4 ms·
Are we likely to resume using leaches as a standard medical technique?
by chrisBob 12y ago
Are we likely to resume using leaches as a standard medical technique?
- CapitalistCartr 12y agoLike this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirudo_medicinalis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirudo_medicinalis
- escherplex 12y agoLeechcraft (OEn) to medecine (OFr) and then back to leechcraft? Interesting progression you got there :)
- araes 12y agoYou joke, but I have a condition where my iron content builds up relatively quickly, and the best thing they've still figured out as a cure is blood letting.
- chrisBob 12y agoI have heard of this, and I think that is probably the only modern reason for blood letting. I think there is a similar condition in people who get frequent blood transfusions.
- dm2 12y agoApparently they're really good to use when re-attaching a finger, they prevent pooling and release a blood-thinner to prevent clotting.
- escherplex 12y agoThese are just nervous jokes following the ongoing demise of antibiotics. But, having to resort to venipuncture for treatment of hemochromatosis must be tough. Hope your phlebotomist also prescribed some chelating agents to reduce frequency of treatment.
- araes 12y agoLuckily they caught it relatively early on because a family member had it, so its been semi-easy to manage.
- dm2 12y agoYes, they have valuable uses in medicine, until we find a better substitute at least. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/leeches.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/leeches.html There is a mechanical leech but it doesn't work as well at the moment and there's no real downside to using real leeches.