Medicinal Leech Therapy: Friend or Foe
Historical review published in Plastic Surgical Nursing (2016)
Abstract
Leech therapy is the ancient practice of bloodletting or bloodsucking and is considered one of the oldest medical practices known. Its use has spanned centuries and is still used in plastic surgery practices today when performing free flaps and replants. The purpose of this article is to discuss the history of this ancient therapy and to describe the leech and its present indications, complications, contraindications, and techniques.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Comprehensive nursing-oriented historical review of leech therapy from ancient bloodletting through modern plastic surgery use, covering present indications, complications, contraindications, and application techniques.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This historical article describes leech therapy as an ancient practice of bloodletting considered one of the oldest medical practices known, noting its use has spanned centuries and is still employed in modern plastic surgery practices when performing free flaps and replants. Its stated purpose is to discuss the history of this therapy and describe the leech along with present indications, complications, contraindications, and techniques. For ASH, it provides historical and contextual background on hirudotherapy's enduring practice and current clinical role. The honest caveat is that this is explicitly a historical article with no original data, quantitative outcomes, or therapeutic efficacy analysis; its value is contextual rather than evidentiary.
Citation
Added to ASH library: May 26, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026