American Society of Hirudotherapy

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This library indexes the full evidence base. For orientation, begin with the core guides:

Conditions

32

Venous Leg Ulcer

Tier B

Off-label adjunct to compression therapy; the evidence is one 20-patient uncontrolled series in complicated varicose veins plus case reports.

Studied off-labelCohort / case series

Essential Hypertension (Adjunctive)

Tier C

Investigational adjunctive use with only non-randomized clinical reports identified; proposed mechanisms are blood-volume removal and hirudin effects on vessels; not a substitute for pharmacotherapy.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Hemorrhoids (Grade II-III, Symptomatic)

Tier C

Investigational use for symptomatic relief of grade II-III internal/external hemorrhoidal disease; does not address anatomic prolapse.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Glaucoma (Adjunctive)

Tier C

Investigational adjunctive use in primary open-angle glaucoma; weak case-series evidence. Not a substitute for IOP-lowering eye drops or surgery.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Sciatica (Non-Discogenic / Piriformis)

Tier C

Investigational use for non-discogenic sciatica including piriformis syndrome; no controlled trial, only an old unquantified Russian case series.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Plaque Psoriasis (Localized)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct, not a primary treatment; a few small, mostly uncontrolled studies report lower PASI scores.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Atopic Eczema (Localized Refractory)

Tier C

Investigational use for localized refractory eczema; evidence is limited to a few small studies without placebo or standard-care controls.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Keloid and Hypertrophic Scarring

Tier C

Investigational use for keloid and hypertrophic scars; evidence is limited to one small uncontrolled series and two conflicting single-patient reports.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS)

Tier C

Investigational for category III CP/CPPS: evidence is limited to a 3-patient case report and an uncontrolled Russian series; multimodal therapy remains standard.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Endometriosis-Related Pelvic Pain

Tier C

Investigational adjunctive use for chronic endometriosis-related pelvic pain; very limited evidence. Not a substitute for hormonal or surgical management.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (Non-Specific)

Tier C

Investigational for non-specific chronic pelvic pain; the only clinical report located is an uncontrolled 60-woman series in which leeches were one part of multimodal care.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Subjective Tinnitus

Tier C

Investigational for tinnitus; small non-randomized studies, mostly Russian, report less ear noise, and no study using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory was identified.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Mild-Moderate)

Tier C

Investigational use for mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome; only one single-patient case report and one randomized-trial protocol without results were identified.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Atopic Dermatitis (Adult Recalcitrant, EASI >21)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for adult recalcitrant atopic dermatitis (EASI >21) refractory to dupilumab or JAK inhibitor; only small studies in general eczema.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Psoriasis (Chronic Plaque, Recalcitrant)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for chronic plaque psoriasis recalcitrant to biologic therapy; only small, mostly uncontrolled studies, none in refractory disease.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Severe Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris

Tier C

Highly investigational use for severe nodulocystic acne refractory to isotretinoin; small Ayurvedic studies only, none in refractory disease, and scarring risk concerns.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Rosacea (Papulopustular Subtype)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for papulopustular rosacea with persistent inflammatory lesions; evidence is one small uncontrolled Ayurvedic study.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Hypertrophic Scars

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for hypertrophic scars (within the original wound), distinct from keloid; evidence is one small uncontrolled Russian series.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Congestive Heart Failure (Compensated, Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct in compensated NYHA II heart failure; only small open-label or uncontrolled studies were identified, mostly in Russian-language sources; guideline-directed medical therapy remains primary.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Post-Stroke Hemiplegia (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct to physical/occupational therapy in chronic post-stroke hemiplegia; no RCT support; not for acute stroke care.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (Investigational Cervical Adjunct)

Tier C

Highly investigational adjunct in stable Hashimoto's thyroiditis; small uncontrolled series only; levothyroxine replacement remains primary.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (Extended Protocol)

Tier C

Investigational extended-protocol adjunct for NIH Category III chronic prostatitis/CPPS; uncontrolled case series only; UPOINT-directed therapy remains primary.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Peyronie's Disease (Extended Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Highly investigational extended-protocol adjunct for stable Peyronie's disease; one uncontrolled Russian series only; collagenase clostridium histolyticum and surgical correction remain primary.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Hepatic Portal Congestion (Non-Cirrhotic, Investigational)

Tier C

Highly investigational adjunct for non-cirrhotic hepatic congestion; uncontrolled Russian series only; cirrhosis and portal hypertension are absolute exclusions.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for chronic temporomandibular joint disorder; conservative care (education, jaw exercises, occlusal splint, NSAIDs) remains first-line; specialty referral for refractory cases.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia; alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, and minimally invasive surgical therapy remain evidence-based.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Endometrioma (Palliative Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Palliative investigational adjunct for endometrioma-related chronic pelvic pain in patients declining or unable to undergo surgical/hormonal management.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Adenomyosis (Investigational Palliative Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational palliative adjunct for adenomyosis-related dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain; hormonal therapy (LNG-IUD, dienogest, GnRH antagonists) and (definitively) hysterectomy remain evidence-based.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Chronic Refractory Tinnitus (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for chronic refractory subjective tinnitus; cognitive behavioral therapy, sound therapy, and hearing aids for concurrent hearing loss remain evidence-based.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Chronic Non-Allergic Rhinitis (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for chronic non-allergic rhinitis; intranasal corticosteroids, intranasal antihistamines, and trigger avoidance remain evidence-based.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Ankylosing Spondylitis Axial Pain (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for axial pain in ankylosing spondylitis; NSAIDs, biologic DMARDs (TNF and IL-17 inhibitors), and structured exercise remain evidence-based first-line therapy.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

Burning Mouth Syndrome (Investigational Adjunct)

Tier C

Investigational adjunct for primary burning mouth syndrome; clonazepam (topical or systemic), alpha-lipoic acid, low-dose tricyclics, and cognitive behavioral therapy remain evidence-based.

InvestigationalCohort / case series

This website provides educational information and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Medicinal leech therapy carries clinically meaningful risks and should be performed only by qualified clinicians under institutionally approved protocols. FDA 510(k) clearance for medicinal leeches is limited to specific indications; investigational and off-label discussions are labeled accordingly. For patient-specific guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider.

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