Description of leeches

For therapy we use medical leeches (Hirudomedicinalis, annelids class). They can be found in fresh water basins. The genus of medical leeches includes more than 10 species, but we use only one species – simple medical leech. It has a prolonged, slightly flattened body and two suckers. Unlike other species it has two orange stripes. A healthy leech is dark-olive in colour and shining. The leeches sucks blood using only front sucker that has chitinousdenticles using which it pricks the skin 1,5 mm deep.

During application one leech can suck up to 10-15 ml of blood which takes about 20-90 min. The wound bleeding lasts 6-24 hours, the amount of lost blood is 10-40 ml. During one procedure we use 8-10 leeches.

Storage

Leeches are kept in clear well/spring water (can be boiled running water) of 10-18⁰C in glass wide-neck jars covered with gauze (to let air in, but not let them out) in a dark place. Water should be changed once a day: the jars are cleaned from mucus and are half-filled with water. Boiled running water needs to be desilted for no less than one day to remove chlorine and settle any admixtures. The sick leeches should be removed from the jar: leeches that are not active, aggressive, have ulcers and clots of mucus on their bodies. Features of a healthy leech:

· Smooth, shiny body without clots of mucus.

· React to touch – body contractions, shortening of the body.

· Aggressive – instantaneously stick to the hand placed inside the jar.

· Active – try to escape from the jar.

Leeches can be used only once!

Main methods

· Applying leeches until they fall off by themselves (i.e. with bloodsucking)

· Taking leeches off right after they stick to the skin (i.e. without bloodsucking)