Effectiveness Of Leech Therapy Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Leech Therapy in the Severity of Diabetic Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common causes of disability in diabetic patients. Applying a method to achieve the highest therapeutic effect in patients is desirable. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of leech therapy on diabetic neuropathy of lower limbs in comparison to gabapentin as a standard method. This randomized controlled parallel-group clinical trial was conducted among 40 patients with type II diabetes who were diagnosed with lower limb diabetic neuropathy and referred to specialized outpatient clinics in Babol, Mazandaran province, Iran from 23 September 2020 to 17 March 2021. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated with leech therapy and the other group was treated with gabapentin as the standard method. The severity of neuropathy was assessed every 15 days until the 45th day. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS), Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), and Electromyography (EMG) were used for assessing the study outcomes. The repeated measure and Friedman tests were used by SPSS.V.23. The results of our study indicated that pain (P value:0.03), numbness (P value˂0.0001), and paranesthesia (P value:0.01) significantly reduced in patients undergoing leech therapy versus patients taking gabapentin on the 45th day. The total NSS (P value˂0.0001) and total NDS (P value˂0.0001) improved significantly for patients with leech therapy over 45 days compared to the patients with gabapentin. The results of our study showed that using leech therapy for patients with diabetic neuropathy was more effective in improving clinical symptoms and the functions of lower limb muscles and nerves in comparison to gabapentin. The severity and symptoms of neuropathy greatly improved for the patients treated with leech therapy versus patients taking gabapentin.

The Effectiveness of Leech Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain.

Leech therapy has been found to be effective in the treatment of a number of chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Leeches are also often used empirically to treat chronic low back pain, but data from clinical trials have been lacking to date. We therefore conducted the first randomized trial of leech therapy for chronic low back pain. Patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to receive either a single session of local treatment with 4-7 leeches or four weekly sessions of exercise therapy (1 hour each) led by a physical therapist. The primary endpoint was a change in average back pain intensity, as measured using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), after 28 days. Secondary end- points included functional impairment (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, Hannover Functional Ability Questionnaire), quality of life (Short-Form Health Questionnaire [SF 36]), pain perception (pain perception scale = Schmerzempfindungsskala [SES]), depressivity (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]), and analgesic consumption (questionnaire/ diary). Trial visits took place before treatment and on days 28 ± 3 and 56 ± 5 after the start of treatment; the overall duration of the trial was 56 ± 5 days. The mean low back pain score improved from 61.2 ± 15.6 before treatment to 33.1 ± 22.4 on day 28 in the leech ther- apy group (n = 25) and from 61.6 ± 14.8 to 59.8 ± 16.7 in the exercise therapy group (n = 19) (group difference -25.2; 95% con- fidence interval [-41.0; -9.45]; p = 0.0018). Significant benefits of leech therapy were also found at both time points with respect to physical impairment and function as well as physical quality of life. The patients' expectations from treatment were higher in the leech therapy group but did not significantly affect the findings. A single session of leech therapy is more effective over the short term in lowering the intensity of pain over the short term and in improving physical function and quality of life over the intermediate term (4 weeks and 8 weeks, respectively). The limitations of this trial are the lack of blinding and the small number of patients. Leech therapy appears to be an effective treat- ment for chronic low back pain.

Can Leech Therapy Be Used as an Alternative Treatment for Controlling Migraine Headache? A Pilot Study / Da li lečenje pijavicama može da se primenjuje kao alternativni način lečenja u kontroli migrenoznih glavobolja? Pilot studija

Abstract Leech therapy is likely to cause symptomatic relief in migraine headache sufferers, but there is little clinical data in this field. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of leech therapy in the management of migraine headaches. This is a quasi-experimental pilot study with a three-month post-treatment follow-up. Twenty-six patients with migraine headaches were allocated into two groups to receive either routine drug therapy (Propranolol 80 mg/day and Amytriptyline 50 mg/day) as preventive therapy or leech therapy (1-3 leeches in a single session). The severity and duration of headache were measured before intervention, as well as at week 1, and at months 1, 2, and 3 after intervention. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of headache. The mean severity and duration of headaches were significantly decreased within both groups during the study period, whereas there was no significant difference between the groups after three months. The declining trend of severity and duration of headaches was seen to be highly significant in the first week of the treatment in both groups. The results of this study showed that a single session of leech therapy offers benefits equal to drug therapy in reducing pain in women with migraine headache, and can provide great symptomatic relief, lasting for at least three months.

