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Velbert. Leeches are used in pain therapy at the Helios Clinic in Niederberg. According to the clinic, the traditional treatment method works well for joint inflammation.
“Leech are a promising therapy option and are being used more and more often in addition to physiotherapy, oral pain therapy, talk and relaxation therapy as part of inpatient multimodal pain therapy,” reports the Helios Clinic Niederberg.
The knee joint is one of the most stressed and therefore most frequently damaged joints in humans. A joint wear, a so-called arthrosis, leads to symptoms ranging from pain to immobility. Cartilage tissue cannot regenerate itself, which is why those affected suffer from severe limitations in everyday life. A large number of different measures are offered for treatment: from pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs to insoles, physiotherapy and various operations to acupuncture of the knee.
“The use of leeches is a helpful therapy, but one that is certainly not suitable for everyone. The salivary secretion of flukes contains a large number of biologically active substances and enzymes. These have an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticoagulant and blood circulation-promoting effect, among other things. In addition, the lymph flow is stimulated,” explains Carolin Rademacher, Senior Physician at the Clinic for Anesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy.
For treatment, several leeches are placed on the knee, which attach themselves there and suck about 8 to 10 milliliters of blood. The leech leaves a saliva secretion in the wound that contains the various active ingredients. The best-known active ingredient is hirudin – a protein that stops blood clotting.
“Scientists were able to prove that hirudin is not only the strongest known anticoagulant worldwide, but also significantly reduces joint inflammation. Shortly after applying leeches to the knee, many of the patients experience a significant reduction in pain. The effect often lasts for several months,” adds Marcus Paus, Section Head of the Clinic for Pain Therapy at the Helios Klinikum Niederberg.
“Leech are bred in special farms and since 2005 have been considered a finished medicinal product that requires approval. They are subject to the same high standards of safety, quality and effectiveness as are made of all other medicinal products subject to authorisation. Many patients benefit greatly from leech therapy,” reports the clinic.
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