Where does the medicinal leech live? Medical leeches

The name Ivan comes from the biblical name John. Translated from Hebrew, it means “God’s gift.” There is another version according to which Ivan has ancient Slavic roots. In ancient times, parents often chose the name Van for a boy. In the future, the letter “I” was added to it. This is how the name Ivan came about.

Character of the name Ivan

The meaning of any name, including Ivan, is associated with the time of year of his birth. If he was born in winter, then most likely the boy will be smart, hardworking and efficient. He is loved in companies due to his openness, generosity and sincerity. He also has excellent charm, which contributes to a huge amount of attention from women. Ivan, born in spring, is quite cunning and inventive. He can easily get out of even the most difficult situation. Spring Ivan is not prone to offense and rancor. He is very trusting and vulnerable, but at the same time he can be cruel and secretive. If the bearer of this name was born in the summer, then he will have energy and cheerfulness. He knows how to smile even in difficult times. It combines qualities such as kindness, responsiveness and curiosity. Sometimes summer Ivan shows self-doubt, which prevents him from achieving his goals. If Ivan’s birthday is in the fall, then he is characterized by sincerity and sociability. He often takes unpredictable and impulsive actions. This behavior makes his loved ones wary. Autumn Ivan has a wonderful sense of humor, for which girls love him.

As an adult, Ivan often displays ambition, assertiveness, and self-confidence. He values ​​himself highly, but does not like to command. He will be content to simply be significant and needed. If the activity is interesting to Ivan, then he will show perseverance and will be able to achieve success in this matter. He gives up uninteresting things halfway through. Ivan is also characterized by prudence and practicality. He always acts fairly and wants those around him to do the same. Ivan doesn't like it when people joke about him. This is humiliation for him. Therefore, if you do not want to be at enmity with him, then refrain from making jokes about him.

Ivan is a very attractive man. He shows kindness and generosity, sincerity and compassion, loyalty and responsibility. Ivan also has shortcomings. It is very easy to gain confidence in him; he is also indecisive and uncompromising. His cunning and stubbornness can also be considered negative qualities, however, they often come in handy in life.

Ivan is very smart. If you need to take something important decision, then he thinks about everything for a long time and is tormented by doubts. It's best if close person in this situation will help him with advice. Otherwise, Ivan may never make any decision. Thanks to many positive qualities, it will be easy for him to succeed in any profession. However, physical labor will suit him best. Ivan is very open, never envies or is a hypocrite. For this, his team loves him very much. Since Ivan is very indecisive, it will be difficult for him to succeed in business. This will only happen if Ivan has a reliable partner who is ready to be responsible for all decisions. Ivan's intuition is poorly developed. If he tries to do something based on his instinct, then the attempt ends in failure.

Name Ivan for a boy

Ivan has a very complex character. This manifests itself from a very young age. He can be a calm and not a problem child, or he can grow up to be a real bully. The boy Vanya is characterized by duality. He is both kind and evil, cunning and sincere, weak and strong, patient and impulsive. IN at a young age he is very independent, but nevertheless he requires the love, affection and care of his parents. It is very important for Vanya to feel needed and understand that he is safe.

Ivan is usually not a very good student. He is inattentive and finds it difficult to sit in one place for a long time. Classmates usually do not like Ivan very much and communicate with him only when necessary. Because of this, he often becomes withdrawn, gloomy and vindictive. At the same time, Vanya is still trying to assert herself. Also, peers should not offend Vanya and laugh at him. He remembers all his offenders and can take revenge at any time.

In his youth, Vanya is still as active and serious. However, he is quite driven and depends on the opinions of others, even if they are wrong. He has few real friends. He values ​​them and treats them with respect, and always comes to the rescue. IN adolescence he ceases to be vindictive. He believes that time will put everything in its place and the guilty will be punished. Ivan focuses on earning his place in society. He is very secretive and always smiling. However, no one knows what Vanya really has in his soul.

Marriage and compatibility of the name Ivan

A huge number of women always hover around Ivan, whom he attracts with his charm and charisma. However, they have little chance, since he is monogamous. Ivan treats girls sincerely and always tells the truth. If love will pass, then he will definitely admit this to his companion.

