Biebertaler Blutegelzucht GmbH expressly points out that the company cannot and does not give any medical advice. This is the sole responsibility of the treating therapist!
The healing effect of leeches, which initially appears surprising, is a "smart" strategy developed through the co-evolution of leeches and their host animals. For the leeches themselves, the ingredients in their saliva help them to feed, while for their host animals the same ingredients have a healing effect on various diseases. Science and the pharmaceutical industry have long recognised the complex and beneficial cocktail of active ingredients that leech saliva has evolved to produce. For example, these ingredients can intervene in the complicated blood coagulation cascade, thus promoting blood circulation and lymphatic flow, as well as having anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects. The scientifically proven areas of application for leech therapy are widely described in the literature.
- •Chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis
- •Chronic regional pain syndrome
- •Post-operative circulatory disorders
- Hirudin Hirudin (derived from Hirudo medicinalis = medicinal leech) is one of the active ingredients in leech saliva that is used independently as a medicinal product. Hirudin inhibits blood clotting by binding to and blocking thrombin. Calin and saratin, two further anticoagulants, block the effects of the von Willebrand factor. They are responsible for the prolonged bleeding after a leech therapy session, which causes a gentle bloodletting process and enables the wound to clean itself. Leech therapy sessions should last for a maximum of 60 minutes, during which time it is important for the leech to keep the wound open and the blood flowing.
- Destabilase dissolves fibrin and blood clots, while apyrase prevents platelet activation.
- As the leech sucks, hyaluronidase and collagenase loosen the tissue so that active ingredients in the saliva can penetrate deeper.
- Eglin C and LDTE (Leech-derived tryptase inhibitor) both have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Antistasin expands the blood vessels and thus ensures improved blood circulation.
- Der Destabilase is also said to have an antimicrobial effect