Efficacy of Medicinal Leech Therapy in Diverse Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Study from Azerbaijan
Research article published in Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi (2025)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Hirudotherapy (HT), the therapeutic use of medicinal leeches, has been practised for centuries, and the interest in modern medicine has recently been renewed. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of HT at Herba Medical Center in Azerbaijan between 2020 and 2024, focusing on its efficacy across 11 medical conditions. METHODS: A total of 181 patients were treated using disposable medicinal leeches (Hirudo orientalis) sourced from hygienic farms approved by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Treatment protocols were tailored to disease severity, with sessions scheduled daily, every 3 days, or weekly, depending on the condition. Success rates were calculated based on post-treatment examinations, patient feedback, and physician evaluations. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation analysis and paired t-test, were used to compare treatment success rates between conditions. RESULTS: The overall success rate of HT was found to be 82.68±29.25%. 100% success was achieved in the treatment of osteoarthritis pain (n=50), lipoma (n=8), Raynaud disease (n=3) and scleroderma (n=2). High success rates were also observed in thyroiditis (94.44%, n=18), Baker's cyst (80%, n=25), ear diseases (80%, n=10) and diabetic foot ulcers (80%, n=5). Moderate success was achieved in eye diseases (75%, n=20), and the lowest efficacy was observed in the treatment of varicose veins (33.33%, n=30). HT effectively relieved pain and improved symptoms. However, it was limited in reversing structural deformities (e.g., hallux valgus) or tissue loss (e.g., diabetic foot ulcers). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HT may have broader indications. We propose that HT can effectively relieve pain, regulate blood circulation, and treat some chronic diseases with fewer side effects. Further and more detailed research is needed to understand the mechanism of this treatment method better. AMAÇ: Tıbbi sülüklerin terapötik kullanımı olan hirudoterapi (HT), yüzyıllardır uygulanmaktadır ve modern tıbba olan ilgi son zamanlarda yenilenmiştir. Bu çalışma, 2020 ile 2024 yılları arasında Azerbaycan’daki Herba Tıp Merkezi’nde HT’nin klinik sonuçlarını değerlendirerek 11 tıbbi durumdaki etkinliğine odaklanmaktadır. YÖNTEMLER: Toplam 181 hasta, Azerbaycan Ekoloji ve Doğal Kaynaklar Bakanlığı tarafından onaylanan hijyenik çiftliklerden elde edilen tek kullanımlık tıbbi sülükler (Hirudo orientalis) kullanılarak tedavi edildi. Tedavi protokolleri, duruma bağlı olarak günlük, 3 günde bir veya haftalık olarak planlanan seanslarla hastalığın şiddetine göre uyarlandı. Başarı oranları, tedavi sonrası muayenelere, hasta geri bildirimlerine ve doktor değerlendirmelerine göre hesaplandı. Koşullar arasındaki tedavi başarı oranlarını karşılaştırmak için Pearson korelasyon analizi ve eşleştirilmiş t-testi de dahil olmak üzere istatistiksel analizler kullanıldı. BULGULAR: HT’nin genel başarı oranı %82,68±29,25 olarak bulundu. Osteoartrit ağrısı (n=50), lipom (n=8), Raynaud hastalığı (n=3) ve skleroderma (n=2) tedavisinde %100 başarı sağlandı. Tiroidit (%94,44, n=18), Baker kisti (%80, n=25), kulak hastalıkları (%80, n=10) ve diyabetik ayak ülserlerinde (%80, n=5) de yüksek başarı oranları gözlendi. Göz hastalıklarında orta düzeyde başarı (%75, n=20) elde edilirken, en düşük etkinlik varis tedavisinde (%33,33, n=30) görüldü. HT ağrıyı etkili bir şekilde hafifletti ve semptomları iyileştirdi. Ancak yapısal deformiteleri (örneğin, halluks valgus) veya doku kaybını (örneğin, diyabetik ayak ülserleri) geri döndürmede sınırlı kaldı. SONUÇ: Bu bulgular HT’nin daha geniş endikasyonlara sahip olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. HT’nin ağrıyı etkili bir şekilde hafifletebileceğini, kan dolaşımını düzenleyebileceğini ve bazı kronik hastalıkları daha az yan etkiyle tedavi edebileceğini ileri sürüyoruz. Bu tedavi yönteminin mekanizmasını daha iyi anlamak için daha fazla ve daha detaylı araştırmalara ihtiyaç vardır.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Hirudotherapy (HT), the therapeutic use of medicinal leeches, has been practised for centuries, and the interest in modern medicine has recently been renewed.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This single-center observational study evaluated hirudotherapy outcomes in 181 patients treated with disposable Hirudo orientalis leeches across 11 medical conditions (2020–2024) at a clinic in Azerbaijan, reporting an overall success rate of approximately 83% with notably high rates for osteoarthritis pain, lipoma, Raynaud disease, and scleroderma, but limited efficacy for structural deformities and tissue loss. For ASH, the study is directly relevant as a real-world clinical assessment of medicinal leech therapy across diverse indications, offering practitioner-reported outcome data that may help prioritize future controlled investigations. However, critical caveats apply: the study lacked a control group, randomization, or blinding; success rates were derived from subjective clinician evaluations and patient feedback rather than validated outcome instruments; several conditions had very small sample sizes (e.g., scleroderma n=2, Raynaud disease n=3); and no biochemical or mechanistic analysis of salivary components was conducted. The findings are hypothesis-generating only and require confirmation through rigorous controlled trials.
Citation
Efficacy of Medicinal Leech Therapy in Diverse Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Study from Azerbaijan.
Farzali S et al. · Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi, 2025
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