tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10828127485357904902024-03-13T12:39:15.025-07:00HIRUDOTHERAPY - THE LEECH THERAPYGET YOURSELF A LEECH THERAPY TODAY
http://thebloodsucker.blogspot.com/2011/02/leech-treatment-in-kuala-lumpur.htmltriple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-4852887181551350332011-04-13T13:42:00.001-07:002011-04-13T13:42:57.450-07:00<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTMwMjcyNzMxMTQwMiZwdD*xMzAyNzI3MzY4ODY5JnA9MTAxOTEmZD*mbj1ibG9nZ2VyJmc9MSZvPTU2Y2Y3M2MzNjg*MTRm/ODE4NzJmODk*ZGZiYmMwNGFkJm9mPTA=.gif" /><div style="width:425px" id="__ss_7046202"> <strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/CharlesGYF/six-habits-of-social-entrepreneurs" title="Six Habits of SOCIAL Entrepreneurs">Six Habits of SOCIAL Entrepreneurs</a></strong> <object id="__sse7046202" width="425" height="355"> <param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=socialdeck-110224113435-phpapp02&stripped_title=six-habits-of-social-entrepreneurs&userName=CharlesGYF" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/> <embed name="__sse7046202" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=socialdeck-110224113435-phpapp02&stripped_title=six-habits-of-social-entrepreneurs&userName=CharlesGYF" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355" FlashVars="gig_lt=1302727311402&gig_pt=1302727368869&gig_g=1&gig_n=blogger"></embed> <param name="FlashVars" value="gig_lt=1302727311402&gig_pt=1302727368869&gig_g=1&gig_n=blogger" /></object> <div style="padding:5px 0 12px"> View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/CharlesGYF">Charles Tsai</a> </div> </div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-4636110131367797872011-02-12T13:35:00.000-08:002011-02-12T13:36:45.972-08:00LEECH THERAPY IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA<p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong, much like a fever. And just like with a fever, most people simply mask the pain instead of dealing with the underlying cause of the problem. But the underlying cause for millions of people who suffer from various aches and pains like arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia is <u style="text-underline: single"><strong><em>CHRONIC INTERNAL INFLAMMATION</em></strong></u><u style="text-underline: single">.</u></span></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><u style="text-underline: single"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></u></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><u style="text-underline: single"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></u></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The New England Journal of Medicine: <u style="text-underline: single"><strong><em>“THERE IS CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT INFLAMMATION IS STRONGLY LINKED TO HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE.”</em></strong></u> And a recent Harvard study found that <u style="text-underline: single"><strong><em>"HALF OF ALL HEART ATTACKS ARE CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION“</em></strong></u></span></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><u style="text-underline: single"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></u></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>HOW EXACTLY DO LEECHES TREAT THESE MANY ILLNESSES AND DISEASES ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Leeches secrete a complex mixture of different biologically and pharmacologically active substances:</span></p><ul><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>ANTI-COAGULATING EFFECTS</strong> The leech’s saliva contains enzymes and compounds that act as an anticoagulation agent. The most prominent of these anticoagulation agents is hirudin, which binds itself to thrombins, thus, effectively inhibiting coagulation of the blood. Another compound that prevents coagulation is calin and it is also an effective inhibitor of platelet aggregation caused by collagen. </span></div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>CLOT DISSOLVING EFFECTS</strong> The action of destabilase is to break up any fibrins that have formed. It also has a thrombolytic effect, which can also dissolve clots of blood that have formed.</span></div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS</strong> Bdellins is a compound in the leech’s saliva that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by inhibiting trypsin as well as plasmin. It also inhibits the action of the acrosin. Another anti-inflammatory agent is the eglins.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong></strong></span></div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>VASODILATING EFFECTS</strong> There are three compounds in the leeches’ saliva that act as a vasodilator agent, and they are the histamine-like substances, the acetylcholine, and the carboxypeptidase A inhibitors. All these act to widen the vessels, thus, causing inflow of blood to the site.</span> </div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>BACTERIOSTATIC AND ANAESTHETIC EFFECTS</strong> The saliva of leeches also contains anaesthetic substances which deaden pain on the site and also bacteria-inhibiting substances which inhibit the growth of bacteria.</span></div></li></ul><span style="font-size:0;"><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.1in; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" class="O1" align="justify"><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBdpH0mg14dTekNOhH-d4IfmXO9J7rt5pwA7KkoVOukUCP4JfG7_lZMqtwTHP85ooAE7HjPkMPHY_J9HaIQ9jmwno8bS5V_kNt-RkfYpQ6A2CTUovwNyFeMgNMy1Z6SUzXgFwmgrAI-A/s1600/199_Brochures.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569564000600000386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBdpH0mg14dTekNOhH-d4IfmXO9J7rt5pwA7KkoVOukUCP4JfG7_lZMqtwTHP85ooAE7HjPkMPHY_J9HaIQ9jmwno8bS5V_kNt-RkfYpQ6A2CTUovwNyFeMgNMy1Z6SUzXgFwmgrAI-A/s400/199_Brochures.gif" /></a>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-33555446267736855752011-02-12T11:08:00.000-08:002011-02-12T12:04:37.200-08:00Hirudotherapy - All About Blood Pressure<div align="justify">XXI century is a time to return to the naturopathic methods of treatment and prevention, and have proven themselves over the millennia. One such method is hirudotherapy to help cope with various diseases.<br /><br />Healing leeches’ person uses more than two millennia. Individual doctors Pharaohs used this method to cure his “divine” patients.<br /><br />In nature, there are about 400 species of leeches. And only the medicinal leech and its two subspecies – chemist and medical – are used in medical practice. Medical leech – this annelid length about 12 cm. Medicinal leech have 5 pairs of eyes, 3 toothed jaws at the ends of which open the ducts of salivary glands. Medicinal leech lives in fresh water in Europe and Asia.<br /><br />Leech saliva contains hirudin, which prevents the clotting of blood, so the wound, cut its jaws, long bleed. The very same leech digests obtained blood for up to two years. Therapeutic effect of leeches on the human body consists of a reflex, mechanical and biological factors.<br /><br />Leech can suck up to 15-18 ml of blood. To date, there are about 80 biologically active substances, which shares with the leech man. Leeches possess anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, vasodilator, hypotensive, immunostimulant, sedative, analgesic and absorbing the influence (of more than 30 therapeutic effects).<br /><br />During the session Hirudotherapy important to relax, so that nothing prevented the normal flow of blood. Therefore, to sit (or lie) that the maximum comfortable position. Leeches are recommended to be put into acupuncture points. During the session Hirudotherapy leeches put (depending on the disease) on the projection zones of suffering bodies – the region of the heart, liver, along the affected vessels or nerves. Pain with virtually no – you feels tingling, as if sting and after 15 seconds starts to act natural anesthesia, which provides the saliva of leeches. Since there is a risk transfer with the blood of serious diseases (hepatitis, AIDS, etc.), there are certain requirements that must comply with all Hirudotherapy security method. To do this, leeches obtained from a special farm, with supporting certificates, leeches are used once and must be disposed of after the session, which eliminates the risk of possible infection.<br /><br />Besides the cures a specific disease, leeches are beneficial to the organism as a whole. By improving blood flow and oxygen supply to the tissues and organs improves sleep, activates metabolism, improves immunity, usually stabilizes blood pressure, and even improves mood. Thanks Hirudotherapy we can be treated and healthier so simple and natural method, without risk of side effects. Now leeches are successfully treated many gynecological, urological, neurological and cardiovascular diseases.<br /><br />Leeches are an excellent job with increased blood viscosity, a violation of venous and lymphatic drainage, varicose veins and blood clots, trophic ulcers, hypertension, headaches, hemorrhoids, inflammation of local and systemic in nature.<br /></div><div align="justify">There are also a number of diseases for which treatment is prescribed leeches as accompanying therapy: systemic atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, allergies, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, acute and chronic gastric ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer, etc. In these cases Hirudotherapy not being the main treatment, reduces the amount of the synthetic drugs.<br /><br />Hirudotherapy method is contraindicated in hemophilia, low blood pressure, iron deficiency anemia, cancer, pregnancy and children up to 7 years.<br /><br />Hirudotherapy shall appoint a physician after a thorough examination. Leeches can cure only a highly qualified expert; moreover, he must undergo special training. Self-medication in this case is invalid because of incorrect choice of points for setting its own complications.