Medicinal leech therapy in venous congestion and various ulcer forms: Perspectives of Western, Persian and Indian medicine
Case series published in Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (2020)
Abstract
The use of medicinal leech therapy (MLT) is the subject of many articles describing basic pharmacological principles, application procedures, or efficacy and safety of the broad range of therapeutic indications. This review is focused on the information gap between Eastern and Western medicine when medicinal leech therapy is used in wound healing. Impaired wound healing has serious consequences for patients' health in a variety of clinical conditions. Western, Persian and Indian medicine seem to apply different therapeutic approaches when using medicinal leech therapy for healing wounds. A range of review articles, single case reports and case series on the use of medicinal leech therapy in wound healing have been inspected. The various reports indicate that medicinal leech therapy has potential benefits for patients experiencing venous congestion of the skin and tissues, as well as varied types of ulcers. Such therapy is proven to have thrombolytic, anti-coagulant, blood and lymph enhancing, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. The specifics of these approaches are expected to stimulate further research on the use of medicinal leech therapy in wound healing. Although the use of medicinal leech therapy to relieve venous congestion following reconstructive and plastic surgery is well-known in Western medicine, its use in promoting wound healing in various ulcer forms, in the context of Ayurveda/Unani/Persian medicine, seems largely restricted to Asian- and Arabic spheres. The true value of medicinal leech therapy in wound healing should be elucidated by further investigations applying modern, evidence-based research methods.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
The use of medicinal leech therapy (MLT) is the subject of many articles describing basic pharmacological principles, application procedures, or efficacy and safety of the broad range of therapeutic indications.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Esta revisión examinó la terapia con sanguijuelas medicinales (MLT) para la cicatrización de heridas en las tradiciones médicas occidental, persa e india, sintetizando informes publicados —incluidos artículos de revisión, informes de casos individuales y series de casos— sobre su uso para la congestión venosa y diversas formas de úlceras. Es directamente relevante para el ámbito de la ASH, ya que destaca la base farmacológica de la terapia con sanguijuelas —efectos trombolíticos, anticoagulantes, de mejora sanguínea y linfática, antiinflamatorios y analgésicos— y mapea cómo diferentes tradiciones culturales aplican estos principios en el manejo clínico de las heridas. La revisión identifica una brecha de información persistente entre las prácticas orientales y occidentales y pide explícitamente investigaciones modernas y basadas en evidencia para determinar el verdadero valor terapéutico de la MLT. Al tratarse de una revisión basada en informes de casos y series de casos, no presenta datos originales nuevos ni resultados cuantitativos, y sus conclusiones sobre los beneficios terapéuticos siguen siendo preliminares a la espera de estudios controlados rigurosamente diseñados.
Citación
Medicinal leech therapy in venous congestion and various ulcer forms: Perspectives of Western, Persian and Indian medicine.
Koeppen D et al. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 2020
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026