Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Top cancer hospitals across the country treat their patients' PAIN with "woo." [View all]Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)93. Medicinal use of leeches
Medicinal leeches are any of several species of leeches, but most commonly Hirudo medicinalis, the European medicinal leech.
The European medical leech Hirudo medicinalis and some congeners, as well as some other species, have been used for clinical bloodletting for thousands of years. The use of leeches in medicine dates as far back as 2,500 years ago, when they were used for bloodletting in ancient India. Leech therapy is explained in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Many ancient civilizations practiced bloodletting, including Indian and Greek civilizations. In ancient Greek history, bloodletting was practiced according to the humoral theory, which proposed that, when the four humors, blood, phlegm, black and yellow bile in the human body were in balance, good health was guaranteed. An imbalance in the proportions of these humors was believed to be the cause of ill health. Records of this theory were found in the Greek philosopher Hippocrates' collection in the fifth century BC. Bloodletting using leeches was one method used by physicians to balance the humors and to rid the body of the plethora.
The use of leeches in modern medicine made a small-scale comeback in the 1980s after years of decline, with the advent of microsurgeries, such as plastic and reconstructive surgeries. In operations such as these, problematic venous congestion can arise due to inefficient venous drainage. Sometimes, because of the technical difficulties in forming an anastomosis of a vein, no attempt is made to reattach a venous supply to a flap at all. This condition is known as venous insufficiency. If this congestion is not cleared up quickly, the blood will clot, arteries that bring the tissues their necessary nourishment will become plugged, and the tissues will die. To prevent this, leeches are applied to a congested flap, and a certain amount of excess blood is consumed before the leech falls away. The wound will also continue to bleed for a while due to the anticoagulant hirudin in the leeches' saliva. The combined effect is to reduce the swelling in the tissues and to promote healing by allowing fresh, oxygenated blood to reach the area.[36]
The active anticoagulant component of leech saliva is a small protein, hirudin. Discovery and isolation of this protein led to a method of producing it by recombinant technology. Recombinant hirudin is available to physicians as an intravenous anticoagulant preparation for injection, particularly useful for patients who are allergic to or cannot tolerate heparin.
The use of leeches in modern medicine made a small-scale comeback in the 1980s after years of decline, with the advent of microsurgeries, such as plastic and reconstructive surgeries. In operations such as these, problematic venous congestion can arise due to inefficient venous drainage. Sometimes, because of the technical difficulties in forming an anastomosis of a vein, no attempt is made to reattach a venous supply to a flap at all. This condition is known as venous insufficiency. If this congestion is not cleared up quickly, the blood will clot, arteries that bring the tissues their necessary nourishment will become plugged, and the tissues will die. To prevent this, leeches are applied to a congested flap, and a certain amount of excess blood is consumed before the leech falls away. The wound will also continue to bleed for a while due to the anticoagulant hirudin in the leeches' saliva. The combined effect is to reduce the swelling in the tissues and to promote healing by allowing fresh, oxygenated blood to reach the area.[36]
The active anticoagulant component of leech saliva is a small protein, hirudin. Discovery and isolation of this protein led to a method of producing it by recombinant technology. Recombinant hirudin is available to physicians as an intravenous anticoagulant preparation for injection, particularly useful for patients who are allergic to or cannot tolerate heparin.
Today
Medicinal leech therapy made an international comeback in the 1970s in microsurgery,[6][7] used to stimulate circulation to salvage skin grafts and other tissue threatened by postoperative venous congestion,[6][8] particularly in finger reattachment and reconstructive surgery of the ear, nose, lip, and eyelid.[7][9] Other clinical applications of medicinal leech therapy include varicose veins, muscle cramps, thrombophlebitis, and osteoarthritis, among many varied conditions.[10] 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, as well as the anesthetizing, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilating properties of the secreted leech saliva.[2] The most common complication from leech treatment is prolonged bleeding, which can easily be treated, although allergic reactions and bacterial infections may also occur.[2]
Because of the minuscule amounts of hirudin present in leeches, it is impractical to harvest the substance for widespread medical use. Hirudin (and related substances) are synthesised using recombinant techniques. Devices called "mechanical leeches" that dispense heparin and perform the same function as medicinal leeches have been developed, but they are not yet commercially available.