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>All About Blood Pressure (source: http://optimalbloodpressure.com/?page_id=80)<br /></div></em></span>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-76361383906204743562011-02-03T12:31:00.001-08:002011-02-12T13:29:13.775-08:00Leech Treatment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong, much like a fever. And just like with a fever, most people simply mask the pain instead of dealing with the underlying cause of the problem. But the underlying cause for millions of people who suffer from various aches and pains like arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia is <u style="text-underline: single"><strong><em>CHRONIC INTERNAL INFLAMMATION</em></strong></u><u style="text-underline: single">.</u></span></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><u style="text-underline: single"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></u></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><u style="text-underline: single"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></u></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The New England Journal of Medicine: <u style="text-underline: single"><strong><em>“THERE IS CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT INFLAMMATION IS STRONGLY LINKED TO HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE.”</em></strong></u> And a recent Harvard study found that <u style="text-underline: single"><strong><em>"HALF OF ALL HEART ATTACKS ARE CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION“</em></strong></u></span></p><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><u style="text-underline: single"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></u></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>HOW EXACTLY DO LEECHES TREAT THESE MANY ILLNESSES AND DISEASES ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Leeches secrete a complex mixture of different biologically and pharmacologically active substances:</span></p><ul><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>ANTI-COAGULATING EFFECTS</strong> The leech’s saliva contains enzymes and compounds that act as an anticoagulation agent. The most prominent of these anticoagulation agents is hirudin, which binds itself to thrombins, thus, effectively inhibiting coagulation of the blood. Another compound that prevents coagulation is calin and it is also an effective inhibitor of platelet aggregation caused by collagen. </span></div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>CLOT DISSOLVING EFFECTS</strong> The action of destabilase is to break up any fibrins that have formed. It also has a thrombolytic effect, which can also dissolve clots of blood that have formed.</span></div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS</strong> Bdellins is a compound in the leech’s saliva that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by inhibiting trypsin as well as plasmin. It also inhibits the action of the acrosin. Another anti-inflammatory agent is the eglins.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong></strong></span></div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>VASODILATING EFFECTS</strong> There are three compounds in the leeches’ saliva that act as a vasodilator agent, and they are the histamine-like substances, the acetylcholine, and the carboxypeptidase A inhibitors. All these act to widen the vessels, thus, causing inflow of blood to the site.</span> </div></li><li><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>BACTERIOSTATIC AND ANAESTHETIC EFFECTS</strong> The saliva of leeches also contains anaesthetic substances which deaden pain on the site and also bacteria-inhibiting substances which inhibit the growth of bacteria.</span></div></li></ul><span style="font-size:0;"><div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.1in; unicode-bidi: embed; DIRECTION: ltr; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2in; WORD-BREAK: normal; language: en-MY; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging" class="O1" align="justify"><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBdpH0mg14dTekNOhH-d4IfmXO9J7rt5pwA7KkoVOukUCP4JfG7_lZMqtwTHP85ooAE7HjPkMPHY_J9HaIQ9jmwno8bS5V_kNt-RkfYpQ6A2CTUovwNyFeMgNMy1Z6SUzXgFwmgrAI-A/s1600/199_Brochures.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569564000600000386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBdpH0mg14dTekNOhH-d4IfmXO9J7rt5pwA7KkoVOukUCP4JfG7_lZMqtwTHP85ooAE7HjPkMPHY_J9HaIQ9jmwno8bS5V_kNt-RkfYpQ6A2CTUovwNyFeMgNMy1Z6SUzXgFwmgrAI-A/s400/199_Brochures.gif" /></a>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-23523486818415632622010-11-14T00:40:00.000-08:002010-11-14T00:42:44.107-08:00Rare Use of Drug Derived From Leech Saliva Lets Heart Transplant - and Wedding - Proceed<p class="releaseDateline">Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 8, 2007 </p><p> Los Angeles resident Daryl Vinson, 39, desperately needed a <a href="http://www.csmc.edu/8603.html" title="heart transplant">heart transplant</a>, but was allergic to heparin; a blood thinner that plays a critical role in transplantation surgery. </p> <p>Rather than allowing their patient to languish and die, members of the heart transplant team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center created an alternative, using a synthetic form of a protein found in the <a href="http://www.csmc.edu/12698.html" title="saliva of leeches">saliva of leeches</a>. Bivalirudin was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of certain cardiac conditions, but because it has no antidote and its use in transplantation is so new, the doctors had to develop a game plan and specific protocols in advance of the operation. </p> <p>Vinson, a former Air Force air traffic controller who also served with the Global Command and Control System, caught what he thought was a common cold that quickly got worse in early June. After suffering a nearly fatal collapse, he was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, a severely weakened, poorly functioning heart. </p> <p>While dilated <a href="http://www.csmc.edu/5513.html" title="cardiomyopathy">cardiomyopathy</a> can be caused by a number of factors, including reduced blood flow to the heart ("ischemic" disease), Vinson's condition likely stemmed from a viral infection. </p> <p>"Mr. Vinson appeared to be in relatively good health, so it was a surprise to everyone, including his physicians, that his heart function was so bad," says Ernst Schwarz, M.D., Ph.D., a specialist in transplantation cardiology. </p> <p>"The doctors basically told me I was dying," recalls Vinson, who had returned to Los Angeles in January from his hometown of Memphis to direct communications for the Compton school district. During a year back home helping his mother and disabled stepfather, Vinson had fallen in love and become a father. </p> <p>"I had to call my fiancée in Memphis and tell her I probably couldn't get married in October; that I was dying," Vinson said. </p> <p>He was transferred to Cedars-Sinai on June 29, and the initial plan was to implant a cardiac defibrillator, says Schwarz. That effort was thwarted by the discovery of a massive blood clot in the patient's left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber. A heart biopsy revealed an unusual amount of scar tissue for a patient with such a short history of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, suggesting limited potential for recovery. A new heart was Vinson's only real hope. </p> <p>"Here's a guy who was playing football not long ago, who was very successful and looking forward to marriage and family," says Sinan Simsir, M.D., surgical director of <a href="http://www.csmc.edu/2352.html" title="Cedars-Sinai's Heart Transplant Program">Cedars-Sinai's Heart Transplant Program</a>. "The next week, he has the heart function of someone near death." </p> <p>Lawrence Czer, M.D., medical director of Cedars-Sinai's Heart Transplant Program, and director of Transplantation Cardiology, concurs: "Mr. Vinson had such an advanced case of heart failure that he was put on the organ wait list almost immediately." </p> <p>With Vinson's heart working at just 10 percent capacity, his doctors were close to giving him an artificial heart pump to keep him alive, but a heart became available within three-and-a-half weeks, a remarkably short wait. But in his earlier course of treatment, Vinson was found to have an allergic reaction to heparin. Re-exposure during surgery could result in life-threatening clotting complications, says Simsir, so the team would have to use an alternative. </p> <p>"Heparin is critical in transplantation because it prevents blood clots from forming while the patient is on the heart-lung machine," explains Czer, who says the situation intensified when it was verified Vinson had heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) syndrome, which prohibited use of any heparin-related blood thinner. This condition affects an estimated one to four percent of patients treated with heparin. </p> <p>Fortunately, Simsir had previous experience using bivalirudin. Marketed as Angiomax, the heparin alternative is now indicated for use in coronary interventions, including angiograms and stent procedures, and for the <a href="http://www.csmc.edu/5190.html" title="treatment of angina">treatment of angina</a>, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis and other blood clots. </p> <p>There was a problem, though. Typically, a blood thinner such as heparin is followed by a course of protamine to restore the blood's normal coagulation after surgery. </p> <p>"There is no antidote for bivalirudin," says Czer, explaining the increased risk. "It has to be administered very carefully, and then you have to filter it out of the system while you are transfusing blood products to reduce the bleeding. We built this filtering into our protocol." </p> <p>Prior to surgery, the transplant team developed new protocols for use of the agent, which took 24 hours to collect in the large quantities required. Bivalirudin presented two distinct challenges, according to Simsir: 1) the lack of an antidote and, 2) no proven track record. He adds that many transplant centers would have refused the case. "Who knows how many patients with HIT are turned down?" </p> <p>Schwarz believes this encounter with bivalirudin will open the door to more transplant procedures