Where to put leeches for high blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure is a common disorder of the cardiovascular system, for the treatment of which traditional medicine offers several groups of drugs. Hirudotherapy for hypertension is a safe and effective alternative to pills and injections, created by nature. When is treatment with leeches indicated, how and in what quantity are procedures performed and how effective are they?

Hirudotherapy: history and modernity

The use of medicinal leeches for various diseases began long before our era. This method of getting rid of “bad blood” is mentioned in medical collections of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and India. The principles of hirudotherapy are described in more detail by famous ancient healers Hippocrates and Avicenna. Leeching was widely practiced until the mid-19th century as an effective and gentle method of bloodletting.

The technique lost popularity for several decades, but at the end of the same century, the study of the mechanisms of its action began. Studies have shown that the enzyme hirudin contained in the saliva of worms is a powerful anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting. Since then, hirudotherapy has been used on a scientific basis.

For medical procedures, only specially grown leeches can be used. Individuals living in the wild pose a danger because they are carriers of infections.

Medical leech

What you need to know about leeches

Hirudo medicinalis – medicinal leech

This is a section of alternative (folk) medicine, where freshwater annelids - leeches - are used as a therapeutic agent. The diversity of animals is quite large; for example, in Russia alone there are more than 60 species.

The most common species in Europe is the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis (see photo) or hiruda, although recently its numbers in natural biotopes have decreased due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

Note. Until the production of synthetic anticoagulants began, treatment with leeches was classified as traditional medicine, but in the middle of the 20th century, hirudotherapy was withdrawn from mass medical practice.

The use of hirudas for bloodletting and blood thinning has been known since ancient times. They were recommended for use by healers such as Avicenna and Hippocrates; in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs you can find drawings depicting treatment with blood-sucking worms.

Hirudotherapy was most actively practiced in Europe from the 17th to the 19th centuries. At first, the main goal was to remove “bad blood.” For this purpose, up to 40 individuals were placed at a time, and preference was given to very delicate and thin integuments, for example, gums.

Interesting. During the dawn of the practice of leech treatment, the main exporter of animals to European countries was Russia, which annually supplied about 70 million worms, for example, about 7 million were sent to London alone (with a population of 2.3 million people).

But at the beginning of the second half of the 19th century, this practice was sharply abandoned due to the rapid development of medicine and the substantiation of many scientific theories. But about half a century later, the scientist physician John Haycraft, who studied the anticoagulant properties of leech saliva, first described the substance - hirudin. This gave new impetus to the use of blood-sucking animals in therapeutic practice.

Indications for treatment

Hypertension or arterial hypertension is a persistent chronic increase in blood pressure (over 140/0 mm Hg). The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• frequent headaches;
• swelling of soft tissues;
• attacks of dizziness;
• burst capillaries on the skin, eyeballs;
• spontaneous sensation of heat, rush of blood to the head;
• shortness of breath, lack of air;
• “floaters” before the eyes, blurred vision and loss of consciousness;
• increased excitability.

This condition is fraught with serious consequences: cerebral hemorrhages, heart attack, kidney and heart failure, and blurred vision. Hypertension has three degrees of severity and is prone to progression without treatment.

What could this symptom indicate?

For women diagnosed with adenomyosis, it is important to pay attention to the localization and nature of the sensations. This will help the doctor determine the area where the pathological growths are located:

1. If the lesions are localized in the corners of the uterus, discomfort will be concentrated in the groin.
2. If endometrial cells have affected the muscle tissue of the cervix, adenomyosis causes pain in the intestines and vagina.

If, in addition to pain, a woman is bothered by nausea, vomiting, weakness, or high temperature due to uterine adenomyosis, this indicates severe intoxication and the development of complications. Such symptoms usually require hospitalization and constant medical supervision.

How does hirudotherapy help with hypertension?

The secret to the effectiveness of treating hypertension with leeches is to eliminate the cause of the disease and have a complex effect on the body. Blood pressure increases due to:

• obesity and poor nutrition;
• atherosclerosis – blockage of blood vessels with cholesterol deposits;
• heart and blood diseases;
• unfavorable heredity;
• tobacco and alcohol abuse;
• malfunctions of the endocrine glands and kidneys;
• stress, depression, nervous exhaustion.