LEECH THERAPY IN TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

The aim of this review was to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of Leech therapy in treatment of cardiovascuLar diseases. This assessment is based on the analysis of results of clinical trials conducted in 2000-2015 and published in peer-reviewed literature indexed in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, E-library.ru and E-library.kz databases. The paper presents a review of the current controlled and uncontrolled studies ensured evidence-based information about the effectiveness of leech therapy in the treatment and prevention of complications of coronary heart disease, hypertension, chronic heart failure and stroke. In discussion, we demonstrate the rationale for leech therapy from the evidence-based point of view. We conclude that the current evidence is considered sufficient for using leech therapy as a complementary method in treatment of cardiovascular diseases and prevention of their complications as a part of the conventional therapy. According to the official recommendations on the use of leech therapy in healthcare issued by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation from 2002, the list of indications for leech therapy include coronary heart disease, early stages of heart failure, cardiosclerosis, cardialgias, dyscirculatory encelopathy and arterial hypertension. However, leech therapy should not be used as a substitute for standard treatment schemes of the abovementioned conditions.

Effectiveness of Leech Therapy in Gambhira Vata-Rakta (Acute Gout): A Pilot Study

Bloodletting is a mainstay of Panchakarma therapy as per Susruta. Leech therapy has been indicated as means of bloodletting for both types of Vata-rakta where pain, burning and redness found as per Charaka chikitsa. Medical science has enormous leaps in terms of diagnosis and treatment yet there is renewed interest in leech therapy among modern as well as traditional medicine practitioners. Most of studies of leech therapy are found for plastic surgery and pain reduction in osteo- arthritis. US, FDA also approves leech therapy as tool of skin graft. Therefore, we conducted a non randomized controlled pilot study in between June 2011 to Sep 2011 to assess the efficacy of leech therapy in Gambhira Vatarakta as diagnosed as acute Gout. Twelve patients (eight male and four female) with a mean age of 47 (9) years were treated with two - four leeches for seven days with a follow up to four weeks. Another 10 patents those were not willing for leech therapy was treated with tropical Diclofenac sodium gel for 7 days as control. The mean length of blood socking is 32 (5) minute. The mean quantity of blood sucked by Individual leech per suck is 6 (2) ml. In comparison with control, leech application led to rapid relief of pain and swelling immediate after the detachment of leech. Most significant clinical improvement was noted after 14 days and slightly reduction of serum uric acid were also noted after three weeks of treatment. 90% Patient described the initial leech therapy as a painless and two patients had mild to moderate itching but no local infection was noted in treated group. Our study was limited to small sample size but it had remarkable treatment effect. Larger randomized control trial should be undertaken to study the safety and efficacy of leech therapy in acute gout.

Effectiveness of Leech Therapy in Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis

Leech therapy has been found to be effective in osteoarthritis of the knee and hand in previous trials. Chronic epicondylitis is a prevalent pain syndrome with limited treatment options. In this study, we tested whether leech therapy would be beneficial in the symptomatic treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis. Forty patients with manifestation of epicondylitis of at least 1-month duration were randomized to a single treatment with 2 to 4 locally applied leeches or a 30-day course with topical diclofenac. The primary outcome was change of pain sum score on day 7 calculated from 3 visual analog scales for pain during motion, grip, and rest. Secondary outcomes included disability (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand questionnaire), physical quality of life (Short Form-36), and grip strength. Outcomes and safety were assessed on days -3, 0, 7, and 45. Leeches induced a significantly stronger decrease of the pain score (143.7±36.9 to 95.3±45.1) compared with topical diclofenac (131.6±29.6 to 134.7±70.7; mean difference -49.0; 95% confidence interval,-82.9--15.1; P=0.0075) after 7 days. On day 45, this group difference was reduced (-27.5; confidence interval, -60.8-5.8; P=0.110) due to delayed pain relief with diclofenac. Functional disability showed a stronger decrease in the leech group, which was most prominent after 45 days (P=0.0007). Quality of life increased nonsignificantly in the leech group. Results were not affected by outcome expectation. A single course of leech therapy was effective in relieving pain in the short-term and improved disability in intermediate-term. Leeches might be considered as an additional option in the therapeutic approach to lateral epicondylitis.

Blutegeltherapie bei symptomatischer Rhizarthrose

Leech therapy has been shown to be effective for symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of leech therapy in another type of osteoarthritis. In this randomized controlled trial we evaluate the effectiveness of leech therapy in symptomatic osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint (thumb saddle joint). A single course of leech therapy is effective in relieving pain and improving disability for at least 2 months compared to topical diclofenac therapy. In conclusion, the leech therapy is another option for treatment of osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint.

The Psychological Effects of Leech Therapy After Penile Auto-Amputation

The Psychological Effects of Leech Therapy After Penile Auto-Amputation