for heparin-sensitive patients. "The agent's use is relatively new in the OR, so this has been a valuable experience for us." </p> <p>The transplant was completed in a three-hour procedure without complications, thanks largely to bivalirudin, the synthetic form of hirudin, a powerful anticoagulant produced by the salivary glands of medicinal leeches. Vinson went home three weeks later. </p> <p>"I have a new birthday, you know. It's July 25, 2007 - the day I got my new heart," he says. </p> <p>THE "REST OF THE STORY"- After surgery, an in-hospital marriage ceremony <br />Just before surgery, Vinson presented a proposal and ring to his fiancée, Margo McLemore, who had dropped everything in Memphis to rush to his side in Los Angeles. </p> <p>"I didn't get down on my knees, though, because I wasn't sure I'd be able to get back up," he adds with a laugh. </p> <p>Also at Vinson's side throughout his ordeal was the man he calls "Pops," Don Ross, a prominent former newsman - one of the first African-Americans in the business - who is now involved in the entertainment industry. </p> <p>Vinson remembers regaining consciousness after surgery: "I looked around and thought, I don't see angels, I don't hear singing - cool!" </p> <p>That relief was followed by a flood of emotion and overwhelming gratitude for the gift of his life, Vinson says. </p> <p>"I was thanking God and crying. I'd never experienced such love, compassion, competence and care. I wondered, what did I do to deserve this? I have a joy that I can't even explain." </p> <p>Vinson's exhilaration inspired him to "tie the knot" right away, he says. The couple and their witnesses gathered Aug. 10 in Cedars-Sinai's chapel for a small, simple Judeo-Christian ceremony. </p> <p>Though Vinson faces several months of recuperation and weekly medical checks, his prognosis is encouraging - two biopsies have shown no sign of organ rejection. He looks forward to returning home with his new wife and young son, Joshua, and to resuming the job he'd already learned to love in Compton. </p> <p>Aside from the physicians and staff who saved his life, Vinson feels indebtedness - and a sense of responsibility - to his anonymous donor. </p> <p>"I have double to do now, because another life was given to me. Someone died so that I could live, and I need to be worthy of that sacrifice."<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;">(http://www.prweb.com/releases/heart/transplant/prweb555111.htm)</span><br /></p>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-69353697340826223562010-11-13T23:31:00.000-08:002010-11-13T23:35:22.773-08:00Top 10 Bizarre Medical Treatments<div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Nas/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Nas/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png" alt="" />Medicinal leeches are now making a comeback in microsurgery. They provide an effective means to reduce blood coagulation, relieve venous pressure from pooling blood, and in reconstructive surgery to stimulate circulation in reattachment operations for organs with critical blood flow, such as eye lids, fingers, and ears. The therapeutic effect is not from the blood taken in the meal, but from the continued and steady bleeding from the wound left after the leech has detached. The most common complication from leech treatment is prolonged bleeding, which can easily be treated, although allergic reactions and bacterial infections may also occur. Devices called “mechanical leeches” have been developed which dispense heparin and perform the same function as medicinal leeches, but they are not yet commercially available.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(http://malik4u.blogspot.com/2009/11/top-10-bizarre-medical-treatments.html)</span>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-46374584905366582872010-11-12T15:04:00.000-08:002010-11-12T15:08:34.107-08:00LEECH THERAPHY FOR BREAST CANCER...<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWgIyGg2HcBGAYkC-bikQ4ZVGUECBisMq1dtfYNe78A0klWQHZNiawyMsdwnrScQxADz_Q66PlvdTqrq3HMw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-7565879049147364722010-11-12T14:55:00.000-08:002010-11-12T15:00:57.071-08:00MEHDI JAAFARI THE LEECH THERAPIST<div align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqbiZnEToj0_pu9576XMNGm3UqDlx5Mn4Lh0wQ0iIWsDZeyFd-au_UgV8TAN2t5Wo3bHGsBqBiC-k-KI-19g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-90434740011373496192010-11-12T11:39:00.000-08:002010-11-12T11:40:36.037-08:00Klinik HIRUDO<a href="http://klinik-hirudo.com/index.php">.: Klinik HIRUDO (Terapi Lintah) Khusus Penyakit Jantung :.</a>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-80824518770249866842010-10-20T14:04:00.000-07:002010-10-20T14:47:18.607-07:00Stand Out ! and be a Qualified Leech Therapist..<span style="font-weight:bold;">Now in Malaysia! *FREE* Registration : Leech Therapy Courses By International Leech Therapist, Mehdi Jaffari<br /><br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Further information on the Leech Therapy Courses is per the link below. If you require more information, please do not to hesitate to </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">contact us via email info@leechmiracle.com or Tel : + 603-2282 3782.</b></p> <span style="font-weight:bold;"> <br />REGISTRATION FORM & COURSE CONTENT CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE...<br />http://pdf.investintech.com/v/w/nefjhjf/Flyers_LeechMiracle.html</span>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-50196556563329277822010-10-05T12:06:00.000-07:002010-10-05T12:10:39.768-07:00Treating Ear and Hearing Problems with Leech Therapy<div align="justify">Leech therapy can help cure the three most common ear and hearing problems - Sudden Hearing Loss, Tinnitus and Otitis Media. Sudden hearing loss happens immediately as the name indicates. This condition can take place over a period of a few hours or a few days and although there are a few known causes such as a vascular problem or an immune system problem, the most common cause is unknown. </div><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Tinnitus is often described as a ringing or a swishing sound in the ears. It can be caused by an infection, an inner ear disease, side effects from medications or exposure to sudden and very loud noise. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Otitis media or infection of the middle ear is the most common ear problem, not only in children but in adults as well. Fluid buildup, inflammation, or swelling posterior to the eardrum brought about by a bacterial or a viral infection has occurred. It's known that colds and respiratory problems can also cause Otitis Media. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><strong>How can Leech Therapy Help Ear and Hearing Problems </strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">People suffering from the above mentioned ailments can greatly benefit from leech therapy, particularly when the ear and hearing problem is caused by an infection or a vascular problem. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Firstly, leeches secrete an anesthetic enzyme to desensitize the area and will then release beneficial enzymes and components into the bloodstream which will work to prevent the coagulation of blood and dissolve blood clots. Blood vessels will be dilated by the enzymes, bringing good circulation. Antibacterial enzymes will also be released to kill the bacteria that are causing the ear problem; these anti-bacterial agents will also boost the immune system and fight off further infection.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>http://toolsforlife-dvd.com.au/ear_hearing.php</em></span></p>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-11472083771437144492010-10-05T11:48:00.000-07:002010-10-05T11:50:10.396-07:00Bloodsucking aid<div align="justify">A simple principle lies at the heart of all hirudo-miracles. When leeches feed, they restore the flow of blood in healthy as well as damaged organs. Of course they don’t do this intentionally. Their saliva contains a natural thinner. Hirudin, that dilutes all organic obstacles: arterial sediments, cysts, clots and mutant cells that surround and protect malignant growths form the immune system’s agents. The leech needs the blood to circulate freely. Leeches don’t just drink blood, they feed by filtering it. In 20 to 60 minutes, a leech can go through several liters of blood, filtering and thinning it before it is returned to the vein. The 15-20 ml that it retains is the trash that your immune system couldn’t process and which can cause health problems. The filtered and thinned blood now circulated freely through your capillaries and arteries and works its own miracles as it harmonizes your body’s functions. This is especially noticeable if are being treated for hypertension or varicose veins. In addition the leech injects close to 20 unique enzymes and microelements that are active biological cleansers into your bloodstream. Hirudotherapy also reduces stress and normalizes sleeping patterns. Of course, it’s not the leech’s intention to relax you: it just wants to have a quiet meal, so nature has endowed it with capacity to calm and distract its host so it doesn’t notice the leech feeding!<br /><br />Incidentally, it’s the enzymes that made the leech powder potent. Today, leech extract is an active component in anti-varicose creams and other medicinal cosmetic products.<br /><br />In addition to all this, leeches sense which organs are unhealthy and target them. Their diagnosis is more accurate than endoscopies!<br /><br />Needless to say, if you decide to undertake hirudotherapy you’ll need to be under a specialist’s supervision. Our bodies have thousands of interconnected energy points, and it often happens that to heal an ulcer, leeches are applies not only to the solar plexus, but also to the spleen and kidneys. Every cure has its own hirudo map!<br /><br />The most surprising thing is that hirodotherapy is one of modern medicine’s most painless treatments. Don’t be afraid to try it. You’ll lie there waiting for the bite, but all you’ll feel is a slight prick and then a pleasant pulsation. And that’s it.