Medical leech therapy in Munich

„Naturheilpraxis in der Altstadt“ - the clinic in Munich´s heart

History of leech therapy

Therapy with leeches has a long tradition. The Roman doctor Galen von Pergamon (129-199 AD) already treated systematically with leeches based on the doctrine of four juices. The therapy itself is much older and goes back a long way to early human history. Therapy has always played an important role in medicine in and outside of Europe and its relevance continues to this day.

Applications of leech therapy

• Osteoarthritis and inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
• Tendonitis (tendovaginitis)
• Epicondylitis ("tennis elbow")
• Calcareous shoulder (Tendinosis calcarea)
• Back pain
• Spine pain syndromes
• Sudden hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Otitis media (otitis media)
• Peripheral circulatory disorders
• PAD (peripheral arterial disease)
• Herpes zoster (shingles)
• Supportive therapy: internal inflammatory diseases
• Supportive treatment for depression
• Varicose veins
• Spider veins
• Rheumatic diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatic joint inflammation), Fibromyalgia

What happens during treatment with leeches?

In practice we only use medicinal leeches of the genus Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo verbana. We get our leeches from the leech breeding company Biebertal. Only these and a few others have the healing ingredients in saliva. A small number of leeches (2-6) are used during therapy. These suck blood at the appropriate point for approx. 1-2 hours and release their blood thinning, pain and anti-inflammatory substances into the tissue. The animals can then be dropped and removed any time. The wound is treated accordingly and bleeding drop by drop. This effect is desired during treatment and after: swellings are reduced and inflammatory substances are excreted. The leeches used are only used once, so there is no risk of infection with blood-borne diseases. For this purpose, the animals are obtained from a leech farm immediately before treatment and are low in germs. The treatment is painless - roughly comparable to putting nettles on the skin.

What happens after the therapy?

The small attachment points are supplied with highly absorbent bandages, the tiny bite sites usually remain open for about 12 hours and continue to release blood in small amounts, after which the wound closes. Even during this time, many patients experience a clear feeling of facilitation. You just feel fit. The treated area should be stored quietly and high up the next day.

Is leech therapy dangerous?

Any invasive therapy (such as injections or acupuncture) generally carries the risk of infections. If you take good care of the wound, complications are rare. Nowadays the ingredients of the leech are being researched in detail. Medical leeches are now legally considered a drug. In practice, leech therapy is a valuable aid and a procedure that has not survived in medicine for millennia. More information on leech therapy

Further information about leech therapy in Munich

Do you have further questions or would you like to make an appointment for a leech treatment?
Then call me at 089/12090741 or send me an email to mail@praxis-honikel.de.

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