Leech Information Blog — what is leech

The term 'leech' comes from the archaic word for 'healer, physician'. It came from the archaic forms in different languages, which all mean enchanter, healer, physician, counselor'. Leeches are any carnivorous or bloodsucking water or terrestrial worms of the class Hirudea. Leeching refers to placing leeches on the skin, in order to release blood, although the old term of the word literally means 'to cure'. Leeches have been used for as long as human history has been recorded. Records of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, the Mayans and the Aztecs all show the use of medicinal leeches for curing different medical...

          The leech is an aquatic worm with a flattened body, tapering end terminating in circular flattened disc, the hinder one being larger of two. It swims with a vertical undulating motion and moves, when out of water by means of these discs or suckers, flattening itself first by one and then by other and alternately stretching out and contracting its body. The mouth is placed in the centre of the anterior disc and furnished with 3 cartilaginous lens shaped jaws. These jaws are lined at their edges with fine sharp teeth and meet so as...