Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Oddly Making a Return to Medicinal Treatment Trivia

The bite of a leech is painless due to its own anaesthetic. It will gorge itself up to five times its body weight and then just fall off its victim. The first medical use of leeches dates back approximately 2,500 years. The leech’s saliva contains a property that acts as an anticoagulant for human blood.

4 comments:

Beth said...

Medicinal leeches are still used sometimes. Mainly when something like a finger is reattached, and they need a way to prevent the finger from becoming engorged with blood. The leech does that until good circulation is reestablished.

Too much info? ;)

#Debi said...

Not for me, Beth. That's cool...

Unknown said...

Hurt me with a smile on your face...

Jazzy said...

Interesting, Beth.