Hirudotherapy
Hirudotherapy comes from the Latin "hirudo" meaning leech, and the Greek "therapeia" meaning treatment. This practice dates back to ancient times, and was widely used—from Ancient Egypt to China. Today, it is still used in modern medicine in Germany, Russia, India, and even the United States!
We use medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) from certified farms, not only for their bloodletting effect, but above all for the hundreds of therapeutic substances found in their saliva, which offer numerous health benefits.
These natural substances have anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, analgesic, calming, and blood-thinning properties. They help to improve blood circulation, reduce acute or chronic pain, decrease swelling, and soothe the mind.
Who is it for?
Medicinal leeches can provide significant support in a wide variety of situations, such as:
• Circulatory disorders: reducing the risk of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and stroke; lowering high blood pressure (hypertension); relieving edema; improving microcirculation; reducing the appearance of varicose veins; easing the feeling of heavy legs and restless leg syndrome; helping with hemorrhoids and hemochromatosis.
• Acute or chronic pain: providing significant relief in cases of chronic inflammation, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, herniated discs (lumbar or cervical), lower back pain, sciatica or other neuralgias, migraines, and more.
• Autoimmune diseases: easing symptoms and flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.
• Nervous system disorders: leeches naturally release serotonin known as the “happiness hormone”which plays a key role in mood regulation, sleep and anxiety. By increasing serotonin levels, medicinal leeches help improve emotional and mental well-being, offering an alternative for depression, insomnia, stress and depressive states.
• Shocks and trauma: leeches are highly effective at decongesting tissues and accelerating healing after injuries such as sprains, fractures, surgical procedures and hematomas.
• Cellular regeneration: they stimulate the regeneration of cells and tissues, revitalizing the body from within.
• Purification and detoxification: hirudotherapy helps detoxify the body by eliminating heavy metals, medication residues, waste products and toxins that accumulate over time.
For reducing cardiovascular risks and supporting blood detoxification, I often recommend two hirudotherapy sessions per year one in spring and one in autumn.