As a result of exposure to one or more of these factors, blood flow is disrupted, blood clotting increases, blood vessels lose elasticity and become fragile, clogged with blood clots and cholesterol plaques.

The therapeutic effect of hirudotherapy for hypertension is achieved through a combination of the biological activity of the worms' saliva, blood loss and the body's response to the procedure. Each leech sucks from 5 to 15 ml of blood per session, after which the bleeding lasts for several hours. A decrease in the volume of circulating blood helps reduce blood pressure, and the bite and blood loss stimulate the immune system and activate hematopoiesis.

The main therapeutic effect is exerted by leech saliva, which enters the patient’s body during a bite. Its biochemical composition has not been fully studied, but the main active ingredients are known. The salivary glands of annelids produce about 100 different enzymes; the table describes the most useful and effective for hypertension.

Chemical formula of the hirudin molecule

Stages of the disease

About a quarter of the population, according to WHO, is susceptible to hypertension. This is a condition in which the blood pressure is between 160 and 95 or higher.

The exact causes of primary hypertension have not been established. Treatment of this pathology is aimed directly at reducing blood pressure.

The contributing factors are considered to be:

• hereditary predisposition;
• elderly age;
• presence of bad habits;
• unbalanced diet with a predominance of fatty foods;
• psycho-emotional stress;
• work in hazardous industries.

Secondary hypertension is a consequence of disruption of the endocrine system, heart or liver. Treatment of this type of hypertension is, first of all, the normalization of the body systems that contribute to a long-term increase in pressure.

There is a gradation of the disease according to stages:

1. The initial stage is characterized by an increase in pressure during stressful situations and psychological stress. After some time, the indicators return to normal.
2. At the second stage of the disease, the situation worsens: blood pressure increases more often, and medications are required to reduce it. The left ventricle of the heart increases in size.
3. Blood pressure in the third stage is already constantly above normal. Serious complications are possible, for example, heart and kidney failure, myocardial infarction. In this condition, hirudotherapy for hypertension can only be used as an additional remedy; it cannot completely replace medications.

How is the treatment carried out?

A negative attitude towards hirudotherapy for hypertension and other diseases is due to the fear of pain, bleeding and the unpleasant appearance of leeches. A detailed familiarization with the procedure will help you cope with anxiety and mistrust.

The safety of treatment is guaranteed only in a medical facility, with a specialist. Doctors at the Paramita clinic have the appropriate qualifications and experience in the practical application of the technique.

Preparation

No earlier than a week before the start of the course, it is necessary to do a blood test - this will eliminate contraindications such as anemia and thrombocytopenia. Leeches are very sensitive to odors, so before the procedure you should wash thoroughly using fragrance-free detergents. You cannot use cosmetics or perfumes. For the same reason, it is advisable not to drink alcohol or smoke for several days.

Process

At the initial consultation, the doctor determines the severity of hypertension and the general condition of the patient. According to the data obtained, an individual course of therapy is prescribed: the number and duration of sessions, the number of leeches per procedure and the points at which they are placed. Important points:

• The pain during the bite is insignificant (according to reviews, comparable to a mosquito bite), lasts a few seconds at the stage of suction to the skin. There is no further pain.
• Leeches are placed on active points. The standard scheme includes areas behind the ears, on the tailbone and sacrum, on the shoulders, and also on the neck in the area of ​​the 7th vertebra.
• When placing acupuncture points, the doctor’s main task is to avoid the area where large vessels are located. At the same time, the worms independently, due to their special “sense,” accurately determine the right place and stick to exactly where they should.
• The duration of the session is determined individually. The leech itself falls off after saturation (after 30-40 minutes); if necessary, it is painlessly detached earlier.
• A pad is placed on the wound that absorbs the liquid well. There is no need to disinfect the bite site - the worm's saliva contains bactericidal substances.

There is no need to be afraid of infection from infected or previously used leeches. They are kept in the clinic under sterile conditions, placed only once, and immediately disposed of after the procedure.

Points for placing leeches for hypertension

After the procedure

Blood and lymph will ooze from the wound for several hours - this is normal (the pad should be changed as needed). After a couple of days, the bite area will begin to heal, so it may become itchy. After healing, there are no scars left.

