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Leech Therapy Articles
Leech Therapy Articles
1. Introduction to Leech Therapy 2. What you should know about Leech 3. What you should know about Leech Therapy 4. How to apply leech therapy - examination 5. How to apply leech therapy - preparation 6. How to apply leech therapy - attachment and encouraging attachment 7. Monitoring Leech Therapy 8. The leech detachment and disposal 9. Leech Therapy Frequency 10. Complications and Infections 11. Leech Therapy for Baldness 12. Leech Therapy for Diabetes 13. Leech Therapy for Eye Diseases 14. Leech Therapy for Gum Diseases 15. Leech Therapy for Hearing Problems 16. Leech Therapy for Heart Diseases 17. Leech Therapy for High Blood Pressure 18. Leech Therapy for Hepatitis 19. Leech Therapy for Kidney Disease 20. Leech Therapy for Migraines 21. Leech Therapy for Osteoarthritis
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Hirudinaria manillensis
Leech is very popular in today's world. Leeches are used for medical purposes, as live baits and also for many beneficial uses. The world's leech demand is increasing tremendously. That's why LeechForSale.com is here to provide leeches worldwide. Medicinal leech is cross barred with brown and black and grows to eight inches (20cm) in length. The medicinal leech has a sucker at each end of the underside of its body. The sucker at one end contains the animal's mouth. The other sucker acts as a suction cup when the leech attaches itself to its victim. Once attached, the leech slashes its victim's skin with its sharp teeth and sucks the blood. The leech injects into the wound a substance that keep blood from clotting. A leech can ingest up to five times its weight in blood and then live up to 6 months without food.
The leeches that LeechForSale.com provides are Hirudinaria manillensis or Buffalo leech which are medical leeches or leeches used for medications and cosmetics
1. Hirudin : enters the coagulant (gore) and helps it come out from the bite. 2. Anti infection ( penicillin ) : to prevent infection. 3. Calin : the substance located in gore which usually blocks the von wilebrand factor, and also functioning as mediator in blood-stucture aggregation process or platelet. 4. Destabilase : a monomerizing activity which is to solve vibrind ( the result of gore ). 5. Hirustasin : functioning as protein solven agent to improve digestion. 6. Bdellins : the chemical substance that can reduce skin inflammation, swollen skin, and itchy skin. 7. Hyaluronidase : an antibiotic to prevent infection. 8. Anesthetic Substance : the anesthetic for certain area in the body (local anesthetic). 9. Triptase Inhibitor : a substance produced in swollen or allergic area.
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10. Egllins : the anti-swollen substance. 11. Xainhibitor factor : the anti-gore substance (anti-coagulant). 12. Complement Inhibitors : a substitute for any missing components. 13. Carboxypeptydase alnhibitors : blood-flow enhancer around the leech bite area. 14. Histamine-like substance : maximize the arteri tracts to help better blood flow. Surgeons who do plastic and reconstructive surgery find leeches useful when regrafting amputated appendages. Leeches improve blood flow to help reattach tissues by sucking the blood till the vein reconnects. Recent research also supports leech use in relieving pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, as well as in treating purpura fulminans, periorbital hematoma, sublingual hematoma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ear infection.
The first medicinal leeches were obtained from streams and rivers, but today they're purchased from companies that function as leech farms. Facilities that don't have established protocols can follow the recommendations of these leech farms. It's advised that leeches be stored at a cool temperature (42 to 45F [5 to 7C] and no higher than 68F [20C]) in "leech mobile homes" containing distilled water treated with a special salt; some recommend changing the solution every other day.
2. Medicinal leech therapy is painless because the leech makes its own numbing substance. This numbing substance is a natural way to keep you comfortable. 3. Leech therapy can be applied to flaps, replanted fingers, ears, or traumatic injuries from rings that tear away skin and tissue.
4. The doctor decides where the leech is to be placed. Often this is an area that is bluish or bruised in color. Blood has pooled there because your body has not yet made small veins to carry the blood away.
5. Leech therapy can be applied for three to seven days until your body has made these veins.
6. The purposes of leech therapy are : - Improve venous circulation when a new microvascular flap is at risk of failing due to venous congestion. - Produce an adequate venous outflow from the tissue by adjusting the number of leech applications.
