Medical Leeches - What Works and What SUCKS
The Gold Country Medical Museum will open this summer in Auburn, California. One of the best attractions at any collection of medical memorabilia has to be live leeches. Our museum will have a ready supply to thrill the kids and scare the Moms. Leeches can live happily in little jars for months; feeding on an occasional meal of raw liver.
Leeches are disgusting little creatures that live on blood. They have been used for bogus "medical purposes" for centuries. George Washington was leeched and bled so often that it has been determined that this may have been the major cause of his death. For some reason, medical practitioners of centuries past felt that many of the body's illnesses were due to disorders of the blood. By removing a great deal of blood, either by special surgical knives/scalpels, or by our little friend, the leech; a miraculous cure would result. That theory does not make scientific sense...at all. This is pure baloney. Blood is needed to orchestrate the cure by transporting white blood cells, plasma, and immunoglobulins to the site of infections or injury. Remove too much blood; you die, by George.
Leeches do have modern uses, however, especially in plastic surgery. Accumulated blood under a wound lifts the tissue and prevents it from attaching. In most cases, we insert surgical drains to allow this old blood to come out. However, surgical drains, themselves, can leave unsightly scars.
Accumulated blood (hematoma) is also a reservoir for infection. By attaching these little creatures instead of a drain, the blood will be painlessly sucked out of the wound, reducing infection and improving the cosmetic outcome. Leeches have been successfully used by surgeons who have reattached amputated fingers or toes. ENTs have attached them to outer ears that have been traumatized, thus preventing a cauliflower ear deformity.
Accumulated blood (hematoma) is also a reservoir for infection. By attaching these little creatures instead of a drain, the blood will be painlessly sucked out of the wound, reducing infection and improving the cosmetic outcome. Leeches have been successfully used by surgeons who have reattached amputated fingers or toes. ENTs have attached them to outer ears that have been traumatized, thus preventing a cauliflower ear deformity.
Today, I discovered that Demi Moore is using leeches in Austria to "cleanse and detoxify her blood". Since she said this on the David Letterman show, I expect that people are out there today looking for leeches to buy. Give me a break! Granted, Hollywood is famous for their "leeches" and bizarre behavior, but this takes the cake.
If Demi thinks leeches will somehow improve her health and appearance, she is sadly mistaken. Demi is a good looking woman. She does not need leeches hanging off her belly to make my A-list. They say there is a sucker born every day. Unfortunately, for her, that sucker is a leech.
Now, if someone discovers a lipo-leech that sucks fat out of overweight people, I will be first in line. And, I will even become a breeder; perhaps start my own leech-o-suction clinic.
There is so much quackery out there in the world, that I can't even believe it. One of my old physician colleagues once traveled to Czechoslovakia in the 70's to get injections of sheep embryos that were purported to promote longevity. Baaaaaa! Someone really pulled the wool over his eyes! One of my old patients read that bee stings cure arthritis, so rather than pay to get this unproven treatment; he just caught his own bees and tried to get them to sting him in the shoulder. The bees, of course, did not know that he had arthritis in his shoulder, so they stung him repeatedly in the hand.
If Demi wants to cavort with leeches, so be it, but please, Demi, keep it to yourself! Don't tell the vulnerable and naive world what you are doing. Most of the people will think you are absolutely crazy; some will go out and get leeches.
Hey...If it works for Demi, let's stick some on Grandma!
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: demi moore, leech, weird medicine, unproven, alternative
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21 Comments:
This is nothing but sad. This women has done everything to stay young and is now reverting to ancient technology in what seems to be desperation. She is beautiful. I just don't understand these extremes. I admit I use lotions, creams, special shampoo (on sale).
I only wish that these celebrities
were a better example of actual "aging with grace", instead of coming across as desperate to look younger, sexier, airbrushed, sprayed, tanned in ultra violet beds.shaved, waxed, naired, bleached,dyed, hilighted, permed, straightend. injected, stuff sucked out, lines filled in... ect...How far can we go?
That's so funny. This is a really great article and it just goes to show wha the mind is capable of...
I saw her on this show and couldn't believe that she actually believed this was doing her any good whatsoever - it probably isn't hurting, but how does removing a little blood "de-toxify" one's system? I am a total layman on this subject, but even I can logically think this through - but then again, I'm not trying to hang onto a husband almost half my age!