How to place a leech correctly

Animals are sucked in at points determined by instinct. In hirudotherapy, it is required that it bites a person with hypertension in a certain place. Do it:

• prepare the leech for work (remove the vessel from the refrigerator 5-6 hours before the procedure);
• wipe areas on the skin with alcohol (for disinfection);
• take the worm with sterile tweezers and place it in a vessel with a narrow neck (test tube, glass, jar)
• Press the container with the animal to the point of the bite, hold until sucking;
• remove the container.

The worm becomes saturated in 40-60 minutes. Then it is removed. To remove the worm in advance, you should bring a cotton swab with iodine to it.

The skin incision site will bleed after the worm is removed. Treat with hydrogen peroxide and apply a sterile bandage with a plaster.

The result of treating hypertension with leeches

The main advantage of treating hypertension with leeches over drug therapy is the rapid positive effect:

• after the first procedure,
  headaches and dizziness disappear, patients note a general improvement in well-being and mood;
• after 3-4,
  blood pressure drops to normal levels, swelling goes away, the feeling of lack of oxygen and shortness of breath disappear;
• after completion of therapy
  , blood pressure is completely stabilized, all symptoms of hypertension disappear, and in overweight patients, body weight decreases.

The duration of treatment and the number of sessions are determined individually. For pathology of moderate severity, 6-8 procedures with an interval of several days are sufficient, but in severe cases at least 10-12 are required. The recovery period between courses is from 2 months.

Why does pain occur?

When endometrial cells invade the muscle layer of the uterus, they continue to function according to the monthly cycle. The work of endometrial tissue is controlled by female sex hormones - estrogens. At a certain point, the endometrium grows greatly, which leads to proliferation. Afterwards, the pathological tissues are rejected, resulting in bleeding due to adenomyosis. Since there is practically nowhere for blood and endometriotic tissue to flow, they gradually accumulate in the muscular layer. Soon an inflammatory complication occurs, accompanied by the formation of edema. Inflammation and swelling compress and irritate nearby nerve fibers, which is accompanied by severe pain. The pain is long-lasting, aching in nature, and can bother you constantly, regardless of the day of the cycle.

With adenomyosis, the lower abdomen hurts, but the symptom can also spread to the perineum, thigh, and lumbar region. The intensity of pain directly depends on the extent of the spread of pathological processes. As a rule, in the initial stages a woman does not have any complaints about her health, but as adenomyosis progresses, the condition worsens. The pain can become so severe that it cannot be controlled with regular painkillers. To prevent serious complications, if you have any suspicious symptoms, you must visit a gynecologist and find out the diagnosis in order to begin timely treatment.

Contraindications

Hirudotherapy is safer than taking special antihypertensive drugs. It does not give side effects and is indispensable in case of allergies to pills and injections, but there are contraindications to the treatment of hypertension with leeches:

• intolerance to hirudin and other components of saliva;
• pregnancy (there is a possibility of bleeding and miscarriage);
• anemia and thrombocytopenia (deficiency of hemoglobin and platelets);
• malignant tumors of any location;
• decreased blood clotting, hemophilia;
• low blood pressure (hypotension).

At the clinic, before starting a course of hirudotherapy, tests are done and the patient’s medical history is studied to identify contraindications. Therefore, treating hypertension with leeches on your own, at home, is dangerous and unacceptable.

Medical rationale

The bloodletting method, used since ancient times, has a common basis with the use of leeches. The goal of this approach is to eliminate excess blood from the body.

The rationale is as follows:

• The pressure decreases due to a direct decrease in the amount of blood itself (bloodletting, which lowers the pressure by mechanical action).
• Oxygen saturation.
• The location of worms on reflex points that are associated with certain systems and organs.
• Introduction into the bloodstream of active substances that are released by leeches when attached to the body.
• Increased blood flow.

It is important to note the difference between simple bloodletting and the use of leeches, which belong to the subclass of annelids. The leech not only causes capillary bleeding, it also releases certain substances that enter the patient's bloodstream.

Beneficial substances secreted by the leech include:

• hirudin (reduces blood clotting, prevents thrombosis);
• organelase, which enhances the regenerative abilities of blood vessels and the heart itself;
• destabilase (destroys blood clots);
• apyrase, which destroys cholesterol plaques.

