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Leeches, the tiny blood-sucking parasites
used by doctors to treat a variety of ailments before the
advent of modern medicine, can help relieve chronic pain caused
by osteoarthritis.
Researchers in Germany said the slimy
creatures relieved pain
without any side effects in 10 patients suffering
from osteoarthritis in a small pilot study.
"We regard the observed clear treatment
effect as remarkable.
Treatment with leeches reduced pain significantly after 3
days and up to 4 weeks. The leeches were left on the patients'
knees for 80 minutes. Some complained that the initial bite
of the leech was painful.
The researchers said the
blood suckers produced faster pain relief than conventional
drugs given to patients in a control group.
Leeches remove blood through a tiny incision
in their teeth. The saliva of leeches contains analgesic and
anaesthetic compounds, as well as hirudin, an anti-blood clotting
agent.
Annals
of Rheumatic Diseases 2001;60:986
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