LEECH THERAPY
ACADEMY OF HEALTH
INSTITUTE OF HOLISTIC MEDICINE
is a precursor of holistic medicine on the Polish market.
In holistic medicine, before initiating a treatment, it is important to identify the cause of the disease, not only to relieve its symptoms or effects, and also to restore the balance of the body, so called homeostasis, by the application of any and all possible methods of health care, starting with conventional medicine, therapies offered by spa centres, psychotherapy and finishing with alternative medical procedures, leech therapy (hirudotherapy), larval therapy (maggot therapy), acupuncture or herbal treatment.
An advocate of holistic medicine was Hippocrates (c. 460 377 BC), a famous Greek doctor, the father of medicine, the most prominent representative of medical school from the Isle of Kos. His fundamental principle was “primum non nocere” – first do no harm. Hippocrates’ medical practice was based on a rational evidence, in-depth observation of the patient and experience, which allowed him to establish a diagnosis and select the best possible methods of treatment. In his profession he cared about the health of his patients as he believed that “salus aegroti suprema est” – the well-being of the patient shall be the most important law”. Hippocrates’ treatment methods involved supporting natural healing processes.
Leech Therapy Course online
LEECH THERAPY
Holistic medicine includes among others two ways of “combating” diseases. They are leech therapy (hirudotherapy), which uses leeches for medical purposes, and larval therapy (maggot therapy), which uses larvae of the common green bottle fly for hard-to-heal wounds.
“Any method is good if it is effective...” Hippocrates
LEECHES FOR SALE
LEECH THERAPY
LEECH THERAPY
Most important substances produced by salivary glands (SGS) of the medicinal leech
Hirudin – the most known substance produced by medicinal leeches, discovered by Hycraft in 1884. In 1903 Jacobi gave the substance its present name. It is a highly specific thrombin inhibitor, i.e. by deactivating thrombin it prevents the natural process of coagulation
Calin – a thrombocyte adhesion and aggregation inhibitor; it prolongs the time of bleeding after the application of leeches
Bdelins – inhibitors of trypsin, plasmin and acrosin. They are located all over the body of a leech but the greatest number of bdelins is found in the external reproductive organs. Bdelins inhibit the activity of inflammatory factors and prevent them from spreading over tissues. There are two forms of this inhibitor: bdelin A and bdelin B
Hirustasin – serine proteinase which is an inhibitor of kallikrein chains, tripsin, chymotripsin and cathepsin G, i.e. substances needed to keep regular blood pressure
Apyrase – plays an important role in reducing blood viscosity
Antielastase – inhibits the activity of elastases, i.e. the enzymes which destroy skin elastin and effectively slows down the process of skin ageing
Eglins – a strong anti-inflammatory substance (an inhibitor of inflammatory factors) and effective antioxidant. Eglin C is the best known of all eglins produced by leeches.
Destabilase – a substance which has strong antiaggregating properties causing decomposition of clotted blood. Destabilase also contains a unique low molecular substance – prostaglandin, which regenerates blood vessels, the digestive tract and controls the level of blood sugar