Indications for the therapy
There’s no simple answer, when the leech treatment is unambiguously indicated, beacuse there’s no ready – made list of the diseases, that may require leech healing. We can only base on the evidences, that hirudotherapy showed its effectiveness in some particular cases, in specific ailments and health problems. Usually, hirudotherapy is a method that support other treatment (mostly pharmacological) or eases the pain, but it doesn’t cure the underlying causes of illness. The therapy we consider, is based on the skill of matching the symptoms with probable profits, that come from the hirudin in the leech saliva and its healing compounds. Leech’s saliva compounds show concrete effects; anti-coagulant, profibrinolytic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema. To a minor extent, the effects are also immunomodulatory and neurostimulatory.
The list of the symptoms and diseases that hirudotherapy has helped with, and showed it therapeutic effects:
Cardiovascular diseases:
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Myocarditis
- Pre / post heart attack condition
- Hypertension
- Migraine
- Varicose veins (lower extremities)
- Thrombophlebitis
- Ulceration
- Da Costa’s syndrome
- Atherosclerosis
Disorders of the musculoskeletal system:
- Rheumatic diseases
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Contractures
- Haematoma
Neurological disorders:
- Hypertensive encephalopathy
- Paresis
- Concussion symptoms
- Parkinson´s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Neuralgia
- Cerebral palsy
Gynecological diseases:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Infertility
- Uterine fibroid
- Endometrial adenoma
- Painful menstruation
- Mastitis
- Menopausal symptoms
- Vaginitis and endometritis
Gastrointestinal diseases:
- Gastritis, gastric erosions and duodenitis
- Cholecystitis
- Pancreattis
- Hepatitis
- Colitis
- Gastric and duodendal ulcers
- Haemorrhoids
Urological diseases:
- Nephrogenic hypertension
- Cystitis
- Prostate gland adenoma
- Chronic renal failure
- Erectile dysfunction
Respiratory diseases:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Pulmonary thrombosis
Otolaryngological diseases:
- Labyrynthitis and vestibular neuritis
- Otitis
- Sinusitis
Ophthalmology:
- Glaucoma
- Eye haematoma
- Conjunctivitis
Dermatological diseases:
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Herpes zoster
- Psoriasis
- Collagen disease
- Dermatitis
- Skin allergy
- Subcutaneous haematoma
- Scars (but not keloids)
Odontic diseases:
- Gingivitis
- Odontitis
- Odontical haematomas
- Sialoadenitis
Surgery:
- Amputations and replantations
- Haematomas and edemas
- Post-operative thrombosis
- Subcutaneous tissue infection
- Phlebitis