Ivan's girlfriend must be faithful, decent, gentle, affectionate and economical. He pays attention to appearance last. The main thing is that the chosen one understands him and takes care of him. Ivan does not like uncertainty, so he will never start a relationship with a frivolous girl. Ivan has been looking for a woman for a very long time with whom he will connect his destiny. It often happens that his first family breaks up. For this reason, Vanya is in no hurry to marry a second time.

Family for Ivan is sacred. He will never allow anyone to get into it. Ivan is not prone to jealousy, but his girlfriend must behave with dignity and not allow herself to flirt with other men, as this will greatly offend her husband. He accepts divorce only because of infidelity on the part of his wife. In other cases, Ivan will try to save his family by all means. He is a very economical man and will do anything for the sake of his loved ones. Ivan is hospitable and his wife should get used to it. There are always a lot of guests in his house. He is a wonderful husband, ready to help his wife with both household chores and raising children. Ivan is very generous and never pesters his wife with questions about where she spends her money. Vanya dotes on his children and they reciprocate his feelings. However, quarrels periodically arise between the spouses due to his stubbornness.

Usually, Ivan’s relationship is best with Alla, Valya, Dasha, Katya, Lisa, Zoya, Claudia or Maria. But it is better for him not to start relationships with Varvara, Lena, Zina, Larisa, Lida, Maya, Nadya and Rimma, since they will most likely be unsuccessful.

Famous personalities with the name Ivan

Ivan Kalita- Prince of Moscow and Vladimir. They laid the foundations of Moscow's power in the political and economic spheres. He managed to obtain permission from the Golden Horde to collect tribute for them in Rus'.

Ivan Mazepa- Ukrainian diplomat. He was also a military man, politician and hetman of Ukraine.

Ivan Pososhkov- the first Russian economist. He was a supporter of all the reforms of Peter I. He campaigned for the development of industry, trade and mining.

Ivan Polzunov- famous Russian inventor. He came up with a water-powered sawmill. He built a mechanism that, under the influence of water, turned on saws, and also lifted and fed logs.

Ivan Kulibin- Russian inventor. Independently studied mechanics and created large number different mechanisms. He improved the grinding of glass for optics. Among his inventions are a prototype of a searchlight and a semaphore telegraph.

Ivan Krylov- famous Russian fabulist. Served in the imperial public library. He also wrote works in the comedy and tragedy genres.

Ivan Krusenstern- Russian traveler. He led the first Russian expedition around the world. He was one of the first in the country to study oceanology.

Ivan Sosnitsky- Russian comedy actor. In total he performed approximately 560 roles. He was the first artist to play the mayor in the comedy “The Government Inspector” by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. He called Ivan Sosnitsky's game a great success.

Ivan Aivazovsky- famous Russian artist. Most of his paintings are devoted to marine themes and the fight against the water element.

Ivan Kozhedub- military pilot. Took part in the Great Patriotic War. His battles were the most effective. In total he won 64 victories. Three times he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Ivan Okhlobystin- famous Russian actor. He is also the director and screenwriter of several films. Has the rank of priest. He is the creative director of Baon.

In previous centuries, leeches were widely used to cleanse human blood. However, in the last century there was a peak in popularity for these worms, as a result of which their collection and intensive destruction natural habitat leeches led to a reduction in their numbers. Today, the reproduction of worms for medical purposes is carried out in specialized laboratories.

Features

The leech's body has a ringed appearance, but is slightly flattened than that of worms. And the stomach is a modified midgut. Most species of these worms have eyes, but all circulatory system closed type.

Each individual has two suckers:

• back;
• front

With the help of these suckers, the worm attaches itself to the victim, as well as to surrounding objects. With their help, the leech moves.

Diet

What do leeches eat in nature? In most cases, leeches feed on the blood of mollusks, vertebrates and other representatives of the animal world. It is these types (not all) that are used for medical purposes.