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>http://leech.agromedic.com/index.php/page/2/</em></span></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-19148258181934029342010-10-05T11:13:00.000-07:002010-10-05T11:17:33.781-07:00Modern biochemistry has been able to point many Active Substances in the Leech Saliva.<div align="justify">• <strong>HIRUDIN</strong> is responsible for inhibiting blood coagulation & increasing the activity of white blood cells. During the blood-drawing process it is of course necessary to keep the wound open and the blood from clotting.<br /><br />• <strong>CALIN</strong> also inhibits blood coagulation. Following the "fast" Hirudin, Calin is responsible for a slow cleansing of the wound by maintaining secondary-bleeding for approximately another 12 hours, again depending on the individual patient. This is what is referred to as the well known gentle blood-letting.<br /><br />• <strong>HYALURONIDASE</strong> the spreading factor, does its job in the meantime: the path is cleared for the active and healing substances to penetrate. It is a substance analogous to histamine (it could possibly also be acetylcholin) that has a dilatating effect on the blood vessels and hereby causes the blood to stream to the bite location.<br /><br />• <strong>EGLINES</strong> possess, amongst other assets, antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) properties.<br /><br />• <strong>ORGELASE</strong>, a bactericide that accelerates the blood flow and lyphatic system.<br /><br />• <strong>APYRASE</strong>, inhibits platelet aggregation.<br /><br />• <strong>BDELLIN & COLLAGENASE</strong> also inhibit blood coagulation by means of utilising different mechanisms. Furthermore some of these substances have anti-inflammatory and other additional effects.<br /><br />• <strong>DESTABILASE & PIYAVIT</strong> & other substances round-off the natural composition of active agents.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>http://www.energetic-panacea.com/leech_therapy.htm</em></span></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-89616045686048607412010-10-05T10:53:00.000-07:002010-10-05T11:03:34.523-07:00Leeches used to treat diabetes patients<p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">A patient has leech treatment for diabetes in Kauman village in Pleret, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta. (JP/Slamet Sutanto) The leech (Hirudo medicinal) is a disgusting creature to many but in the hands of Muhyidin, it is believed to have the potential to cure diseases. Everyday, Muhyidin's house in Kauman village, Pleret, Bantul regency in Yogyakarta is full of patients waiting for leeches to suck their blood. The father of two explained that leeches can cure diseases since their saliva contains active substances including hirudin which is usually found in egg white and penicillin. Hirudin has the ability to dilute blood. The leech has three jaws and is equipped with 100 small teeth. When a leech bites and starts sucking blood, it releases hirudin which enters the body and gets into the circulation. Blood clots, or dirty blood inside the human body, will diffuse when affected by hirudin. The diffused dirty blood can later on be sucked out by the leech. "The leech speeds up circulation of the blood and makes the patient's body feel fresh," said Muhyidin. Faster blood circulation, he said, can also make the body's organs work faster. "It channels oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. If there's an obstacle some body organs may be disturbed and can eventually develop diseases," said Muhyidin. Based on the results of research carried out in Germany, leeches were also recognized as being capable of reducing pain and inflammation. This is because by sucking dirty blood, static and poisoned blood the circulation can be improved. Clogging is reduced and circulation becomes faster. "Leech treatment is well known all over the world and has been a research topic in the U.S., Russia, Germany and other European countries. It is used by many U.S. hospitals." he said. Leech treatment is believed to have other benefits, including curing schizophrenia and depression and stimulating the eyes. It can deflate a swollen tongue and reduce the pain of a sore appendix. Medical students and medical staff from England have visited to see the proof of the benefits of leech treatment. "After following leech therapy, I feel much better," said Sumitro, a stroke patient who has undergone leech therapy in Muhyidin's place seven times. The first time that he came Sumitro's body was stiff and he couldn't talk. But after five sessions of leech therapy Sumitro is now able to speak. "I also feel and stay healthy even though I take sugar in my drinks," said Bambang, from Lempuyangan, Yogyakarta who also has leech therapy. "My parents suffer from diabetes, get treatment and take medicines prescribed by doctors," said Bambang. Since he has been close to diabetes patients, Bambang is also diligent in reading about this disease. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">"I understand that diabetes can't be cured,</i></b>" he said. The problem is that diabetes patients who go to a doctor often do not feel much improvement. Even when they have followed medical advice, the diabetes can still get worse. "Seeing my parents' experience I'm sure that traditional therapy would be preferable." said Bambang.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Leeches ready to be used in alternative medical treatment. (JP/Slamet Susanto) </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Skill in administering leech therapy was developed by Muhyidin through personal experience after suffering from diabetes for 10 years, from 1980-1990, badly affecting his leg. "My doctor recommended that I should have my leg amputated," he recalled. At that time one of his friends suggested that he should use leeches. He put two leeches on his leg to suck out the dirty blood. The result was that a week later the wound started drying and his foot wasn't amputated. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">"Since then I have never felt pain again. Even when I drink I always add sugar, even though I have diabetes," he said. In the last few years, one of his neighbors in Kauman suffered similar wounds and his leg was almost amputated. Remembering his own experience, Muhyidin went to the rice fields looking for leeches to cure his neighbor. "The patient came to me to be cured. Since then, more patients started coming and I formally opened a leech treatment centre in 2002," he said. Now almost every day, tens of patients come to Muhyidin's house. Every patient is, on average, given four leeches. The number of leeches used depends on the seriousness of case. "If there's a diabetes patient with a leg in bad condition I'll place 11 leeches," he said. For the treatment, the patient pays Rp 12,500 (US$1.30) per leech. "Many patients are coming from poor families. For them, the treatment is free. It's a pity that they are sick and have to spend money on transport to get here, so why I should ask them to pay?" said Muhyidin. Muhyidin is often asked to go to different cities to practice his therapy. Others patients come to his home. "It's not just patients from Indonesia who come to my house. Patients from other countries also visit me," he said. He said his patients came from as far away as Japan, Hong Kong, China, France, Holland, England, South Korea, Taiwan and neighboring countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Most of them suffer from diabetes. "I just got a call saying a group from Canada will come to have treatment," he said. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Leeches which are used for treatment can only be used once. After sucking blood during treatment the leech dies. He said it is hard to get new leeches from Yogyakarta and surrounding cities. "Pollution caused by pesticides has made the leech almost extinct. I'm forced to import leeches from Palembang (South Sumatra) because they are difficult to find here," he said</p><br /><p></p>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-47266146965477421952008-10-12T12:20:00.000-07:002008-10-12T12:22:41.622-07:00Leeches For Migraines, Anyone?<div align="justify">When Demi Moore recently revealed that she undergoes leech treatments for her overall health “in this woman’s apartment”, it raised more than a few late-snacks from the bottom of people’s stomachs. Just how often are medicinal leeches used nowadays? And are they used for migraine treatment?<br /><br /><strong><i>They’re Used For Migraines</i></strong><br /><br />Instead of having Big Pharma leech all of the money from your savings account, you can get real leeches to suck your blood. Does it hurt? Oh, yeah — patients say the first bite is incredibly sharp, but them subsides as their slimy doctors feed.<br /><br />Practitioners are using medicinal leeches for a variety of ailments, including migraines, rhuematoid arthritis, gout, skin ulcers, wound cleaning and vasulitits. You usually need a few treatments in order to find any relief with the leeches.<br /><br />Quite frankly, I haven’t been able to find any statistics on just how many migraineurs are turning to leeches for help or how effective they are. I have only found one reference that a clinical trial was performed, but have not found the results.<br /><br /><strong><i>Not News</i></strong><br /><br />Using leeches for migraines isn’t a revolutionary new idea. Hippocrates, as well as writing oaths, recommended leeches for migraine treatment around 400 BC. It is thought he learned about medicinal leeches from Babylonian healers. Before Hippocrates, one of the only migraine treatments available was to get a hole drilled into your head (called trepaning).<br /><br /><strong><i>Before You Get Stuck</i></strong><br /><br />You can’t just plop any old leech on your head and expect relief. There are only certain strains of leeches that are considered medicinal leeches. Although Demi Moore claims she goes to a private home to get her leech treatment, you usually have to go to a doctor.<br /><br />Demand for medicinal leeches is rising as demand for alternative therapies rises. And you really can’t get more natural than a blood-sucking leech. The FDA even recognizes that they can have positive qualities.