Leeches are
making a
slimy comeback in
modern medicine
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Medical bills are often littered with bizarre line items. If you're in Russia, those little charges might include half a dozen slimy, slithering leeches.
About 10 million of the blood-sucking invertebrates are prescribed in Russia every year, offering many people an affordable alternative for blood-thinning medicines, the
New York Times reported this weekend.*
As Russia's eco**my tanks — due to a mix of low oil prices, sanctions, and military spending — the country's state-run medical system has also suffered. Medicinal
Leeches cost less than one U.S. dollar per icky blob, and doctors say leeches' ve**m is a low-cost preventative treatment for stroke and heart disease. *
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More about
Medical Treatments,
Healing,
Blood Letting,
Modern Medicine, and
Medicine