Medical leeches have three jaw plates, on which there are a huge number of small and very sharp teeth. The jaws themselves are a collection of thick muscles. At first, the leech pierces with its teeth skin, then tears the tissue and sucks out the blood. After a bite, a protein substance called hirudin is released from the sebaceous glands of the worm's sucker. It prevents blood from clotting, but on the contrary, provokes its flow to the wound. In addition, saliva with anesthetic properties is secreted, so the worm for a long time manages to remain unnoticed.

One of the representatives of this subspecies is the fish leech, which swims well, unlike the medicinal leech. What do leeches of this species eat? Tissue fluid of fish.

These are quite large worms and can reach 50 centimeters in length. They do not disdain almost any type of fish; more than 100 worms can be found on one.

When the leech is not eating, it calmly swims in a pond or “sits” on aquatic plants. It does not pose any danger to humans. In winter, these worms do not hibernate, and without fish they can live up to 3 months.

Habitat - Eurasia, lakes and large rivers, very rare, but found in wastewater. Prefers fish from the genus carp.

By the way, this worm can appear in an aquarium. What do leeches eat in such cases? All the same tissue fluid. It is quite difficult to deal with such a problem in a closed reservoir; most likely, complete disinfection and disinfection will be required. They can get into the aquarium along with live food.

The snail leech also belongs to the proboscis annelids. This is a very slow creature that does not even move independently, but completely relies on the current. What do leeches eat? Mainly pulmonary blood freshwater mollusks, and these are, first of all, pond snails. After a worm attack, as a rule, the snail dies, since the leech causes blockage of the respiratory tract. Worms are also brought into the aquarium with live food.

The closest relatives of these species include bird leeches - species that “feast” on blood Kamchatka crab and shrimp.

These worms are also called Nile or Egyptian worms. They live in Central Asia and the Mediterranean, in Transcaucasia. They prefer small fresh water bodies.

What do leeches eat in a pond? The horse species also prefers blood, but does not have developed jaw, therefore they stick to the mucous membranes of the victim when she bathes in a pond. Most often, horses become victims, but the worm does not disdain other artiodactyls, amphibians, and even representatives of the human race. They can even attach to the conjunctiva of the eye. The most dangerous thing about these worms is that once they enter the body, they greatly increase in size and if they enter through the mouth, they can cause blockage of the respiratory tract and, as a result, suffocation.

Predatory leeches

The most common species in Asia and Europe is the small false horse leech. What do leeches eat in bodies of standing water? Oddly enough, they consume invertebrate representatives of the animal world. These are insect larvae - microscopic worms. The small false horse leech itself stretches to a maximum of 6 centimeters in length, and itself can become a victim of fish or an invertebrate predator.

The Erpobdella leech acts in a similar way. It is quite large and can be seen from afar. This is an excellent swimmer, but the worm does not have a proboscis, but its body is equipped with a powerful mouth. What do leeches eat? All the same invertebrates, these are mollusks, fish fry, crustaceans, insect larvae. This worm does not even disdain carrion.

After a medicinal leech bite, the bleeding may not stop for a whole day. The largest leech is 30 centimeters long.

First time growing annelids for medical purposes they began in Wales, from where leeches are still supplied today. But the most interesting thing is that there are leeches that, in addition to invertebrate fauna, consume vegetation.

– the mention of it causes unpleasant associations for many. And it's true appearance among leeches it is unattractive, one might even say repulsive. But this creation brings great benefits to humans, helping to get rid of many diseases.

Types of leeches

Medical leeches belong to the type of annelids, class belt worms, subclass of leeches, order of proboscis, family Hirudinidae (jawed leeches). Its name is on Latin– Hirudo medicinalis. Medical view successfully used in the treatment of patients in Europe, Russia, and Ukraine. Asia, Africa, America use other types of leeches.

IN wildlife There are up to 500 varieties of leeches. With such a variety of bloodsuckers, only three main types are used in treatment:

Other types of leeches not only do not bring benefits, but can also cause harm to humans and animals.

Horse (Limnatis nilotica). Also known as Egyptian or Nile. Habitat: Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Mediterranean. This species cannot bite through the skin, so they stick to the mucous membranes. Can penetrate into the oral cavity. The animal, increasing in size while sucking blood, can cause suffocation in humans and lead to death.