A new low in the quality of writing on this site. No wonder the stock is at an all time low.
FYI - the correct figure of speech would be "pulled the wool over his eyes" not "'pooled' the wool over his eyes."
Other than that, good article.
In response to the first comment, I agree that it is extremely sad that this is the length to what some women go to to supposedly stay young and beautiful. However, instead of wishing the celebrities would set a better example (though it would be great if they would), let's address the underlying issue- sexism. Women in this country feel tremendous pressure to stay thin, young and beautiful. It's the social script of our society towards women. It's no wonder someone who is a woman and in the spotlight constantly is so worried about such a thing.
While I am all for alternative medicine and will discuss it on occasion with patients, I think Demi has lost her way. If she really believes Leeches are helping her, then she deserves to have someone swindle her out of money.
Actually the bee stings work - you have to hold the bees by the wings, and apply. I've had it and it is amazing - but then I became allergic to bee stings, so that was the end of that! If you are going to try this, go to a bee keeper. They know how to hold the bee.
Just wanted to say thank you. Enjoyed the reading and enjoy Web MD. This is a good example of how far some women will go to hold on to their youth and younger men. I personally think it is dumb.
i don't know if the leeches are doing any good for Demi, but how about someone with AIDS? i think it might just work.
leeches for AIDs? Wouldn't that just spread the virus? What would you do with tons of HIV infected leeches? plus, you'd have to drain every drop of infected blood and replace it.
It doesn't seem like this writer has actually done any research on this topic. It appears they are just making a statement based on their ignorant 'book cover judging' observations.
If you have blood removed, whether through leeches, menstruation or donating blood, it forces your body to supply fresh blood. Fresh Red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and removal of iron is beneficial in multiple ways to the body. A woman who is in the post menopausal stage would benefit even more from these 'blood letting' techniques.
If you take a moment to research this, you will see there is plenty of scientific proof to show blood donation is healthy (however it is removed)!
WebMD should really only allow researched articles on their site, since answer-seeking folks may stumble across an ignorant article such as this and take it for fact.
I'm a registered nurse, I saw the David Letterman show and was surprised at how stupid Demi Moore is.
To Anonymous who posted at 3/29/2008 4:02 PM.
You need to do your research. Your body is constantly making new blood and it doesn't require a loss of blood for this to happen. Although donating blood has benefits for some people, if you took a moment to research this you would see there is also scientific proof that blood donation is not healthy for everyone.
Also it doesn't seem that you read the article since it also states cases in which leeches are helpful. The blood letting he refers to was also in references to a period of time in the past, when they usually took too much blood due to the lack of knowledge about the human body and how blood worked.
The point I gathered from this was don't be taken in by something just because a celebrity fell for it. Leeches will not make you more beautiful or healthier.
The real problem is why does anyone care what celebrities do anyway? Demi Moore didn't even finish high school, and with all her money it would behoove her to get an education. I'd rather be a brain any day over a dummy.
See what happens when you trust Spell Check....yes, of course, it is PULLING. Thanks for pointing out the typo. Having edited several books, typos make my eyes bleed, too. Hey...typos may be a safer alternative to leeching!
Blood donations are for the benefit of the person receiving it...not neccessarily, the donor. The donor benefits from knowing they have helped save a life.
Now...I am worrying that I mentioned those bee stings. Please don't go out and get stung, folks. Let's let Demi do it first.
Another excellent article encouraging skeptical thinking. We need more of these in this very pseudoscience-filled world...
I was taught that getting a leech on you was a bad thing. We often went swimming in ponds and would be inspected for leeches when we got out. I had to remove leeches twice using salt. I guess I should have left them on for awhile and they could have done me some good.
Now about the bee stings, I heard they worked to put MS into remission. My dad wanted to try it but my mom wouldn't let him.
Pretty amazing what we will do. I guess it's better than the knife.
not for me a leech would be better than a knife. I can't imagine willingly having a leech put on me, although I have been hit on by a few of them.
If for whatever reason whatsoever I need to be bled at any time I certainly prefer a knife over a nasty ass worm crawling on me.
If leech therapy is such a blog, why people are still using it after 5000 years. Have you ever tried it? If not, how you can say it is not working?
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