The effectiveness of the method is confirmed by scientific studies involving control groups of patients. Thus, according to studies conducted by the Novosibirsk Academy, improvement was noted in 75% of patients suffering from hypertension.

How to enhance the effectiveness of hirudotherapy for hypertension

An integrated approach will help make treatment of hypertension with leeches more effective and speed up recovery. The Paramita clinic successfully uses a combination of Eastern and Western methods of treating hypertension without medications:

• acupressure – normalizes the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
• acupuncture – relieves pain, relieves inflammation;
• vacuum therapy – improves tissue nutrition and rejuvenates them;
• herbal medicine – eliminates the symptoms of the disease with herbal preparations.

During the consultation, the attending physician gives additional advice on nutrition and physical activity. A diet is prescribed with limited consumption of fats, salt, and quickly digestible carbohydrates. A set of effective and safe physical exercises is selected taking into account the individual health characteristics of the patient and the stage of hypertension.

Themes

Treatment without drugs, Treatment methods Date of publication: 11/17/2019 Date of update: 11/17/2019

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Extent of prevalence and pain

Pain during adenomyosis becomes more intense with each subsequent stage:

First. Endometrial cells have grown into the intermediate layer of the uterus. The organ continues to function normally, health is not affected, pain does not bother.

Second. The endometrium affected ½ of the muscle layer. The clinical picture is not pronounced; a woman may periodically complain of aching abdominal pain and menstrual irregularities.

Third. The myometrial layer is affected by endometrial cells by more than 50%. A woman complains of heavy or, conversely, scanty periods, severe abdominal pain. Bloody discharge with stage III adenomyosis may not be related to menstruation and may bother you before or after it.

Fourth. The endometrium has grown through the myometrium into the abdominal cavity. Menstruation is prolonged, painful, bleeding is profuse, iron deficiency anemia progresses, the uterus is deformed, compresses neighboring organs, causing their dysfunction

When does pain occur?

Pain with adenomyosis can be a concern not only during menstruation. Often an unpleasant symptom manifests itself during intimacy, hygiene procedures, or gynecological examination. The pain can be bothersome during intense physical activity, and sometimes even at rest.

Pain accompanied by intestinal dysfunction, bloating, and problems with urination indicates the spread of the pathological process to adjacent tissues and dysfunction of nearby organs - the intestines, bladder. This

In any case, if a woman feels severe discomfort in the lower abdomen, lower back, or perineal area, she should visit a gynecologist who will find out the causes of the problem and prescribe appropriate treatment. For any suspicious symptoms, it is forbidden to self-medicate, as this can worsen the condition and develop complications.

Treatment of pain due to uterine adenomyosis

To get rid of pain from adenomyosis, it is first important to cure the disease itself. Therefore, first you need to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic examination, the results of which will help the doctor determine the exact diagnosis, the degree of progression of the pathology, and also select an individual treatment regimen.

Hormone-containing drugs that stabilize hormonal levels, help reduce tumor size and eliminate pathological symptoms will help prevent uncontrolled growth of the endometrium.

To relieve severe pain and inflammatory complications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, such as:

• "Ibuprofen";
• "Nurofen";
• "Diclofenac";
• "Nimesil".

You can also relieve spasms with antispasmodics.

• "Spazmalgon";
• "Solpadeine";
• "No-Shpa."

If the disease is advanced and conservative methods are powerless, the doctor discusses surgical treatment options with the patient. Among the organ-preserving operations, the laparoscopy procedure has proven itself, which allows you to remove all endometrial tissue located outside the uterus. After such an operation, remission occurs. The pain goes away, the general condition returns to normal, the woman can even become pregnant and safely carry the baby.

In special cases, the doctor decides to perform an operation that involves the complete removal of the uterus or ovaries. After such surgical treatment, a woman will not be able to become pregnant, but the risk of relapse of adenomyosis will be minimized.

When a woman reaches an age close to menopause, it is recommended to relieve pain and other symptoms of adenomyosis using conservative methods, without resorting to surgery. As soon as a woman enters menopause, the proliferation of endometrial cells will stop, the disease will regress and its symptoms will disappear without special treatment.

To find out the cost of treatment for adenomyosis and make an appointment with a specialist at the Healthy Family multidisciplinary clinic, call the number or request a call back. As soon as the administrators see your request, they will immediately contact you and answer all your questions.