Medicinal leech therapy made an international comeback in the 1970s in microsurgery,[6][7] used to stimulate circulation to salvage skin grafts and other tissue threatened by postoperative venous congestion,[6][8] particularly in finger reattachment and reconstructive surgery of the ear, nose, lip, and eyelid.[7][9] Other clinical applications of medicinal leech therapy include varicose veins, muscle cramps, thrombophlebitis, and osteoarthritis, among many varied conditions.[10] 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, as well as the anesthetizing, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilating properties of the secreted leech saliva.[2] The most common complication from leech treatment is prolonged bleeding, which can easily be treated, although allergic reactions and bacterial infections may also occur.[2]
Because of the minuscule amounts of hirudin present in leeches, it is impractical to harvest the substance for widespread medical use. Hirudin (and related substances) are synthesised using recombinant techniques. Devices called "mechanical leeches" that dispense heparin and perform the same function as medicinal leeches have been developed, but they are not yet commercially available.
more at link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirudotherapy#Medicinal_use
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
143 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Top cancer hospitals across the country treat their patients' PAIN with "woo." [View all]
pnwmom
Apr 2014
OP
You know what else is really common, and generally accepted without mocking? Prayer.
Electric Monk
Apr 2014
#1
If some cancer hospitals are treating patients' pain with prayer, I didn't run into any.
pnwmom
Apr 2014
#2
When my mom had cancer, she had many friends who said they were praying for her recovery.
Electric Monk
Apr 2014
#4
that study was so poorly designed and so poorly executed, NO ONE should reference it.
KittyWampus
Apr 2014
#19
I can't stand it, between that and other childish words thrown around here of late
Dragonfli
Apr 2014
#70
My step-mother was once prescribed decaf coffee enemas for relief from hives
OriginalGeek
Apr 2014
#85
Yes, it is not woo/psuedoscience. That is wonderful for your father!
Tuesday Afternoon
Apr 2014
#124
I think things like acupuncture have a hypnotic component that truly does help pain.
mucifer
Apr 2014
#8
Acupuncture as such is not 'woo'; there is some evidence that it can relieve pain and other symptoms
LeftishBrit
Apr 2014
#12
It's a business. Cheap perks that give you a leg up over the competition are smart.
LeftyMom
Apr 2014
#13
The National Institutes of Health doesn't fund studies of hospital valet parking. n/t
pnwmom
Apr 2014
#31
As the OP points out, many actual physicians disagree with your great wisdom
Bluenorthwest
Apr 2014
#35
A commenter on another board, with a related thread asks the pertinent question...
SidDithers
Apr 2014
#36
Pnwmom, I have to disagree with you as I have been treated with acupunture AS PART
Ecumenist
Apr 2014
#40
Oh okay, I am so sorry. I read it but not completely. I shouldn't have assumed that
Ecumenist
Apr 2014
#46
OH BULLSHIT. Only talk about what you know. Just because she went to someone who
Ecumenist
Apr 2014
#69
IT WORKS, Curmodgeness. I am a recipeint of this "cray-cray". IT IS NOT CRAZY
Ecumenist
Apr 2014
#47
NIH funded study: Acupuncture for Chronic Pain / Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis
magical thyme
Apr 2014
#55
We use acupuncture with great effects on the horses. Animals can't manufacture a placebo response
riderinthestorm
Apr 2014
#91
From what I remember the only problem with the studies is that you can't double blind
Recursion
Apr 2014
#81
It is very important to differentiate the marketing information provided by health care centers ...
etherealtruth
Apr 2014
#65
What does that have to do with acupuncture, which is what the thread is about? nt
Electric Monk
Apr 2014
#94
In other words, they let patients indulge in generally harmless placebos of their own choice...
Silent3
Apr 2014
#109
Sure, because we give the DEA 60 billion a year to bully doctors into under-treating pain.
Warren DeMontague
Apr 2014
#118
Top cancer hospitals across the country relieve their patients' of money with "woo."
MattBaggins
Apr 2014
#120