Currently, a huge number of methods are used in medicine with which you can significantly improve your health. Many of them were put into practice in ancient times. One of these methods is bloodletting. The benefits to the body are obvious, but there are still heated discussions among doctors. However, many clinics and alternative medicine centers provide a similar service. The following is information on bloodletting techniques, benefits and harms. Reviews of specialists are also presented.
The concept
In a scientific process, bloodletting is called phlebotomy. This term refers to a technique whose essence is to remove from the body a small amount of liquid connective tissue. To this end, specialists make a small incision or puncture of a blood vessel.
Phlebotomy can be:
- Local. It implies a procedure is not a small area of the body. In this case, small incisions are made or leeches are used.
- Common. In this case, work is carried out over a large area. Punctures, respectively, in this situation are made deeper.
In official sources you can find a lot of information regarding the dangers of bloodletting. The benefit, however, of this procedure is also weighty. Even reputable doctors resort to it when the patient is in serious condition and according to indications it is necessary to remove about 300 ml of liquid connective tissue from his body.
By the nature of the incision, bloodletting can be:
- Capillary. The specialist makes a small puncture of the skin. After that, he establishes a bank over the place of violation of his integrity. Due to this, a vacuum is created, resulting in stimulation of the release of connective tissue. Regarding the benefits and harms of bloodletting by banks. The latter is reduced to almost zero, if a thorough sterilization of the instruments was previously carried out. In this case, the state of health is really improving. If the procedure is carried out in violation of the norms, the risk of contracting various infections is significantly increased.
- Venous. In this case, the blood flows independently. The outflow of fluid connective tissue occurs through a section of the wall of the small vein. In this case, the benefit of bloodletting by some doctors is questioned. This is due to the presence of serious infection risks.
- Big. During the procedure, incisions are made on large veins. According to doctors, there is some benefit from bloodletting, but the session itself is fraught with great risks. In this regard, the procedure is recommended to be done only in licensed clinics, whose employees value the reputation of the institution.
Historically, bloodletting began to be carried out almost simultaneously in several countries. Currently, 4 phlebotomy techniques have been formed. Each of them is based on the techniques and traditions of their country. The benefits and harms of bloodletting in each case are described below.
Chinese method
For many people, the procedure is associated with acupuncture. This is due to the fact that blood spills through biologically active points. According to the reviews of Chinese experts, it is this nuance that determines the benefit. Bloodletting in this case helps to relieve pain and stop the progression of pathologies, because each biologically active point is responsible for the functioning of a particular organ.
The Chinese methodology is based on the idea of the movement of energy in the body. According to the country's teachings, it passes through certain meridians that permeate absolutely all organs and systems. With an excess of energy, various diseases develop in one place or another. If you pierce the skin in the problem area, it will come out with the blood.
Indications for the procedure according to the Chinese method:
- Painful sensations of an acute nature.
- Hypertension.
- Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Cough.
- Meningitis.
- Rhinitis.
- Fever.
- Pharyngitis.
- Pustular lesions of the skin.
- Acne
- Sciatica.
- Constant cramps.
- Radiculitis.
- The presence of boils.
- Hearing impairment.
- Visual impairment.
- Epilepsy.
- Asthenia.
- Paresthesia.
- Lumbalgia.
- Shingles.
The Chinese method involves phlebotomy with a needle or banks. The benefits of bloodletting are the same in both cases. The doctor, after talking with the patient, chooses the method that is most suitable for the patient.
Algorithm for phlebotomy with a needle:
- The man is placed on the couch. He should occupy the most comfortable position.
- The specialist begins to probe biologically active points.
- In the necessary zones, he makes punctures up to 2 mm deep.
- The specialist begins to massage places of violation of the integrity of the skin.
- In the area of each puncture, a few drops of blood can be seen. As soon as it dries, the specialist treats the skin with an antiseptic.
- The patient remains in the selected position for another 20 minutes. In the next 2 hours, physical activity and eating are contraindicated.
The technique of bloodletting by banks:
- The patient is placed on the couch. Its skin is treated with an antiseptic.
- The specialist makes several punctures up to 3 mm deep (up to 5 mm in overweight individuals).
- The skin is oiled. Banks are placed on the treated areas.
- After the bleeding turns, the products are removed. A sterile dressing is applied to the puncture sites. Loads and meals for the next 2 hours are also prohibited.
The course of treatment includes up to 5 procedures. You need to do them 1-2 times a week.
Tibetan methodology
At first glance, it is similar to Chinese. But the Tibetan technique involves the implementation of venipuncture. The most important difference is that the impact points are not located on the meridians along which the energy passes. They are located in the vein area, which are connected by anastomoses with various organs.
Indications of the Tibetan methodology are the same as that of the Chinese. But the list is supplemented by the following ailments:
- Pathology of the organs of the head.
- Infectious diseases.
- Complications after treatment.
- Gout.
- Edema and soft tissue seals.
- Pathologies of the lymphatic system.
Before the procedure, the patient is asked to drink herbal infusion or tea based on medicinal plants. After a while, the person should comfortably sit on the couch.
The phlebotomy algorithm according to the Tibetan technique:
- The specialist cleanses the patient's skin and treats it with an antiseptic.
- A harness is placed above the location of the intended incision. The Tibetan technique is considered simpler than the Chinese in that it involves working with only 8 vessels (temporal, nasal, ear, liver, hollow and genital organs, calf and large leg vein).
- The specialist makes an incision. Blood should flow until a brownish pink liquid appears. As a rule, about 50 ml of liquid connective tissue leaves during this time.
