Hirudotherapy has long been recognized by official medicine as an effective way to get rid of many pathologies. Leech treatment is used in many courses of treatment, including hemorrhoid therapy. Features of hirudotherapy are that it allows you to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful substances, to activate the immune system.
If we talk about proctology, then really, leeches can alleviate the condition of the patient, but provided that the pathology is not at the last stage. In the initial stages, it is often possible to completely get rid of hemorrhoids.
A bit about the leeches themselves
Many people do not understand where they get leeches from, where they grow them. Even if you read the reviews about the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches, it immediately becomes clear - these are specially grown worms, and they never lived in ordinary water bodies, in a natural environment. Leeches for medical purposes are grown under completely sterile conditions. In addition, each worm is used for medical purposes only once, that is, during the procedure, do not worry that the worm was previously attached to another person.
The best indicators in the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches and the effectiveness of therapy can be achieved if you combine it with homeopathic medicines. Hygiene and physical activity are also of great importance during the treatment period, which the hirudotherapist will tell about before the course of treatment.
What can be achieved?
The whole secret of leeches in their extraordinary saliva, which has an enzyme called hirudin. It is he who allows you to quickly cope with many pathologies and improve the blood circulation process. And most importantly, leeches have a positive effect not only on diseased organs, but also on the whole organism.
In the reviews about the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches, you can hear that they allow you to get rid of pain, which is very important in most cases. Problems disappear during bowel movements.
In addition to hirudin, leeches in the saliva have an organelase substance that promotes the formation of new capillaries, and this is an opportunity to improve microcirculation, thin the blood and prevent blood clots.
In addition, a hirudotherapy course will allow:
- relieve swelling in the area of hemorrhoids;
- eliminate stagnant processes, therefore, reduce the node in size;
- to suspend the spread of microbes in the rectum;
- to tone the vessels.
Rules of procedure
You can only put a leech in a place where there is a problem. Therefore, only external hemorrhoids can be treated this way.
The number of sessions is determined individually, depending on the condition of the patient and the extent of the problem. In any case, no more than 4 worms are placed at a time. However, in severe cases, 5-6 leeches are allowed in one session. In very advanced cases, they put up to 7 worms.
For treatment, exclusively hungry individuals are used, that is, in which hirudin is produced in large quantities.
Most often, worms are applied to the coccyx, directly to the hemorrhoid and the anus. Before setting leeches, these places are wiped with alcohol, then washed with warm water.
Preparation for the procedure
Reading reviews about treatment with leeches, the features of the procedure, information on how to prepare for it necessarily pops up.
First of all, if aspirin is taken, then it is necessary to stop taking the drug 3 days before the procedure. You can not smoke and drink, use perfumes, since leeches may refuse to stick.
It will take special exercises. Their essence is that alternately it is necessary to weaken and strain the anus. Exercises throughout the day must be done at least 300.
Before delivering leeches, the patient will be asked to conduct anus hygiene without using soap.
After the procedure itself, it is not recommended to swim for 4-5 days. In no case should you touch and scratch the bite site. Throughout the entire course of treatment will have to abandon heavy physical exertion.
What does a person do during the procedure?
According to reviews on the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches, the patient absolutely does not need to do anything. It is laid on the stomach, only forbidden to move.
There is no pain or discomfort at the moment the worm sticks to the body. At such moments, the leech gives off special enzymes, therefore, apart from light tingling, nothing is felt.
The procedure lasts about 20 minutes, in some cases longer, depending on which decision the doctor will make and when the leeches themselves will be satisfied. It’s not even scary if the leech crawls into the anus, after full saturation it itself will get out. At the end of the procedure, the worm increases in size by about 6-7 times.
Time frame
A positive effect of hirudotherapy can be achieved only with regular procedures. However, the break between them should be 7 days.
Depending on the severity of the disease, from 7 to 12 procedures are performed. If the desired results could not be achieved, then the repeated course can be repeated only after one to two months.
Contraindications
Reviews of hirudotherapy for hemorrhoids are almost always positive, and it even seems that this is a panacea for all diseases, but little is said that they have a number of serious contraindications. Therefore, in no case can you independently determine the possibility of such treatment.
In which cases hirudotherapy can not be used
First of all, such treatment is contraindicated if there is a history of a diagnosis of hypotension. Secondly, if there is a blood disease or poor coagulability, then treatment with leeches is also prohibited.
Regardless of where to put leeches for hemorrhoids or another disease, if a person has low hemoglobin, anemia, treatment is not recommended so that the level of this blood component does not fall to a critical level.
You can not use leeches if there is an allergy to the substances that make up the leech saliva, otherwise such treatment can turn into a dangerous condition - Quincke's edema.
Mandatory contraindications also include the period of pregnancy and the presence of cancer.
In all other cases, the decision on the possibility of the procedure is determined by the doctor, depending on the general health of the patient.
Attachment reactions
This term refers to reactions that can occur during treatment with leeches. This is a certain set of symptoms that may or may not appear.
According to some reviews on the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches at home, a small list of attached reactions can be distinguished:
- itching
- hyperemia;
- local increase in body temperature at the site of the bite;
- swelling;
- an increase in the size of the lymph nodes.
In some people, the reaction to contact with leeches proceeds in a mild form, in other patients, in a more severe one. For example, body temperature can increase not only locally, but in general. Muscle weakness and pain, worsening of well-being may be observed.
As a rule, all unpleasant sensations appear at 8-12 hours, after the third or fourth procedure. It is believed that prefix reactions are a consequence of the activation of the immune system and, as a consequence, an increased release of histamine. Therefore, very often, in order to eliminate symptoms, antihistamines are prescribed: Tavegil, Carotene, and others.
Despite the fact that histamine is involved in the process of the appearance of prefixes, it is still not an allergic reaction, therefore, treatment cancellation is not provided.
Possible complications
Reviews about the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches are mostly positive, but some people have complications after treatment. In most cases, this occurs against the background of improper care of the wounds or combing. An abscess or infiltration may begin, in such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. This complication is not a contraindication to subsequent procedures.
There is a risk that there will be severe bleeding, but this only occurs if the patient has problems with blood coagulation. Dangerous bleeding duration - 48 hours. But, as a rule, this happens very rarely, many doctors who have been practicing for quite some time have not even encountered such reactions.
Is it possible to do the procedure at home?
Despite the many positive reviews about the treatment of hemorrhoids with leeches, the rules of the procedure do not imply independent treatment.
First of all, only the doctor and nurse know about the points where leeches should be put, and this is a very important point. In addition, during the procedure, any unforeseen event may occur, therefore it is better that the doctor is nearby.
There is no doubt that leeches can help cure hemorrhoids. However, such therapy is not a panacea, and there is no need to abandon conservative methods, neglect dietary nutrition and the recommendations of the attending physician.