Former Associate Professor, Division of Ayurveda, Center for Integrative Medicine and Research (CIMR), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: drbmnk@gmail.com
Online published on 28 October, 2020.
Leeches have been used in health care since ancient times by physicians and layman alike. The popularity of leeching varied immensely over the years especially during the 19th century. Today, leech therapy is used to promote healing in an infected and non-infected wound. It help reduce venous congestion so as aiding plastic surgery as well as reconstructive surgery.
To evaluate the purpose of leech therapy by reviewing literature on the management of Wound healing.
Based on Key words, 52 articles were identified and studied for the efficacy and drawback of leech therapy.
Empirical, cross-sectional studies were included.
Leech therapy is a complementary and alternative therapy known as Hirudotherapy which doesn’t hurt and also with minimal adverse events. The leech’s saliva contains enzymes and compounds which possess an anti-inflammatory, anticoagulation and vasodilating effect.
Efforts should be made to study leech therapy in more scientific way by using advanced technology.
Leech therapy, Wound, Leech