<br /><br />If you have an infected wound or are threatened with gangrene from diabetes, then medicinal leeches and maggots can clean your wound better than a room full of doctors with various diplomas. But the jury is still out for the use of leeches for migraines.<br /><br />Personally, I’d rather just have the migraine.<br /><br /><strong><i><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.dealingwithheadaches.com/leeches-for-migraines-anyone/</span></i></strong><br /><br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-33266395008632380752008-10-12T12:04:00.000-07:002008-10-12T12:06:22.178-07:00Uses of Leech Therapy in Patients with Skin Grafts<div align="justify">Leeches, as we all know, can be viewed by many as quite disgusting creatures to look at, especially when they are full and bloated after gorging themselves on blood. Many people fear leeches and most stay away from them. Just the thought of having a leech attach themselves to a part of the body is enough to scare anybody. But remember, there are leeches that serve many purposes, especially when it comes to the medicine world. These medicinal leeches have long been used in the treatment of illnesses and diseases, and they have also been used in the healing process of skin grafts.<br /><br /><strong><i>What is a Skin Graft?</i></strong><br /><br />When a patch of skin is taken from the same individual and transplanted to another part of their body, it is called skin grafting or skin transplant. The patch of skin taken from an individual is removed from an area of the body that has good circulation to increase the chance of healing quickly and properly. Common areas where skin grafts are taken are those that are hidden underneath clothes, usually from the buttocks or inner thighs. After skin harvesting, the donor site is covered with sterile and non-adhesive dressing so as to prevent the occurrence of infection.<br /><br />After the patch of healthy skin is harvested, it is carefully spread over the required area. To keep it in place so as to promote good healing and good revascularization, well-padded dressings that exert gentle pressure are placed over the skin graft. Stitches can also be used to keep the skin graft in place to allow growth of new blood vessels, supplying the transplanted skin with blood, thus, increasing the healing process.<br /><br />Skin grafts, although taken from the same individual, can still present a lot of risks. Infection of the recipient site can occur and delay healing and complications can also arise such as poor venous drainage leading to skin graft tissue death, and this is most especially true for patients whose vascular system is compromised.<br /><br />If this occurs, skin grafting can be repeated in the hope that the graft will be successful the next time, but nowadays, many surgeons use leeches to avoid the above from happening.<br /><br /><strong><i>Why Use Leech Therapy?</i></strong><br /><br />Leech therapy has been used for many years as a treatment for many conditions, especially when it comes to infection, so studies were done and it has been found, tested, and proven that leech therapy can really aid in the healing process of skin grafts.<br /><br /><strong><i>How does leech therapy promote healing and recovery of patients who have undergone skin grafting?</i></strong><br /><br />As soon as the leeches attach themselves to the skin graft site, they begin to suck blood. While sucking, they also release a component called hirudin from their saliva. This component is very important in the inhibition of platelet aggregation (the process where the platelets clump or stick together) and coagulation cascade (a series of processes that ends with fibrin clot formation).<br /><br />If these two detrimental complications are present in a skin graft, there will be marked venous congestion, which slows down the healing process of the skin graft. When the skin graft receives poor circulation, the site becomes cyanotic [a condition in which the skin and mucous membranes take on a bluish colour because there is not enough oxygen in the blood], then it hardens and cools until the transplanted tissue dies. Now, because of the hirudin and the Factor Xa inhibitor present in the leech’s saliva, these processes are inhibited. Since there is a vasodilator component in their saliva too, venous congestion is further reduced, promoting good blood flow into the skin graft. After continuous medicinal leech therapy, the skin graft will soon turn warm and pinkish, a good sign that there is an adequate blood supply.<br /><br /><strong><i>Frequency of Leech Therapy in Patients with Skin Grafts</i></strong><br /><br />Medicinal Leeches suck on the area for up to an hour or more, where they can consume one to two teaspoons of blood. Two days after leech therapy, the skin graft site will show a noticeable increased blood supply to the area.<br /><br />The frequency of leech therapy in patients with skin replants is about four days to five days, while the frequency in patients whose skin grafts became compromised is about six to ten days.<br /><br /><i><strong>Leech Therapy Contraindications</strong></i><strong><br /></strong><br />Not all patients who undergo skin grafts are a candidate for leech therapy. Those who have AIDS or HIV are not recommended to undertake medicinal leech therapy because it could put them at risk of bacterial sepsis. Likewise, patients who take immunosuppressive drugs are also not advised to undergo leech therapy due to the same reason.<br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-35008600798227523282008-10-12T11:59:00.000-07:002008-10-12T12:02:06.386-07:00Skin Diseases<div align="justify">The skin is the body’s primary line of defense against infection. There are three common layers to the skin - Epidermis, Dermis and Hypodermis, composed of skin cells, capillaries, sweat glands, and hair follicles.<br /><br />Common skin diseases often occur in the two uppermost layers, the epidermis and the dermis. Uncomplicated skin diseases are easily cured because the skin generally sheds after a couple of days, but more complicated skin diseases are rooted at the hypodermis level and these are more difficult to cure. Some skin diseases are rendered incurable and only subject to remission and exacerbation; that is, they remain idle on occasions and flare up from time to time.<br /><br /><strong><i>Hirudotherapy to Treat Boils</i></strong><br /><br />Boils are infections deep in the skin. A boil begins as a red area and gradually becomes tender and firm. An ‘eye’ forms at the center and contains yellow fluid called pus, which is composed of white blood cells, dead bacteria and proteins.<br /><br />During leech therapy, leeches are placed directly over the eye of the boil, so they can feed directly on the pus and at the same time, other leeches will be placed around the area to rid the body of pooled blood. This is important, because pooled blood causes pressure, leading to tenderness and will relieve the patient of pain.<br /><strong><i><br />Hirudotherapy to Treat Shingles</i></strong><br /><br />Shingles [Herpes Zoster] is a viral skin disease in adults and occurs due to reactivation in adulthood of dormant viral matter leftover from a bout of chickenpox in childhood. Although lifelong immunity to chickenpox is commonly spoken about, the viruses that cause it may lie dormant for years in sensory nerve cells, reactivating themselves and causing an attack of shingles at times when the immune system is weak, resulting in inflammation, pain, and a rash of small skin blisters.<br /><br />The skin manifestation of herpes zoster is not serious, but the pain caused by the inflammation of the underlying nerve can be severe, lasting for weeks.<br /><br />Treatment for Shingles is designed merely to limit the severity and duration of pain because there are usually post infection complications like neuralgia [chronic severe pain around a nerve path]. Leeches saliva contains a substance that has analgesic [pain killing] effects. Pain relief is known to be more powerful and longer lasting than general pain relieving tablets.<br /><br /><strong><i>Hirudotherapy for Psoriasis</i></strong><br /><br />There are many skin diseases that can be treated with Hirudotherapy and one disease worth mentioning is Psoriasis.<br /><br />Psoriasis is a common skin condition that occurs when the skin cells replace themselves too quickly. There are many different types, but the most common is chronic plaque psoriasis.<br /><br /><strong><i>What are the symptoms?</i></strong><br /><br />The extent of the disease can vary from a few tiny lesions here and there on the body, but are most commonly seen on knees, elbows, the chest and scalp, appearing as red, scaly patches that reveal fine silvery scales when scraped or scratched and often itch and feel uncomfortable. This condition can cause sufferers to become withdrawn and uncomfortable in forming relationships because of the way people react to the appearance of their skin.<br /><br /><strong><i>What causes it?</i></strong><br /><br />Why psoriasis occurs is unknown, which makes it quite impossible to prevent. However, many things are thought to trigger the condition, including skin injury, sore throats/chest infections, some drug treatments, sunburn and even stress. As hopeless as it all may sound, ancient doctors have been using Hirudotherapy to improve the outcome of skin diseases like psoriasis. Not only are leeches useful for sucking pooled blood, their saliva also contains active substances that are bactericidal [fights off bacteria that proliferates over thick layers of excess skin cells]. Other substances in the leech’s saliva also cause gradual slowing of skin cell production, giving noticeable relief for patients.<br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-44449489221918793102008-10-12T11:57:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:58:55.321-07:00Hirudotherapy for Alopecia (Baldness)<div align="justify">Hirudotherapy for Alopecia<br /><br />Alopecia is more commonly known as baldness. We are not talking about the normal age-related baldness, but the gradual and radical hair loss due to a fungal infection or dandruff.