Surveyor leech (Piscicola geometra). It has a large rear sucker, despite the fact that it itself measures no more than 5 cm in length. Feeds on the blood of fish. Having smelled a fish, it begins to move towards it and firmly attaches itself to it. Fish sometimes die due to loss of blood. Can cause harm to fisheries if leeches multiply in large numbers.

Common or false cone (Haemopis sanguisuga). This predatory species, reaches 10 cm in length. Lives in rivers, ditches, ponds, crawls ashore. It can swallow the victim whole, or bite off pieces. It attacks those animals that it can easily handle. Doesn't suck blood. Habitat: Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Belarus.

Eight-eyed (Herpobdella octoculata). Flat, about 6 cm long. Lives in reservoirs with stagnant water, survives even in very dirty environments. It feeds on both living and dead larvae of insects and small animals.

Pond (Helobdella stagnalis). The smallest representative. Grows no more than 1 cm. Distributed in almost all bodies of water. The main color is brown, but green is also found. Attaches to worms, larvae, snails.

Habitat

The wild animal is very common in Europe, but its numbers are constantly declining due to constant fishing. And also the decline of the species is facilitated by the drainage of swamps and the unfavorable ecological state of the water. Widely distributed in the north, all the way to Scandinavia, and in the south it is also found near Algeria.

Medical species most often live in Transcaucasia and Azerbaijan. But the distribution area of ​​pharmacies is Stavropol and Krasnodar Territory.

Animals can live perfectly well both in water and on land. They can only live in fresh water. Salty bodies of water are unsuitable for them. When moving from one habitat to another, they can cover quite long distances on hard surfaces.

They settle in ponds and reservoirs where the bottom is silted and reeds grow. However, the water must be clean. Gets along well with frogs. Favorite place The habitats of leeches are stones and driftwood. She hides under them, sometimes not fully protruding from the water.

What does it look like

The body of a medical leech is round in shape., slightly flattened, divided into 33 annular segments. In turn, each of the segments is divided into 3 or 5 parts. Each segment has central ring, in which the sensory papillae are located. They perform the function of a sensor. There are suction cups on the back and front. The anterior sucker functions as a mouth. The bloodsucker has 270 teeth. Rear sucker much larger size, since with its help the leech is attached to the surface.

The medical appearance is dark brown, almost black. The back is darker, with distinct stripes along it. The body is without setae and covered with cuticle. The bloodsucker sheds it periodically as the animal grows. As a rule, this happens once every 2–3 days.

The animal moves without any problems and quite quickly. Able to move both through water and on hard surfaces. The leech uses suction cups as a means of movement on the ground, and also helps itself by contracting its body. Once in the water, the animal commits oscillatory movements and floats in waves. She is so strong that with one end of her body she can stick to the surface and lift her body into a vertical position. This way she can search for what she needs.

How a leech works

The choice of the location of the bite remains with the leech. Having decided on the attachment site, it makes a bite no more than 2 mm deep and is saturated with blood. The total volume of blood sucked at one time does not exceed 15 ml. After the bloodsucker detaches, the wound will bleed for 4 to 20 hours. Everything will depend on individual characteristics body, and also because of how much enzyme the leech releases. It's called hirudin and prevents blood from clotting. There is no need to stop the blood, as this achieves a therapeutic effect.

From the moment the medicinal leech’s saliva penetrates the skin and enters the human blood, the therapeutic effect begins. Beneficial components are carried throughout the body through the bloodstream within 15–20 minutes.

A person does not feel how a leech sucks blood. A slight unpleasant feeling may occur when the skin is bitten. After this, the blood flows by gravity into the mouth, and then into the stomach of the bloodsucker. It doesn't curl up there. As the animal becomes saturated, it increases in size. When the limit of filling her stomach comes, it falls off on its own.

While waiting for food, leeches attach to the surface with two suckers. As soon as they sense that a potential victim is approaching, they begin to move towards it. Having reached the target, the leech attaches itself to the body with its rear end, and with its front end it looks for the most suitable place to bite. This will either be an area where the skin is thin or where the blood vessels are located closest to the surface.

