Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Localized RNAi and Ectopic Gene Expression in the Medicinal Leech
Published on: April 17, 2008
Clinical Significance of Leech Therapy in Indian Medicine
Syal Kumar1, Gustav J Dobos1, Thomas Rampp1
11 University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Abstract:
Traditional Indian medicine-ayurveda-could be the oldest medical system in which leech therapy was adopted for treating specific disease conditions of patients. Some of the indications in which leeches are used are in tumors, hemorrhoids, abscess and boils, skin disorders, ulcers, gout, diseases of the eye, headache, herpes zoster, thrombosis, and wounds. The saliva of the leech consists of anesthetic agents, anticoagulant, antiplatelet aggregation factor, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory substances, and gelatinous substances. Leeches suck the excess blood, reduce the swelling in the tissues, and promote healing by allowing fresh oxygenated blood to reach the area until normal circulation can be restored. Clinical studies have been conducted in different parts of the world to observe the scientific action of leech therapy. Studies with leeches have been carried out to observe the healing of complicated varicose veins, pain reduction in osteoarthritis, and other disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Statistical Significance
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
The Significance of Membrane Transport
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
Significance of Center of Mass
Significance Testing: Overview