<br /><br />About 100 hairs are naturally lost from the head every day, though the average human scalp contains between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs. Genetic baldness is caused by the body's failure to produce sufficient new hairs, not by excessive hair loss. It affects men more than women, although women also can develop a characteristic pattern of hair loss. About one quarter of men have started balding by the time they are thirty, and about two thirds are either bald or are balding by 60.<br /><br />One of the advantages of Hirudotherapy is improvement of blood circulation. Bald spots in your head have less hair density because they have less blood circulation compared to other parts. The proliferation of fungi in the area can be one of the factors that cause the reduced blood flow.<br /><br />Leech therapy is not generally associated with treating alopecia, but is very effective nonetheless. Blood circulation improves as a result and the body’s natural defense against fungal infection can once again be delivered to the affected areas, thereby promoting healing.<br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-77750618902584308112008-10-12T11:52:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:55:55.826-07:00The Benefits of Leech Therapy and its Effects<div align="justify">Yes, leeches can be thought of as slimy and unattractive creatures, but ugly or not, they do serve a lot of medical purposes when it comes to us, humans.<br /><br />Since ancient times, leeches were used to treat many illnesses and disease through bloodletting, a method where blood was drawn out in the hope that removing impure blood would heal the body. Believe it or not, leech therapy is sometimes the best alternative in treating illnesses, and even surpasses pharmacological treatments. Because of its healing effects to the human body, this traditional method of curing diseases is still thriving today.<br /><br /><strong><i>The Benefits of Leech Therapy</i></strong><br /><br />There are more than 600 species of leeches that have been identified, but only 15 of the species are used medically, so they are given a class of their own. They are classified as Hirudo Medicinalis or medicinal leeches.<br /><br />Leech therapy has been used and is still in use for many diseases of the body. They are used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory processes. It is perfect for those with vascular (arterial and venous diseases), heart (ischemic diseases and hypertension), and lung problems (bronchitis and bronchial asthma). The medicinal leeches can also help in patients with pneumonia. The GI or gastrointestinal tract can also benefit from leech therapy, especially those who suffer from hepatitis, stomach ulcers, and pancreatitis, among others. Likewise, individuals with problems in their genitourinary system and gynecological disorders will also benefit greatly from leech therapy. Skin diseases like psoriasis, herpes, and eczema can also be treated with leech therapy. Other problems known to benefit from leech therapy are the eyes (example is glaucoma) and the brain (for infantile cerebral palsy).<br /><br />But how exactly do leeches treat these many illnesses and diseases?<br /><br /><strong><i>Anticoagulating Effects of Leeches</i></strong><br /><br />The leech’s saliva contains enzymes and compounds that act as an anticoagulation agent. The most prominent of these anticoagulation agents is hirudin, which binds itself to thrombins, thus, effectively inhibiting coagulation of the blood.<br /><br />Another compound that prevents coagulation is calin. This, on the other hand, works as an anticoagulant by prohibiting the von Willebrand factor to bind itself to collagen, and it is also an effective inhibitor of platelet aggregation caused by collagen.<br /><br />The saliva of the leeches also contains Factor Xa inhibitor which also blocks the action of the coagulation factor Xa.<br /><br /><strong><i>Clot Dissolving Effects of Leeches</i></strong><br /><br />The action of destabilase is to break up any fibrins that have formed. It also has a thrombolytic effect, which can also dissolve clots of blood that have formed.<br />Anti-inflammatory Effects of Leeches<br /><br />Bdellins is a compound in the leech’s saliva that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by inhibiting trypsin as well as plasmin. It also inhibits the action of the acrosin. Another anti-inflammatory agent is the eglins.<br /><br /><strong><i>Vasodilating Effects of Leeches</i></strong><br /><br />There are three compounds in the leeches’ saliva that act as a vasodilator agent, and they are the histamine-like substances, the acetylcholine, and the carboxypeptidase A inhibitors. All these act to widen the vessels, thus, causing inflow of blood to the site.<br /><br /><strong><i>Bacteriostatic and Anesthetic Effects of Leeches</i></strong><br /><br />The saliva of leeches also contains anesthetic substances which deaden pain on the site and also bacteria-inhibiting substances which inhibit the growth of bacteria.<br /><br /><strong><i>Overall Effects to the Human Body</i></strong><br /><br />Once the leeches attach themselves to the skin of the patient and start sucking blood, the saliva enters the puncture site and along with it the enzymes and compounds responsible for all these positive effects. Working together, they act to cure the disease present in the individual. Because of anticoagulation agents, the blood becomes thinner, allowing it to flow freely through the vessels. The anti-clotting agents also dissolve clots found in the vessels, eliminating the risk of them traveling to other parts of the body and blocking an artery or vein. The vasodilating agents help widen the vessel walls by dilating them, and this causes the blood to flow unimpeded, too.<br /><br />Patients who suffer from pain and inflammation will feel relief from the anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects of the leech’s saliva.<br /><br />In the long run, leech therapy also helps to normalize the blood pressure of hypertensive individuals as well as lessen their risk of suffering from stroke and heart attacks. Blood circulation is also improved with leech therapy and it helps with the healing process of wounds, as well as wounds and lesions caused by diabetes. There is also a noticeable boost in the immune system’s function due to bacteriostatic agents.<br /><br /><strong><i>Contraindication to Leech Therapy</i></strong><br /><br />Leech therapy is contraindicated to patients with HIV and AIDS. It is also not recommended to patients who are on immunosuppressive drugs. Leech therapy puts these patients at risk for bacterial sepsis, thus, worsening their conditions<br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-39729893605168815632008-10-12T11:48:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:51:18.545-07:00Leeches: What Do They Do?<div align="justify">What exactly do leeches do? I mean, aside from swimming around murky pools and sticking to people’s legs, what do they really do? Well, to answer this question, perhaps it’s best if we find out what exactly leeches are first.<br /><br /><strong><i>What Are Leeches?</i></strong><br /><br />Leeches are what we call annelids. They comprise the subclass Hirudinea. There are three types of leeches, fresh water leeches, terrestrial leeches, and marine leeches. Most of them live in fresh water, but there are also those that prefer to live on land, particularly in low foliage or in rain forests. There are also some leeches that can be found in dry forests, but only in places where there is a bit of moisture. During the dry season, these leeches often burrow themselves in the ground, where they hibernate even without water. They simply shrivel up and become rigid and their bodies become very dry. If you sprinkle them with water, they recover completely within ten minutes.<br /><br />Those that live in the water usually prefer bodies of water that are relatively slow moving and calm. A lot of leeches may also be found in murky waters, which makes them harder to spot.<br /><br />Leeches, quite interestingly are hermaphrodites – meaning they’re both male and female. When they reproduce, one of them merely chooses to play the role of female and another chooses to play the role of male.<br /><br /><strong><i>They Bite and They Suck Blood</i></strong><br /><br />Contrary to popular belief, most leeches don’t really rely solely on drinking blood. Some of them actually eat other invertebrates that are smaller than them, swallowing them whole. Some leeches can’t bite and are content to feed off decomposing bodies.<br /><br />Leeches that suck blood are called Haemophagic leeches, “Haemo” meaning blood and “Phago” meaning ‘to eat’. They attach themselves to their hosts only until they become full, after which, they will simply fall off and start digesting the blood they sucked out. These leeches suck blood through the anterior sucker which is composed of the first six segments of the invertebrate’s thirty four segments. It uses this ‘mouth’ to attach to the host. They also release some sort of anesthetic, which is the reason why you don’t feel the leeches when they bite. They then use suction and mucus to stay on their host. Once they open up a bite wound, they secrete an anti-clotting enzyme called Hirudin into the bloodstream so that blood will keep flowing. Sometimes, blood will continue to seep for hours after the leech has been removed, which is due to the anti-clotting enzyme in their saliva. While this may sound terrifying, being bitten by a leech isn’t deadly or dangerous.<br /><br />They’re not really the villains that popular media often portrays them to be. In fact, leeches are actually very harmless. The amount of blood lost due to a leech’s bite isn’t really significant and when they’re full (which doesn’t take long), they simply fall off and go on with their lives.<br /><br />People who bushwalk and don’t want leeches to attach, despite being relatively harmless are known to touch them with a cigarette end or a lighted match to release their grip, or they pour carbonated drinks over the leech. However, doing this can cause the leech to vomit its stomach’s contents into the opening wound, thereby increasing the risk of infection. So, it’s best if possible to disable their suckers by using a fingernail under the narrower end of the leech and flick them off. Never try to tear them off or it’ll worsen the wound, cause the leech to regurgitate its stomach contents, and possibly leave a portion of the leech’s mouth on the skin.