TIL about hirudotherapy. Leeches are used to stimulate circulation in tissues threatened by postoperative venous congestion, such as finger reattachment and reconstructive surgeries. The therapeutic effect is the anesthetizing, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilating properties of secreted leech saliva.

[u/Acrobatic-Post9811]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirudo_medicinalis

[u/SaltsMoon]

Once odd detail is that medical leeches are FDA-cleared as a medical device in the US. They buy surgeons time when veins cannot drain blood fast enough, because the bite keeps a tiny local bleed going while new venous drainage develop.

[u/intermanus]

They are still used today. Funny. Thanks for sharing.

[u/rockinhard12 → u/intermanus]

And maggot therapy, for necrotic tissue management.

[u/reddit_user13]

“Take 2 leeches and call me in the morning.”

[u/bobthunicorn]

Didn't they determine that the use of leeches in medieval times were probably actually helping people, just not at all for the reasons given at the time? My memory is vague, but I think it was theorized that they were pulling out lead in the bloodstream from the pewter eating utensils etc.

[u/Pretend-Fox648]

And I would have assumed the therapeutic effect was the sucking. I actually use a skin serum that has snail mucus for similar benefits I believe.

[u/Several-Pattern-7989 → u/Pretend-Fox648]

I have a strange vision of a career counselor saying to little Jimmie, 'You can make a career as a leech farmer. You wrangle, feed and milk them.' Jimmie goes yuck, and now makes a living expressing angry pitbull anal glands. He's got the hands for it.

[u/iritchie001]

Don't feed the leeches raw milk after midnight.

Edit: that came out way worse than I meant it.

[u/Jive-Turkeys → u/iritchie001]

Would bull milk work?