FDA approves leeches for medical use.

[Kreeli]

everything old is new again. (http://news1.iwon.com/odd/article/id/412099|oddlyenough|06-29-2004::10:07|reuters.html)

[rincaro]

ugh.

[LudwigB]

Well, if the leeches aren't being harmed in any way, I don't see much of a problem with it. They're getting a free meal, after all. And the article seemed to hint that those who handle them will need some kind of training.

I know the hardliners will flame me to a crisp for saying that, so I better get out of here while I can.

[Joe]

everything old is new again. (http://news1.iwon.com/odd/article/id/412099|oddlyenough|06-29-2004::10:07|reuters.html)

I love the "flapper" look in your avatar pic. :)

[qetta]

Ick. (To the leeches, not to Kreeli's cool avatar.)

[Gracie]

The hospital where my dad was a pharmacist used leeches 10-15 years ago. I didn't realize that the FDA had not approved them then.

He watched them use leeches on a man whose nose had been cut off & reattached. The guy would probably have lost his nose without the leeches. But daddy said the man wouldn't open his mouth for fear that the leech would drop off at the wrong moment!

[Christy]

Aren't maggots used medically, as well? I think that's more disgusting.

[schu]

i know ill be one of the first to request a prescription.. :spew:

[Walter]

I was watching a show about, probably 10-12 years ago, and they reattached a guy's finger and they thought that it was just going to dry up and die. They added some leeches, the blood got to flowing, and the man's finger was saved!

Yes, I also watched a show on maggots once. Maggots will only eat dead and dying flesh (never healthy or growing) so they can apply maggots to rotting, very unhealthy infections and they'll clean it up!

Very cool stuff.

[Nirvana19105]

I dunno, I mean, obviously it works fairly well or the FDA probably wouldn't approve it. If it somes down to having creepy little worms on me or losing an apendage, i'll take the worm.

[Gracie]

I seem to remember that leeches secrete some sort of anti-clotting chemical, and also an anesthetic. They're really pretty cool.

[Blue Plastic Straw]

Aren't maggots used medically, as well? I think that's more disgusting.

Yes, I was watching a show about "alternative therapies". One of these detailed the use of maggots to treat foot infections in people with diabetes. Normally these people most likely would have had to have their feet and/or legs amptated, but they were able to heal with the help of maggots.

On the one hand, it's kind of cool. On the other, it makes my skin crawl in horror.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1024_031024_maggotmedicine.html