Question 1

is there any medical use for leeches anymore?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Used on occassion for venous engorgement that compromises healing.

Question 2

what's the difference between wild leeches and leeches used in medical treatment?

Accepted Answer

Wild vs Bred: Farmed leeches are grown under strictly clean techniques fed on HIV negative blood. Wild leeches, well they're fed on unknown.

Question 3

can medical leech therapy help someone with infected leg ulcers?

Accepted Answer

Leeches  leg ulcers: Leeches can be effective when an area has venous congestion; the leeches withdraw the blood from the congested area. Medicinal leeches are different than those obtained elsewhere. There are no studies of value showing that they help with infection.

Question 4

can leeches survive inside a human?

Accepted Answer

No: Digestive enzymes would kill them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/leech.

Question 5

in what way can leeches benefit your health?

Accepted Answer

Wound care: Leeches are being used at some wound care centers to remove dead and damaged tissues from wounds, thus avoiding surgical debridement.  I believe that their use is still experimental..

Question 6

how can leeches and maggots help in medicines today?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There are circumstances with infected tissue and blood strangulated tissue where leeeches and maggots can be useful.  Medicinal leeches and maggots are available on the market for this purpose.

Question 7

can people actually get treated from applying leeches?

Accepted Answer

EEEWWWWWWwwww Leech: The need to use leeches and maggots always intrigues me, but that issue may be better addressed by the psychiatrists in our healthtap team!

leeches are an effective tool when there is an injury or procedure that results in venous congestion. The leeches (sterile from a medical grade source) can be applied to decongest an edematous area due to venous congestion, thus allowing for a better healing.

Question 8

i was wondering what are some uses for medicinal leeches?

Accepted Answer

Medicinal leeches: The most common use of medicinal leeches today are for ridding the body of excess blood that may pool post injury or post operatively in an area. For example, in outer ear surgery, the leeches would be placed on the outside of the ear to allow healing to take place after a surgical correction to the ear. The leeches simply fall off when they are engorged. No harm to the patient.

Question 9

can you advise me if having bitten by a mosquito or a leech?

Accepted Answer

Mosquito Bite: To treat bug bites consider applying calamine lotion. Apply crushed ice or a cold pack.   A 1 to 1 mix of water and baking soda is effective when applied to the lesions. You can take oral medications like Benadryl (diphenhydramine)  or Chlorpheniramine.

Question 10

can leeches cure aids?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately no. : At the current time, there is no cure for the HIV virus that causes aids.  While the antiviral medications are improving the quality of life of people infected with aids and a vaccine may be in the future, it is best to prevent HIV infection by avoiding high risk behaviors and HIV exposures.  Leeches may still have a role (although very limited) in modern medicine, but not for aids.

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Doctor answers about:

Medical grade leeches

A member asked:

Is there any medical use for leeches anymore?

A member asked:

What's the difference between wild leeches and leeches used in medical treatment?

A member asked:

Can medical leech therapy help someone with infected leg ulcers?

A member asked:

Can leeches survive inside a human?

A member asked:

In what way can leeches benefit your health?

A member asked:

How can leeches and maggots help in medicines today?

A member asked:

Can people actually get treated from applying leeches?

A member asked:

I was wondering what are some uses for medicinal leeches?

A member asked:

Can you advise me if having bitten by a mosquito or a leech?

A member asked:

Can leeches cure aids?

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