cream, shower gel, and body lotion for about 3 days beforehand and clean your skin with clear water instead. Otherwise, the leeches might not feel comfortable and could lose their appetite. Stress should also be avoided before and during the treatment.

Our little bloodsuckers are already looking forward to welcoming you and getting to know you at our Natura Heilpraxis!

When should leech therapy not be performed?

• When taking blood thinners such as Marcumar or acetylsalicylic acid

• With a weakened immune system

• With anemia

• With a strong tendency to scarring

Leech saliva contains the following substances identified so far:

• Hirudin (the name is derived from Hirudo medicinalis = medicinal leech) is one of the active substances of the leech that are used as stand-alone medicines in medicine.
  Hirudin inhibits blood clotting and is used, among other things, in the treatment of heart attacks.

• Calin also inhibits blood clotting and, following the "fast" hirudin, causes the wound to be cleansed for about 12 hours through rebleeding. This results in the well-known, gentle bloodletting. During the 60-minute sucking process, it is of course necessary to keep the wound open and the blood flowing.
  During the sucking process, the "spreading factor”, hyaluronidase, also comes into action: it loosens the tissue. This active substance is used in medicine as an absorption-enhancing additive to infusion and injection preparations

• Apyrase inhibits platelet aggregation

• Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid

• Eglins and bdellins are described as anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving

With respect for the animals: the retirement pond

According to the regulations of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), leeches are a medical device. To prevent the transmission of infections, leeches may only be used once. Reuse is not permitted. In most cases, the leeches are therefore killed after treatment with alcohol or by freezing.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to this procedure. Those who provide such helpful services should not be punished with death. We send our leeches back to the breeder. There, after a quarantine period, they are placed in the so-called retirement pond. In the retirement pond, the leeches are allowed to live until they die. They are fed regularly, and the water quality of the pond is strictly monitored. This way, both sides can feel good after a leech treatment: the patients and the leeches.

If you would like to make an appointment or have any questions, please feel free to leave us a message.
We will get back to you as soon as possible.