SC - Re: SC: Use of Medicinal Leeches

[Siegfried Heydrich]

    Actually, leeches are remarkably good at draining pooled blood from
bruises. (which is all a bruise is - subcutaneous blood left from ruptured
blood vessels) When I did Tae Kwon Do, our teacher had a jar of leeches that
he used on us whenever we got sloppy and got nailed a good one. I've used
them for reducing the bruises caused by SCA combat as well. They'll remove
most of the discoloration, swelling, and tenderness, not to mention being
really good sautéed in olive oil with basil & garlic. (obligatory food
content) I've been thinking about taking some to Gulf Wars next year, 'cause
I always seem to pick up some nasty bruises there.
    And don't laugh about bleeding people - it's still done on a regular
basis. I know 2 people with a disorder where they produce too much blood,
and it gets thick to a point that it places a serious strain on the heart,
trying to pump it. They have to be bled at least twice a year or they could
have real life threatening problems.

    Sieggy

- ----- Original Message -----

> >and to me putting gold coins in a broth seems much less odd then bleeding
> >people or applying leeches to get the "evil humours" out of them (the
> >foundation on which aleopathic medicine was based)... a practice which i
> >hear is also coming back into vogue with some practitioners.  ;-)
> >
> >Lady Celia des L'archier
>
>      Including surgeons.  A couple of years ago I vaguely remember reading
about
> cases where leeches were used to reduce swelling and tissue congestion
after
> surgery.  I think the particular case was a boy who had had part of his
ear cut
> off, then sewn back on.  The leeches were transported to the hospital in
cases
> sort of like the ones used to carry organs for transplant.
>
> Sandra Kisner