A traditional healing method in modern medicine.
Leech therapy is one of the oldest naturopathic treatments. The leech therapy is already documented in the Egyptians of the Pharaonic period.
In Europe, leech therapy has been part of traditional medicine for many centuries.
First, the effectiveness was attributed to bloodletting. Nowadays, however, this aspect is of secondary importance.
Apart from the centuries-old experience, in the recent past, the active ingredients that a leech releases during suction have been analyzed using modern methods. To date, more than 30 active ingredients have been identified.
These include, for example: Hirudin, Eglin, Bdellin, Calin, Hementin and Orgelase.
These active ingredients are now made responsible for the effectiveness of the therapy.
The following effects have been demonstrated:
Blood circulation promotion
Blood thinning
Anticoagulation
Blood vessel dilation
Lymphatic drainage promotion
Anti-inflammatory
Pain relief
In modern medicine, leech therapy experienced a veritable renaissance due to its use in plastic surgery. Here a high success rate was shown e.g. for skin grafts.
Leech therapy is also an integral part of inpatient treatment in rheumatism clinics.
We obtain the leeches we use exclusively from the
Biebertal leech breeding. See also: www.leech.com
Areas of application (indications) of leech therapy
Musculoskeletal disorders:
- rheumatism
- fibromyalgia
- HWS-BWS-LWS syndrome
- osteoarthritis of the shoulder
- Tennis elbow / golf elbow
- joint arthrosis of the thumb (rhizarthrosis)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- hip arthrosis (coxarthrosis)
- lumbago
- knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis)
- Ankle injury (distortion)
- Achillodynia
- Heel spur
- arthritis
- tendonitis
- bursitis
- myogeloses
- Tension conditions
Vascular diseases
- venous disorders (varicosis)
- superficial thrombosis
- Post-thrombotic syndrome
- chronic varicose vein complaints
- Spider veins
Further areas of application:
- tinnitus
- sudden hearing loss
- otitis media
- circulatory disorders
- PAD (arterial circulatory disorder only in the earliest stage)
- Ulcus cruris
- abscess
- hematomas
- shingles (herpes zoster)
- high blood pressure (supportive)
- lymphatic congestion
- gout
- breast infection (mastitis)
- plastic surgery (after skin grafts)
Contraindications (contraindications)
Haemophilia (bleeding disorder)
- medicinal blood thinning e.g. Marcumar, Xarelto, Eliquis
- anemia, hemorrhagic diathesis
- gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding
- Arterial occlusive disease (III-IV degree), PAD III-IV °
- poorly controlled diabetes (risk of infection)
- strong tendency to allergies (allergic diathesis)
- acute infectious diseases
- immunodeficiency, dialysis, HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy
- cirrhosis of the liver
- tumor diseases
- pregnancy
- excessive scarring (keloid tendency)
Method:
First of all, the indication or contraindication must be checked in a personal conversation. Possibly. there is already a physical examination here.
For this purpose, please bring all the test results you have with you.
If you should be able to have leech therapy, a blood test (not older than 2 weeks) is necessary in advance.
You have to plan at least 60 - 90 minutes for the duration of the treatment.
After attaching the leeches, they suck until they are full and can be dropped.
Afterwards, continued bleeding is desired (this can take until the following day). A special suction bandage is put on, which should be left on for at least 24 hours.
You are welcome to come back to our practice for further dressing changes and wound checks.
Costs:
Since leech therapy is not a benefit of the statutory health insurance, treatment is based on the fee schedule for doctors (GOÄ) as a self-payable benefit. This also applies to private health insurers, regardless of the reimbursement of the health insurers.
Nevertheless, some statutory health insurance companies grant grants for treatment with naturopathic treatments. You can ask your health insurance provider about this.
The complete treatment with a preliminary consultation, examination, blood test, leech therapy, wound care and follow-up treatment can cost between 130 and 180 euros. If the effort is very high, the invoice amount may be higher.