- The doctor processes the wound, removes the tourniquet and applies a sterile dressing.
When conducting the Tibetan technique, special attention is paid to the composition of connective tissue. It is believed that bloodletting does not benefit the body if it is very dense and oily. In this case, the procedure ends.
European methodology
Technically, it is completely similar to the process of taking venous blood for analysis in the laboratory. The only difference is that a large needle is used and up to 300 ml of biological material is taken at a time. Of all the existing methods, only this does not imply the work with biologically active points. Indication for the procedure - a general improvement in health status.
Despite the fact that the European technique does not involve incisions, incisions are still sometimes made. This happens if the blood has accumulated in an area inconvenient for carrying out manipulations. In this situation, it is easier for the doctor to slightly cut the tissue.
Hijama (Islamic methodology)
Today is very popular. The method is based on the implementation of small capillary punctures with subsequent installation of cans. The methodology is based on Chinese traditions and the Koran (it is important to understand that the religious moment in this case is extremely important for specialists).
A lot of articles have been written about the benefits and dangers of hijama (bloodletting according to the Islamic method). Many doctors are skeptical of her, due to the lack of evidence. In other words, the benefits of bloodletting (hijama in this case) are supported only by theory. Despite the lack of research, patient reviews indicate that the state of health after the procedure is significantly improved.
The list of indications for bloodletting in hijama is the widest. The procedure is prescribed in the presence of the following ailments:
- Allergies.
- Hypertension.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Painful sensations of any localization.
- Varicose veins.
- Pathologies of the reproductive system.
- Impotence.
- Prostatitis.
- Diseases of the otorhinolaryngological nature.
- Pathologies of the thyroid gland, heart, visual and genitourinary systems.
- Depression
- Neuritis.
- Gout.
- Rheumatism
- Fistula.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Stool disorders.
Proponents of the methodology (as a rule, those who honor the Qur'an) leave only positive reviews about the hijama. The benefit of bloodletting, in their opinion, is huge, and the list of indications is not limited to the aforementioned ailments. They argue that with the help of the technique you can even cope with immunodeficiency. According to the reviews of doctors, both the benefits and the harm of bloodletting (hijama, in particular) are very relative. In this case, the risk of infection is higher than the degree of the expected positive effect.
So what is the benefit
Despite the skepticism of many doctors, a large number of people go to service centers every day. If you omit the risk of possible infection and various complications, the benefits of the procedure are still there.
What does it consist of:
- Activation of hemostasis. This is due to drip bleeding resulting from damage to the capillaries.
- Mobilization of enzymes and nerve endings. A few seconds after the puncture, the blood begins to coagulate, due to which the necessary zones are irritated. The body experiences a kind of shake.
- Tissues are cleared of toxic compounds.
- The nutrition of all cells improves.
When using techniques involving work with biologically active points, the following positive changes are observed in some patients:
- The composition of the blood improves.
- Atherosclerotic plaques are split.
- Decreases glucose levels.
- Inflammation is stopped.
- The pressure decreases.
In addition, bloodletting is an excellent prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system. But only if the procedure was carried out in compliance with all standards.
Contraindications
According to doctors, the benefits of bloodletting are superior if the patient suffers from the following ailments:
- Persistent hypotension.
- Hemophilia.
- Heart defects (even uncomplicated).
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Chronic atherosclerosis.
- Viral hepatitis.
- Severe anemia.
- Mental disorders.
- Exhaustion.
This procedure is strictly contraindicated in children, persons over 65 years of age and pregnant women. Phlebotomy is also not done within a month after receiving injuries. Women after menstruation need to wait 1 week.
Possible consequences
The benefits and harms of bloodletting (hijama, Chinese technique, etc.) are due to the presence / absence of restrictions on the session. Ignoring existing contraindications can lead to a significant deterioration in the course of the disease, a critical drop in blood pressure and even fainting. In addition, heart function may be impaired. Do not forget about the risk of infection if a specialist fails to comply with sanitary standards.
Hirudotherapy and donation as bloodletting methods
These methods are officially recognized by traditional medicine and have a huge number of positive reviews. The benefits and harms of bloodletting (hijama and other techniques) are still a topic of heated debate, hirudotherapy and donation have proven themselves only on the positive side.
Currently, treatment with leeches is carried out using artificially grown individuals. In addition, doctors are trained in the technique, and therefore the risk of negative consequences is reduced to zero.
Hirudotherapy is prescribed for almost all diseases of the internal organs and musculoskeletal system. The component contained in the leech saliva, hirudin, has a powerful healing effect. In this case, side effects occur extremely rarely, only in isolated cases is the appearance of signs of an allergic reaction.
Regarding donation. Doctors unanimously claim that this is the safest way to bleed. Regular delivery of liquid connective tissue in an amount of 400-450 ml contributes to overall recovery. It is proved that donors live longer, they develop all kinds of pathologies less often.
In addition, the body becomes sturdier. For example, a person (not a donor) gets into a car accident and develops bleeding. The body is shocked, often everything ends with the death of the victim. In this situation, a person who donates blood regularly can survive. This is due to the fact that his body is used to the constant loss of fluid connective tissue, it is much easier for him to fight for existence.
It should also be noted that donors help dozens of people by saving their lives.
Finally
Bloodletting is a great way to deal with various diseases. Official medicine is skeptical of various unconventional methods, but, nevertheless, doctors cannot but admit that there is still some benefit from them. Experts advise not to apply to dubious institutions, but only to licensed centers, whose employees value their reputation. In this case, the likelihood of possible harm is minimized. Traditional medicine calls hirudotherapy and donation the most effective methods of bloodletting.