Preparing the leech. These are few things to notice in preparing the leech : * the number of leeches to be applied * the specific placement of the leech or leeches * the frequency of the therapy In addition, orders often include antithrombotics such as aspirin, heparin, or low-molecular-weight dextran (dextran 40; Rheomacrodex and others) to decrease the risk of venous thrombosis. The physician may also prescribe chlorpromazine (Thorazine) for its specific vasodilating effect on small blood vessels.
venous congestion, a slit is cut up the side of the cup and it is placed around the gauze-wrapped digit. For flaps, the cup is placed over the desired site and covered with transparent stretch film secured with strips of tape. The leeches will attach to the flap through the hole.
During leech therapy, it's common to measure and record skin temperatures every three hours, with the goal of keeping the temperature of the area at or above 86F (30C). A reduction in temperature below 86F may indicate problems with either arterial or venous circulation and should be reported immediately to the physician. Keeping the room temperature slightly warm and the surrounding area wrapped lightly in gauze and a light blanket can also help in maintaining the desired therapeutic temperature. These coverings should not be tight enough to restrict circulation and are usually removed only during assessment or while measuring temperatures or changing dressings.
The nurse should perform a detailed evaluation of the site at least every four hours, assessing the appearance of the patient's skin for signs or symptoms of infection and checking nearby pulses. Baseline laboratory values should also be checked, including a complete blood count, partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time. The physician should be notified of abnormal values such as a drop in the hemoglobin level or hematocrit, increased bleeding times, or changes consistent with infection or risk of infection.
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Satiated leeches usually detach spontaneously between 20 to 120 minutes. Generally, a single leech will extract 5 to 15 mL of blood during each attachment. The greater benefit of leech therapy is the blood loss after the detachment, because of the slow oozing at the site of the bite.
Leech disposal
After use, the leech should be destroyed by placing it in 70% alcohol solution. Many nurses use a small plastic cup with a screw-on lid, such as a urine specimen container, with 20 mL of alcohol. The leech dies within 10 minutes and is then treated as biohazardous waste, disposed of in an appropriate waste receptacle. Because of the risk of blood-borne infection, the leech should never be reused on another person. It is also not to be reused on the same patient, for after feeding, leeches usually don't want to feed again for several weeks.
Note : During therapy, remember to document the estimated blood loss; the appearance of the site before and after leech application; the time, location, and duration of each leech application; any significant hematologic laboratory results; patient education and the patient's response to therapy; and the presence of signs or symptoms of infection.
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You may keep asking this question : For how long leech therapy is needed? Well, no specific period is decided for a complete healing. However, this may be the best answer for your smart question :) Leech therapy is commonly required for three to seven days, or until angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) occurs. Success will be evidenced by changes in the tissue-it will change from a purplish hue to a more normal skin color, from engorged to nonengorged, and from a very fast capillary refill (less than one second) to a more normal one (one to two seconds). Once angiogenesis is established, the tissue will have sufficient venous drainage and no longer require therapy. As long as venous congestion persists between leech applications, therapy should continue.
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Infection - The most serious complication of leech therapy is infection. The leech's digestive system contains Aeromonas hydrophila, a Gram-negative bacillus that enables the breakdown of ingested blood. Although most infections involving leech therapy are caused by A. hydrophila, infections with Serratia marcescens, A. sobria, and Vibrio fluvialis have also been reported. Infections can arise from two to 11 days after therapy begins and can result in abscesses and cellulitis, which can progress in some cases to sepsis. A study found that infections arose in 4.1% of patients who received leech therapy. Prophylactic antibiotics are usually given: double coverage (two antibiotics) during therapy and single coverage (one antibiotic) for two weeks afterward. Established infection is treated with antibiotics such as third-generation cephalosporins, along with aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, or trimethoprim. Because infection is a serious adverse effect of leech therapy, the patient and family should also be instructed to observe for and report early signs and symptoms.
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Baldness or alopecia is a very common condition where an individual loses hair. Hair loss can occur in various parts of the body, but the most common area is the scalp. Men are generally affected more but women can also suffer from this condition, often causing embarrassment.
In the above situation, glucose remains in the blood causing it to thicken, which can create complications
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in the body. Transporting blood from one organ to another requires more effort, resulting in the vessel walls thickening and becoming less flexible. The heart also becomes overworked with the effort required to pump blood around the body and of course, thickened blood struggles to pass through capillaries, let alone the smaller blood vessels. This alone compromises the blood supply to distal organs, let alone the fact that viscous blood can predispose a patient to develop blood clots, which can travel to major organs like the brain, heart and lungs causing a stroke, heart attack or lung embolism.
