Disclaimers

This website is published by the American Society of Hirudotherapy for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or the establishment of a clinician–patient relationship.

The information presented here is intended for healthcare professionals, researchers, and adults seeking general knowledge about medicinal leech therapy. It is not a substitute for professional medical judgment, clinical evaluation, or individualized treatment planning.

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health or the health of a patient. Do not disregard, delay, or alter medical treatment based on information found on this website.

FDA clearance for medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis and related species) is limited to the treatment of venous congestion following tissue transfer procedures (e.g., replantation surgery, flap reconstruction). Leeches are cleared as FDA medical devices under 510(k) premarket notification.

Discussions on this site of off-label or investigational uses—including osteoarthritis, chronic venous insufficiency, pain syndromes, and dermatological applications—are clearly labeled and presented for educational purposes only. These discussions do not constitute product claims, treatment recommendations, or expansion of FDA-cleared indications.

State-level scope-of-practice regulations for hirudotherapy vary. Clinicians are responsible for verifying applicable regulations in their jurisdiction before administering leech therapy.

Mechanistic discussion of leech salivary compounds (hirudin, eglin c, destabilase, calin, and others), omics-based discovery, and hypothesis generation is provided as scientific context. Such discussion is not equivalent to demonstrated clinical efficacy and should not be interpreted as evidence that these mechanisms produce therapeutic benefit in humans.

Clinical evidence summaries on this site reflect published peer-reviewed literature and are graded by study design. The presence of a citation does not imply endorsement of the study’s conclusions. Evidence quality varies across conditions, and limitations are noted alongside findings.

Research references, PubMed DOI links, and citation data are provided to support independent verification. We make reasonable efforts to ensure citation accuracy but cannot guarantee that all references remain accessible or current.

Healthcare professionals who access this site are expected to exercise independent clinical judgment when evaluating the information presented. Content on this website does not replace clinical training, institutional protocols, or evidence-based guidelines.

Treatment decisions—including patient selection, leech application protocols, antibiotic prophylaxis, and complication management—remain the sole responsibility of the treating clinician and the institution where care is delivered.

The American Society of Hirudotherapy operates as a nonprofit-oriented educational organization. This site is not a commercial storefront, does not sell products, and does not provide scheduling, booking, or telemedicine services.

We are committed to evidence discipline, transparent reporting, and the publication of governance documents as they become available. Adverse event reporting and safety considerations are presented alongside clinical evidence rather than omitted.

No content on this site has been influenced by commercial sponsorship. The organization does not accept advertising, affiliate commissions, or promotional consideration from medical device manufacturers or pharmaceutical companies.

This website contains links to external resources including PubMed, FDA databases, academic journals, and other third-party websites. These links are provided for reference and do not imply endorsement of, or affiliation with, the linked organizations or their content.

We do not control and are not responsible for the accuracy, availability, or content of external websites. External sites may have their own privacy policies, terms of use, and disclaimer statements.

We make reasonable efforts to ensure that the information on this site is accurate, current, and complete. However, we do not warrant that all content is free from error, and the field of hirudotherapy is actively evolving.

Information may be updated, corrected, or removed without notice. The “Last updated” date at the bottom of each page indicates the most recent revision.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the American Society of Hirudotherapy, its officers, directors, contributors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of, or inability to use, this website or its content.

This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise) and regardless of whether the organization has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Medicinal leech therapy involves the use of live organisms. The American Society of Hirudotherapy supports ethical sourcing practices, humane handling protocols, and compliance with all applicable regulations regarding the procurement, housing, and use of medicinal leeches.