There's an intriguing article in the month's Annals of Internal Medicine about the effectiveness of leech treatment for arthritis of the knee.
Yep, leeches.
Hey, if it works..."In this randomized, controlled trial, patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who were treated with leech therapy experienced clinically significant improvements in self-perceptions of pain for a limited period. Moreover, a single application of leeches improved functional ability and joint stiffness for at least 3 months."
One thing the ancients didn't quite get with leeches is that it wasn't the blood-letting, it was the saliva that provided the benefit. Leech spit contains anticoagulants hirudin and hemetin as well as other chemicals, including anesthetics.
You don't lose that much blood, only 5 to 15 mL a leech. Of course if you do try this, for heaven's sake practice safe leeching: bacterial and viral infections can be transferred from an infected person. Don't share leeches!
If you don't have a handy leech-filled creek by your house, you can always go on line.
It's natural. It's been around since 1500 BC. What more can you want in a medical treatment?
Posted by Nic at November 4, 2003 11:02 AM | TrackBack