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Prevent Progress of Glaucoma Glaucoma is a condition that occurs when there is too much production of vitreous humor or when there is a very slow reabsorption of vitreous humor. Vitreous humor is a transparent, jelly-like substance that gives nourishment to the eyes. Too much of it however, can be problematic, where the intra-ocular pressure can increase, causing compression of the eye structures. This causes gradual blurring of vision and slow but certain loss of sight. Those at risk of developing glaucoma include diabetics, people over the age of 40, and people with a family history of the disease. If detected and treated in its early stages, glaucoma can be controlled and vision can be saved. Leech Therapy can assist in the progression of this disease.
The use of leeches to lessen the rate of blood flow to the eye lessens the production of vitreous humor and thus lessens the pressure inside the eye. Leech therapy can therefore help patients with glaucoma if this procedure is done in regular and frequent intervals and in conjunction with medicines that Ophthalmologists [medical eye specialists] prescribe to lessen the production of vitreous humor and lower the overall blood pressure in the area.
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Leech Therapy for Periorbital Hematoma One of the major features of leech therapy is the ability of leeches to extract pooled blood. It also has an anti-edematous effect, which is especially helpful as a conservative measure to evacuate pooled blood as in the case of a periorbital hematoma. Periorbital hematoma is hematoma around the eyes, a sac of blood that the body creates to keep internal bleeding to a minimum. In most cases the sac of blood eventually dissolves; however, in some cases they may continue to grow or show no change. If the sac of blood does not disappear, then it may need to be surgically removed. It usually occurs after a large amount of pressure or force has been applied to the area and something that is definitely common among boxers. This is shown by a bluish green discoloration around the eyes, more popularly known as the black eye. Disappearance of pooled blood in this area is particularly slow and can take from several days to a few weeks. Not only is it unsightly, but can cause light-headedness and headaches. Leech Therapy can be used to immediately evacuate the pooled blood around the eyes so the bluish-green discoloration can disappear after a mere couple of days.
One of the main factors that can increase the development of gum disease is bacterial growth. As stated above, poor dental hygiene leads to a buildup of plaque and tartar, promoting bacterial growth causing tooth decay, bad breath, infection of the gums etc. People who have a low immune system are also at greater risk of developing gum diseases because the body is susceptible to infections.Illness can also increase the risk of developing gum disease. Diabetes, for instance can worsen the condition of preexisting gum disease due to uncontrollable blood sugar levels and increased viscosity of the circulating blood, which hinders healing, so necessary agents (like nutrients) for the healing process to properly take place are not delivered to the infected and inflamed site.Other factors that can lead to gum diseases are stresses and hormonal imbalances as well as medications that an individual takes.
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Leech Therapy for Hearing Problems Leech Therapy for High Blood Pressure
The age bracket of individuals suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension is decreasing, which is quite alarming because it implies there are an increased number of younger people more at risk from suffering high blood pressure-related problems. Taking into account todays lifestyles, it isnt surprising that an increasing number of younger individuals are suffering from hypertension. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition where an individual has an elevated blood pressure that exceeds the normal value of 120/80 mmHg.
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developing hypertension. Stress, old age and family history are also contributing factors of hypertension. Diseases such as chronic kidney diseases and disorders of the thyroid and adrenal glands can also cause hypertension.
These enzymes prevent blood from becoming thick, thereby promoting better blood circulation not only in the heart but to other parts of the body and can be used with current antihypertensive medications.
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long-term hepatitis can have a distinct yellowing of the skin and eyes; in fact, there are many signs and symptoms, depending upon the kind of hepatitis.
There are also a number of medications and drugs that can damage the liver when used over a long period of time, for example some antihypertensive drugs, antibiotics and antidepressants can cause some inflammation to the liver. Leech therapy has been used in the treatment of many illnesses for thousands of years. A healthy blood supply is needed to fight off infection and inflammation in the liver and beneficial enzymes found in the saliva of leeches include anti-inflammatory enzymes which help reduce swelling as well as histamine-like enzymes that act to vasodilate the blood vessels, further enhancing blood flow. There are also antibacterial components in leech saliva that help fight disease.
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Another important enzyme that reduces the stress on the filtering function of the kidneys is the enzymes that help dissolve blood clots. To promote good blood flow or circulation, blood vessels are dilated by the histamine-like enzymes.
All these enzymes work together to help the kidneys receive good blood circulation, thus, aiding the kidney to
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properly filter toxins and waste materials from the body. If there is any inflammation of the kidneys that impedes its filtering action, leech therapy can prove to be beneficial through the anti-inflammatory compounds in the leech's saliva. Other benefits of leech therapy include the antibacterial effect that
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