Leeches – Some Famous Question & Answer

What is a leech?

A leech is a worm like creature that sucks blood. Leeches have been used for a long time and in different ways for medical purposes in Europe. There are many different kinds of leeches but just one is used for medical care.

What temperature is ideal for leeches?

Any temperature in range 40-80 F (5-27 C)

Do we need to feed leeches?

Leeches can live up to a year without food so no need to feed them often.

What is leeches lifespan?

Up to 10 years

Why are leeches being used treatment?

Leeches can relieve blood pooling around a muscle or skin flap better than drugs or other treatments. They are used to keep blood flow in muscle, skin and fat tissue that has been surgically moved from one part of your body to another. These tissues are also called flaps.

Leeches are also used in limbs or other body parts reattached after being amputated by accident. These reattachment are called implants. Flaps or implants can have blood pools around them so the skin becomes cool, hard and bluish in color and the blood flow this area becomes poor. If this happens, the tissue or skin flap can fail or be ruined.

How long are leeches used in the affected area?

It depends on how well each leech works. It can range 10 minutes to 2 hours. When it is full, it will fall off.

How much blood can a leech suck?

Each leech can suck from 1-2 teaspoons of blood.

Does the leech sucking hurt?

No, the leech saliva is filled with a chemical that contains a painkiller, which stops you from feeling the bite. The saliva also has a chemical, which keeps the blood from clotting.

What happens when the leech is full?

It falls off on its own. The therapist will remove it.

How fast does a leech become hungry and ready to suck again?

Between 50-70 days.

Can a leech be used twice in treatment?

No, leeches are single use. Once they have been used, they are thrown away so they won't spread other diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Both diseases are carried in blood.

Why is leech therapy used instead of other medical treatment?

In some cases, leeches do a better job by removing pooled blood than any other medical therapy.

What are the benefits of leech treatment?

The benefits of treatment are not only the amount of blood that the leech removes but the anti blood clotting enzymes in their saliva that allow blood flow from the area where they have been.