Having attached itself, the leech does not let go of the victim until it is completely satiated. An animal may not eat for a long time. Therefore, the amount of blood drunk will depend on how long the bloodsucker was fasting. For example, if a leech has not received food for about six months, then it can take up to 1.5 hours to become saturated.

Leeches reproduce in nature once a year, when the animals reach sexual maturity. It occurs at the age of four. To breed offspring, leeches choose summer period. The mating process in leeches is called copulation. Mating occurs by entwining one individual with another, they seem to stick together. Once fertilization has occurred, the female lays cocoons after mating. Usually their number does not exceed 5 pieces.

Leech embryos feed on the protein mass located inside the cocoon. The cocoon itself is covered on top with a dense protective shell. After about two weeks, small leeches hatch and can already drink blood. The number of babies ranges from 20 to 40 pieces.

Benefits of leeches

Medical leeches are successfully used in the treatment of many diseases. They can, if not completely cure, then significantly improve the patient’s condition. The use of leeches in complex treatment speeds up the patient’s recovery.

Treatment with medicinal leech is called hirudotherapy. The highest effect is achieved thanks to several actions of hirudotherapy:

• hirudin– a hormone that prevents blood clotting and thrombus formation;
• eglins – substances that prevent joint damage and cure existing diseases;
• hyaluronidase – an enzyme that promotes the fertilization process is used in the treatment of infertility.

Salivary secretion contains analgesic and antibacterial substances.

The main diseases for which the use of medicinal leech is indicated are.

For hirudotherapy, medicinal leeches grown artificially should be used. It is strictly forbidden to use leeches caught in open waters for treatment. Wild animals are carriers of dangerous diseases; diseases accumulate on their jaws when bitten by infected animals.

Contraindications to hirudotherapy

Despite the enormous benefits and positive results in the treatment of diseases with medicinal leeches, There are a number of contraindications:

• poor blood clotting;
• oncology;
• hemolysis;
• individual intolerance to enzymes;
• allergic reactions;
• anemia;
• tuberculosis of various forms.

Treatment with a medicinal leech will undoubtedly bring great benefits. However, hirudotherapy must be carried out by a qualified specialist so as not to harm the human body.

Leeches(lat. Hirudinea) - a subclass of annelids from the class of belt worms (Clitellata). Most representatives live in fresh water bodies. Some species have mastered terrestrial and marine biotopes. About 500 species of leeches are known, 62 species are found in Russia. Russian word“leech” goes back to the Proto-Slavic *pьjavka (cf. Czech pijavka, Polish pijawka), formed from the verb *pьjati, a multiple verb from *piti “to drink”.

General information

Leeches can move both in water and on land using contraction of body muscles. In water it swims, making wave-like movements, on land it moves with the help of suction cups and crawling, like other worms. Both suction cups are used to move along the substrate and attach to it. Due to the strong muscular body, active leeches can, freely held by the rear suction cup, lift the body and make prowling searching movements with the front end of the body. When resting, it prefers to climb under stones and snags and lie down, partially hanging out of the water.

Leeches are able to respond to light, as well as temperature, humidity and water fluctuations. They have a reflexive reaction to shadows, which can indicate the approach of potential food. The sensitivity of leeches sharply decreases during sucking and mating, to the point that when the rear end of the body is cut off, the leech does not react and continues its behavior.

Nutrition

On average, a hungry leech weighing 1.5–2 g is capable of sucking up to 15 ml of blood at a time, increasing in weight by 7–9 times.

IN natural conditions hungry leeches await their prey, attaching themselves to plants or other substrate with both suckers. When signs of approaching prey appear (ripples, shadows, water vibrations), they detach and swim in a straight line towards the source of the vibrations. Having found an object, the leech fixates on it with its rear suction cup, while the front one makes prowling movements in search of a suitable place to bite. This is usually the place with the thinnest skin and superficially located vessels.

The duration of blood sucking varies depending on the activity of the leech, the properties of the animal’s blood and other conditions. On average, a leech that has been starving for 6 months becomes satiated in 40 minutes – 1.5 hours.