<br /><br /><strong><i>They Also Heal</i></strong><br /><br />Some of the popular leeches are the European Medical Leech or the Hirudo Medicinalis and some congeners. These are the ones used in the field of Medicine for microsurgery, grafting, and for reconstructive surgery. In the past, these leeches were used to cure infections and for bloodletting. They were quite popular during the medieval ages because they were known to cure infections; in fact, they remained great options for treating infections until antibiotics were discovered.<br /><br />Doctors use leeches for microsurgery due to their ability of removing blood that has coagulated. They relieve venous congestion and muscle flaps. Leeches are also known to treat black eyes! Hirudin can be used to treat infections of the middle ear and is being tested as a systemic coagulant.<br /><br />When used for medical purposes, a leech is NEVER used to treat more than one person, as bacteria and viruses present in their former host can transfer to the new host.<br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-44328100898661249342008-10-12T11:45:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:47:46.894-07:00Leech Therapy: Is It Safe For You?Present a random stranger with a leech and he’ll most likely have disgust written all over his face. Tell him that you’re going to let the leech bite him and he’ll look at you as if you’ve given him a death threat. Indeed, people’s reactions to leeches today are quite exaggerated and it’s almost funny to see how people over react to this poor and simple creature with no backbone to speak of. All people would usually remember are blotched camping trips where skinny-dipping led to lots of screaming and thrashing around because their legs suddenly got decorated with little black bloodsuckers. But, really, leeches are relatively harmless – not only that, they’re also very useful.<br /><br />As you may have heard, the use of leeches in the field of medicine is widespread and very much accepted. They’re popular in the field of plastic surgery, especially for cases where grafting is quite difficult and also for reconstructive surgery. They’re also quite popular in microsurgery because of their ability to liquefy blood clots, thereby keeping the blood flowing and encouraging circulation.<br /><br />But the idea of willingly letting a leech bite would be enough to make someone turn tail and run to the nearest exit. But really, leech therapy, aside from the minor inconveniences, is relatively harmless.<br /><br /><strong><i>Pain</i></strong><br /><br />Of course, bites usually equate to pain and a leech’s bite is no exception, however, the pain that stems from a leech’s bite is slight. Some people say that it’s hardly noticeable and others say that it hurts as much as a wasp’s sting – but this is rather rare. The slight stinging sensation of a leech’s bite usually lasts for only about one to five minutes and after that, their natural local anesthetic effect kicks in. Usually, a patient’s pain is connected to their anxiety before the procedure, so simply put, the more you dread it, the more it hurts! So, the best thing is to try and distract yourself whenever leeches are applied and you probably won’t feel a thing.<br /><br /><strong><i>Pruritus [Itchiness]</i></strong><br /><br />Itching on the site of the bite for the first few days is a common side effect of leech therapy. It’s not an allergic reaction, though people often mistake it to be so and it’s advised that the patient should be advised to avoid scratching the area because it delays wound healing. Local natural remedies for itching can be used, like cold moist wraps or vinegar wraps and if the itching is intense, antipruritic drugs like Fenistil ointment or an oral antihistamine can be used.<br /><br /><strong><i>Blood Loss</i></strong><br /><br />Leeches are blood suckers, meaning that whenever they attach to your skin, they ingest some of your blood. Now, in the wild imaginations of people who abhor creepy crawly things, leeches can suck a person’s blood until the person shrivels up and dies, but of course, we know that this is really not the case! Leeches only suck about a teaspoon of blood and when they’re full, they naturally fall off. Of course leeches also have an enzyme called Hirudin in their saliva, which is an anticoagulant that is injected into a person’s bloodstream. However, blood may keep seeping several hours after the bite, which may cause some anxiety for the patient, but is nothing to worry about.<br /><br /><strong><i>Infection</i></strong><br /><br />A leech’s body contains bacteria that may cause infection, but these microorganisms are easily killed by antibiotics, therefore it’s quite safe to use leech therapy.triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-56806547264574023802008-10-12T11:37:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:43:05.970-07:00Therapeutic Benefits for Diabetics<div align="justify"><strong><i>Diabetes</i></strong><br /><br /><div align="justify">Today, Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world. Millions of people have been diagnosed with Diabetes and everyday, thousands more become part of this statistic.<br /></div><br /><strong><i>Diabetes: A Quick Overview</i></strong><br /><br /><div align="justify">Diabetes is a condition caused by the pancreas’s failure to produce enough insulin. The difference between type 1 and type 2 is the degree of insulin depletion. In type 1 diabetes, the onset is usually early in childhood, where there is absolute depletion of insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the onset is usually in adulthood around the age of 45 or older; where insulin production occurs, but an insufficient amount of insulin is produced.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">When we eat, sugar turns into glucose and enters our bloodstream and is distributed to our body cells. Glucose is the “food” that gives our cells energy to function and insulin is crucial for breaking down glucose into the form that our cells can use. Without insulin or with too little insulin, glucose will not be absorbed by our cells, and they in turn will have no or little energy.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">In the above situation, glucose remains in the blood causing it to thicken, which can create complications in the body. Transporting blood from one<br />organ to another requires more effort, resulting in the vessel walls thickening and becoming less flexible. The heart also becomes overworked with the effort required to pump blood around the body and of course, thickened blood struggles to pass through capillaries, let alone the smaller blood vessels. This alone compromises the blood supply to distal organs, let alone the fact that viscous blood can predispose a patient to develop blood clots, which can travel to major organs like the brain, heart and lungs causing a stroke, heart attack or lung embolism.<br /></div><br /><strong><i>Leech Therapy: An Ancient Science</i></strong><br /><br />Leech Therapy, also known as Hirudotherapy, is the treatment using medical leeches to assist various diseases. It is a therapy known since ancient times and remains very much in use today.<br /><br />Hirudo Medicinalis is a species of leech used for medical applications, which are able to consume up to 15 ml of blood, therefore, therapists can use up to 12 leeches simultaneously or more, depending on the type of disease treated. When leeches bite, they inject their saliva into the wound. Their saliva contains enzymes, different chemicals and substances that bring about diverse therapeutic benefits for the patient.<br /><br /><strong><i>Therapeutic Benefits for Diabetics</i></strong><br /><br />One of the most important substances recognised in leech salivary glands is Hirudin, a substance that suppresses the blood clotting mechanism. If you remember, it was mentioned earlier that Diabetes patients have viscous [thick] blood, which creates a higher risk of developing blood clots. Development and dislodgment of clots into the general circulation poses serious threats to anyone and can cause instant death, so the suppression of blood clotting is essential.<br /><br />Hirudin also has a blood diluting effect, so apart from preventing blood clots; it also thins the blood, allowing the blood to circulate more easily, relieving pressure on the heart and blood vessels.<br /><br /><strong><i>All These and More<br /></i></strong><br />Aside from Hirudin, there are many other active substances found in the saliva of leeches, which contribute to the improvement and normalization of capillary circulation. There are also other substances which produce a natural analgesic, provide antibacterial properties, lower blood pressure and have an anti-inflammatory effect.<br /><br />In Diabetes and other diseases, the microcirculation restoration effect of Hirudotherapy is essential in preventing amputation of fingers and toes. As we know, the care of the fingers and toes are crucial and since a diabetic’s blood circulation can be sluggish, where blood is sometimes unable to fully penetrate capillaries, the body cannot heal the smallest of wounds, or worse, necrosis [tissue death] can result and sometimes amputation of a finger, toe or limb is necessary to stop the spread of this condition to other parts of the body and Leech Therapy is known to improve circulation in distal parts of the body (i.e. extremities).<br /><br />Today, hospitals worldwide use leeches to assist a number of areas, including restoration of circulation in reattaching parts of the body, such as fingers, toes, ears or hands which have been accidentally amputated and good blood supply and nerve connection is essential for recovery. These reattachment procedures are often complemented with leech therapy so that circulation is restored more easily and safely.