Reproduction and development

Wild leeches reach sexual maturity in 3–4 years, feeding only 5–6 times until this age. In captivity, maturation occurs faster, in 1–2 years.

Reproduction occurs once a year in the summer from June to August. Copulation occurs on land, two leeches wrap around each other and stick together. Despite the fact that leeches are hermaphrodites, and cross-fertilization is possible, each individual, as a rule, acts in only one capacity. Fertilization is internal, immediately after it the leeches look for a place on the shore near coastline for laying a cocoon.

Leech cocoon

One leech can lay up to 4–5 cocoons; they are oval in shape and covered on the outside with a spongy shell. Inside the cocoon there is a protein mass to feed the embryos, the number of which can be up to 20–30; their development until hatching takes 2–4 weeks. The hatched little leeches are miniature versions of the adults and are ready to feed on blood. They feed mainly on frogs, since they cannot yet bite through the skin of mammals.

History of the use of leeches in medicine

Hirudotherapy(Latin hirūdō - “leech”, ancient Greek θεραπεία - “treatment”) - a method of alternative medicine, one of the areas of naturopathy, the treatment of various human diseases using medicinal leeches. Treatment with leeches was previously used in conventional medicine, but fell out of use in the 20th century due to the advent of synthetic anticoagulants, including hirudin.

The hiruda is a medicinal leech originating from Europe and has been used for bloodletting for many hundreds of years. Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicenna wrote about treatment with leeches. Drawings of the use of leeches were found on the walls of Egyptian tombs. Medicinal properties Medical leeches have been known to people for thousands of years. Descriptions of methods for treating various diseases with the help of leeches can be found in the medical collections of most ancient civilizations: Ancient Egypt, India, Greece. The use of leeches was described by Hippocrates (IV–V centuries BC) and Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980–1037).

Most wide application Medical leeches were obtained in the 17th–18th centuries in Europe for bloodletting in connection with the concept of “bad blood” that dominated medicine at that time. In order to release bad blood, doctors sometimes applied up to 40 leeches to one patient at a time. Preference was given to vein bloodletting in case of need for bloodletting from hard-to-reach or tender places (for example, gums). In the period from 1829 to 1836, 33 million leeches per year were used for treatment in France, in London - up to 7 million with a population of 2.3 million inhabitants. Russia supplied Europe with about 70 million leeches per year. After a paradigm shift in the mid-19th century, bloodletting was abandoned, and the use of leeches in Europe practically ceased.

Scientific research into the mechanisms of action of leech on humans began in the late 19th - early 20th centuries with the work of John Haycraft, who discovered the anticoagulant effect of leech extract. In 1884, he discovered an enzyme from leech saliva - hirudin, and in 1902 preparations from hirudin were obtained. These studies marked the beginning of the scientific use of leeches in medicine. Nowadays, treatment with medicinal leeches is experiencing a rebirth.

Features of therapeutic action

Live leeches are applied directly to the human body according to specially designed patterns. The choice of attachment location is determined by many factors: disease, severity of the process, and patient’s condition. The sucking process lasts from 10–15 minutes to an hour, after which the leeches are removed with alcohol, iodine or, in the case of feeding to satiety, they are released on their own. Fed leeches must be destroyed by placing them in a chloramine solution; their reuse is not allowed. Therapeutic effect from the effects of live leeches is due to several factors:

• Dosed bloodletting (from 5 to 15 ml of blood for each leech, depending on the mass of the leech and the duration of the attachment). Used to treat arterial hypertension, glaucoma, congestion in the liver, and general intoxication of the body.
• The action of biologically active substances in leech saliva, the main of which is the anticoagulant hirudin, which reduces blood clotting. Used to treat angina and myocardial infarction, thrombophlebitis, vein thrombosis, hemorrhoids.
• A complex of body responses to a bite, biologically active substances in leech saliva and subsequent blood loss.

A reliable guarantee of protection against the transfer of infectious agents by leeches is the use of animals raised in artificial conditions and fasted for a sufficient time, in whose intestines there is no pathogenic flora. The use of leeches in therapy was revived in the 1970s: in microsurgery they are used to stimulate blood circulation to save grafted skin and other tissues from postoperative venous stasis.

Other clinical uses of medicinal leeches include the treatment of varicose veins, muscle spasms, thrombophlebitis and arthrosis. The therapeutic effect occurs not only from the flow of blood through the tissue while feeding on the leeches, but from the further and steady bleeding from the wound left after the leeches are detached. Leech saliva has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and vasodilating properties.

What leeches can treat?

Of the several dozen medicinal types, there are only three:

• pharmacy;
• medicinal;
• eastern

We hasten to disappoint those who like to self-medicate with leeches. Caught in a local pond, they will be at best useless, at worst they will bring irreparable harm, rewarding a person with a number of unpleasant diseases that they can be carriers of. Leeches intended for hirudotherapy are grown in completely sterile special laboratories and are used only once.

Indications for use

There are a number of diseases in which treatment with leeches significantly improves the patient’s condition:

• Problems with blood vessels, blood formation, tendency to form blood clots, blood stagnation.
• Diseases of connective tissues and joints.
• Dysfunction of the genitourinary system.
• Diseases of a neurological nature.
• Violations menstrual cycle, inflammation of the genital organs, ovarian dysfunction, endometriosis.
• Neuroses, epilepsy, migraines, sleep disorders.
• diseases associated with disorders of the thyroid gland.

The benefits of leeches in the treatment of blood vessels and blood

At varicose veins treatment of veins with leeches stimulates blood formation and helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Hirudin, secreted by the leech in saliva, is a natural biologically active substance that helps improve metabolism and prevent the formation of blood clots. In the early stages of the disease, it is possible to completely cure or stop its development with the help of hirudotherapy.

Treatment for arthrosis and osteochondrosis

Non-inflammatory lesions of joints and cartilage tissue caused by circulatory or metabolic disorders, large or improperly distributed loads, and injuries are successfully treated with leeches. Treatment is aimed at reducing pain, increasing joint movement and stopping progression. The secretion that leeches secrete when they bite contains a natural analgesic enzyme that helps improve the patient’s condition. It’s not for nothing that a couple of centuries ago, military doctors placed these bloodsuckers in the area of ​​soldiers’ wounds to prevent painful shock.

Treatment of spinal diseases

Hirudotherapy plays an important role in the complex treatment of spinal diseases. It helps restore normal physiological processes occurring in the deep tissues surrounding the spinal column. As effective remedy, complementing the main one, is treatment with leeches for spinal hernia. If there is no desired result from conservative treatment, you have to resort to surgery. During postoperative rehabilitation, leeches can bring a lot of benefits to the patient. Their use helps prevent postoperative complications. Thanks to hirudotherapy sessions, scar-adhesive processes in ligaments and tendons are reduced, the likelihood of the formation of new hernias due to load redistribution is reduced, and congestion in the vertebral veins disappears.

Treatment with leeches is also effective for osteochondrosis. The cause of this pathology is degeneration of intervertebral discs and ligaments that lose water, become thinner, and become covered with microcracks. As a result, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, pressure occurs on the nerve roots, causing pinching, spasms and inflammation in the paravertebral muscles.

The benefits of leeches for weight loss

Medical leeches are actively used in aesthetic medicine for weight loss and cellulite treatment. This effect occurs due to the influence of substances in the saliva of annelids on metabolism and blood circulation. The biologically active substances of leeches have a lipolytic effect - they burn fat. In addition, the process of microcirculation is improved and the supply of oxygen to cells is enhanced, and stagnation of lymphatic fluid in adipose tissue is eliminated. All this contributes to the reverse development pathological changes for cellulite and reduction in body volume.

The effect after using leeches for weight loss will be even more noticeable if you combine hirudotherapy with balanced diet and regular exercise.

Treating acne with leeches

Treating acne with medicinal leeches is very effective. After just a few sessions of applying leeches to the face, the rash is significantly reduced, and after the entire course it completely disappears. The result of this treatment is the amazing and varied properties of these animals on the skin.