<br /><br /><strong>Little Research</strong><br /><br />Scientific research is ongoing regarding the use of leeches in assisting countless diseases in the medical arena. Leeches are without doubt, miraculous creatures; their obvious advantage is the fact they have survived for several centuries, therefore allowing us to acknowledge that some mysteries of nature, for the time being, may remain unmeasured.<br /><br />Leeches have and will always be thought of as the “wonder doctors” of science.<br /></div><br /><span><i><span style="font-size:85%;">http://toolsforlife-dvd.com.au/diabetes.html</span></i></span>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-15360436552824267472008-10-12T11:29:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:35:48.625-07:00Leech Therapy: Migraines<div align="justify">Millions of people suffer from Migraines each year, in fact, eleven out of a hundred are said to have suffered or are suffering from Migraine headaches. Migraines are also said to be one of the leading causes of unproductivity in workplaces. Indeed, migraines can easily become the bane of a person’s existence, especially since the pain is usually so intense that one can hardly do anything else but complain and hope the pain goes away as soon as possible. The exact causes of migraine headaches are still unclear, although a number of years ago, it was thought to be a change in the state of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Now, however, the belief about migraine is due to the disturbance stems from the brain itself rather than in the vessels supplying it. One thing that’s sure is that the pain is somewhat relieved when circulation to the particular painful area is improved and the same principle holds true with migraines and this is where leeches come in handy.<br /><br />Leeches are wonderful creatures, despite their reputation of being slightly – okay, overly disgusting to many people, they still prove to be helpful creatures! These remarkable invertebrates have found a way to keep us happy and at the same time keep themselves happy. It’s a relationship that’s mutually beneficial, so you really have to wonder why most people abhor them so much.<br /><br />There is a theory that suggests migraines are caused by tiny blood clots that are formed in the heart, which then travel to the brain and these blood clots disrupt the flow of blood to the brain and thus cause the typical symptoms of migraine like the one-sided head-ache, photophobia, and nausea. As you may already know, there is a substance found in leeches called Hirudin. This substance is an anticoagulant, causing blood to become more diluted, thus allowing it to flow easier and faster. Hirudin can dissolve those little clots that have formed by converting fibrinogen to fibrin.<br /><br />It’s also known that leeches can increase the circulation in the body, even on the head, because its sucks just enough blood to get the blood stream flowing. Leeches can also cause vasodilation, meaning the vessels are widened, thus lowering the pressure on the walls of these vessels, improving blood flow.<br /><br />Good blood circulation is vital! In a painful area, it’s absolutely necessary, especially in places like the brain and using leeches instead of medications for migraines is healthier. For one thing, medications can have serious side effects unlike leeches which, if handled properly, are relatively safe and have no prolonged adverse effects. Drugs, especially strong pain relievers like narcotics, can be addictive, so they’re not advisable if possible. Frequent use of certain drugs may also cause dependence and an increase in tolerance, meaning the next time you’re in pain, you may need a higher dose and as you may be aware, higher dosages of drugs can be toxic for your body.<br /><br />Another substance in leech saliva that is known to help relive migraines is a natural anesthetic that is released after attaching itself and can greatly relieve discomfort. If you’d rather have a leech on your head rather than a splitting headache, then perhaps leech therapy is the thing for you.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>(http://toolsforlife-dvd.com.au/migraines.html)</i></span>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-75792035122594099742008-10-12T11:21:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:22:59.168-07:00Migraine Headaches and Leeches<div align="justify"><div align="justify"><div align="justify"><strong><i>Leeches are making a comeback, it seems.</i></strong><br /><br />Medicinal leeches are used to improve blood circulation, get rid of poisons in the blood, rejuvenate the respiratory and the excretory system and help with migraines.<br /><br />They are used widely in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. In India, just the last week Unani medicine experts finalized the standard operating procedures (SOP) that specifies rules that will have to be followed by all leech therapists in India.<br /><br />And, in case you are wondering, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States classifies leeches as medical devices.<br /><br />"Surgeons who do plastic and reconstructive surgery find leeches especially valuable when regrafting amputated appendages, such as fingers or toes. Severed blood vessels in such cases often are so damaged that they lack the ability to clear the area of blood. In these cases, it is difficult for the surgeon to make a route for blood to leave the affected part and return to circulation."<br /><br />Leeches apply just enough amount of suction to get the blood flowing.<br /><br />However, there is another aspect to using leeches that could possibly be of a benefit to migraine patients.<br /><br />The parasite's saliva contains a powerful anti-clotting agent hirudin. At the same time, leeches emit a natural anesthetic that minimizes pain.<br /><br />Anti-clotting medication has shown some promise as a migraine preventive. We've talked about it in the recent article Clopidogrel (Plavix) - Migraine Cure or a Death Trap?<br /><br />The conclusion here is - it doesn't seem to be detrimental to one's health. Whether it really helps with migraines, the question for now remains open.<br /></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>(http://www.raingem.com/2008/08/migraine-headaches-and-leeches.html)</i></span>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082812748535790490.post-78199192407970042462008-10-12T11:16:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:17:36.129-07:00Leech therapy makes a revival in Kashmir<div align="justify">Srinagar, April 24 : Doctors at various hospitals in Kashmir have adapted traditional leech therapy for patients suffering from various ailments like surgical reattachments of fingers, toes, ears for its ability to prevent venous congestion.<br /><br />Leech therapy is considered quite effective, as when blood-sucking leeches bite a person, their saliva that contains several bioactive substances, causes blood flow to increase to the damaged tissue and prevents clotting.<br /><br />Once bitten, a person can bleed for hours, allowing oxygenated blood to enter the wound area until veins re-grow and regain circulation.<br /><br />Hospitals in Kashmir are using the leech therapy on patients suffering from arthritis, gout, chronic vertigo and sinusitis.<br /><br />"Sinusitis results in mucous collection that leads to various ailments like headache, cough and cold. In order to get rid of it, surgical methods are adopted to drain the exodus. But leech therapy is easier than draining because leeches have certain enzymes that help to liquify and dissolve the substances and also have anti-biotic, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory substances that relieve the person from sinusitis," said Dr Nasir Hakeem, program incharge of leech therapy.<br /><br />The hospitals using leeches for treatment follow the traditional Unani system of medicine.<br /><br />The application of medicinal leech 'Hirudo medicinalis' for clearing poison from body has been practiced for long. In fact they have been used in medicine for thousands of years and is believed to have been in fashion in Egypt around 2,500 years ago.<br /><br />Leech therapy was commonly used in traditional medicine for treating localized pain.<br /><br />According to medical experts, more than 100 bioactive substances are present in the saliva of a leech that goes into the body of a patient while impure blood is extracted.<br /><br />Earlier, people used to practice the traditional method on roadside or near shrines. And, traditional leech workers used leaches on multiple patients, thus, increasing the risk of transferable diseases.<br /><br />But to avoid transmittable diseases, hospitals have adopted the single usage of a leech during the treatment. After a leech is used on any human, it is then killed as a part of the measures to prevent it from passing the infection from one patient to another.<br /><br />A growing number of patients are showing interest, as they find the treatment in hospitals effective, hygienic and clean.<br /><br />"I had a lot of pimples on my face but they have reduced now after I started undergoing leech therapy. It's very safe here in the hospitals. It is a kind of therapy where leeches purify the blood and we don't need any medicines for the treatment," said Faizaan Bhat, one patient.<br /><br />"The leeches are found more during winters. It is a traditional form of therapy. Earlier people used to go to places like Hazrat Bal where they used to collect leaches in a pot. But here in the hospitals, everything is more hygienic," said Ajaz Ahmed, patient.<br /><br />The medicinal leeches are brown, red striped and olive coloured. The creatures have two suckers, one at each end and have three jaws.<br /><br />Leech species are carnivorous and the ones, which are predatory, feed on invertebrates like worms and snails. But a few of them are blood sucking and feed on vertebrates like reptiles and mammals.<br /><br />Patients who have not been cured through conventional medicine are the ones who mostly come forward for the therapy.<br /><br />It costs rupees 50 per leech used for treatment apart from other charges at the hospitals in Kashmir. (ANI)<br /></div>triple_shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13730286715120198479noreply@blogger.com0