Firstly, leech saliva has a powerful bacteriological and antiseptic effect. It destroys all pathological pyogenic microorganisms, which cause the formation of acne. Secondly, the substances that leeches transmit with their bite have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, due to which the inflamed areas heal quickly. Thirdly, thanks to the mechanical and biological action of animals, the blood supply to the skin increases, which plays an important role in establishing the normal functioning of the sebaceous glands.

As you can see, hirudotherapy in cosmetology has a wide range of applications. Do not refuse this treatment just because you are disgusted by leeches. You just have to be patient a little and, perhaps, you will get rid of the cosmetic problem that has tormented you for many years forever.

Contraindications

Contraindications are:

• diseases accompanied by bleeding due to decreased blood clotting;
• hemolysis;
• anemia (anemia);
• weakening or exhaustion of the body;
• intolerance by the body to leech enzymes (allergic reactions);
• tuberculosis of various localizations;
• oncological diseases.

Harm of leeches

Due to the specific structure and feeding methods, the use of leeches in medicinal purposes may be associated with the following risks:

• IN digestive tract medical leech constantly contains the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila, which protects it from infections when feeding on the blood of sick animals and promotes proper absorption nutrients. In humans, it can cause gastrointestinal disorders, poisoning and even diseases of the mucous membranes. Although hirudotherapists deny the possibility of bacteria getting into the leech’s jaws, this hypothesis has not been completely refuted.
• With the blood of infected animals, pathogens of various dangerous diseases enter the leech's body. Once settled on the jaws, they can be transmitted through a bite to other people and animals. The use of leeches grown under artificial conditions has eliminated this problem.
• Leech saliva contains substances that thin the blood, and after removing it, the wound can bleed for a long time. In addition, in some cases these substances can be very irritating to the skin.

The process of breeding leeches is simple and accessible to anyone. In order to organize a leech farm, you need to find a room with several rooms, since leeches at different stages of their growth: cocoon, fry, adult, must be kept separately. As an option, you can adapt one room by dividing it into sectors. The main conditions for breeding leeches are maintaining a favorable microclimate for them: air temperature from 25 to 27º C.

Although wild leeches in natural environment They also live in colder waters; the reproduction and development of their medical relatives in warm conditions occurs much better. The temperature of the water in which the leeches are located should be room temperature, that is, the same 25-27º C. The air humidity in the room should be at least 80%.

Containers for leeches are ordinary 3-piece liter jars filled with water purified through special filters. Aquariums can also work, but it will cost much more. It is necessary to carefully monitor all stages of growth of leeches and promptly “transfer” the animals to other rooms (sectors) when they reach the next “age”.

By the way, all work on feeding leeches, purifying water in containers, replanting leeches, etc., is carried out only by hand. Even on large leech farms. Leeches feed on blood, which can be obtained from livestock farms, private farmers, or slaughterhouses by concluding appropriate agreements with them.

Breeding leeches in industrial scale Special biofactories are engaged in this. Currently, there are only four such factories in Russia: two in the Moscow region, one in St. Petersburg and one in Balakovo Saratov region. In total, they grow 5–5.5 million leeches per year, which makes Russia the leader in the production of leeches in the world: only 0.5 million per year are grown in France and the USA.

A leech is a worm that has a kind of “brain”. Nietzsche's Zarathustra tried to claim that he was familiar with the mental, or rather mental, activity of these leeches interesting worms. Researchers, of course, have not yet found the “brain” of leeches, but it is quite possible to say that the leech has a fairly branched nervous system, consisting of the peripheral department and the sympathetic autonomic system.

There is an opinion that a leech “loves” a person. Researchers of this “crawling world” have long been interested in whether leeches or any other worms have any feelings. Well, animals, of course, cannot love like people. But some species of mammals are characterized by certain emotional experiences associated with devotion, friendliness, and affection.

Sources

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeches http://www.pijavki.com/o_pijavkah.html http://polzovred.ru/zdorovie/piyavki.html#i-2 http://pomogispine.com /lechenie/girudoterapiya.html http://www.aif.ru/health/life/1188201