Does the use of hirudotherapy reduce pain? A narrative review

Abstract

Background: Leeches therapy also known as hirudotherapy, is one of the oldest methods used in medicine. Hirudotherapy treatments are increasingly used as a useful therapeutic method in the treatment of various diseases as an independent and complementary therapy. The method is used, among others, to treat pain, circulatory system diseases, diabetic complications and arthritis. It is also effectively used by surgeons to treat venous diseases, hematomas and wounds.Aim of the study: The aim of the article was to evaluate the review of the literature on hirudotherapy and its impact on eliminating pain.Material and methods: The analysis included articles located in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, including publications from 2010 to 2024. The keywords used were: leeches medicinal, hirudotherapy, pain.Results: A total of 15 out of 29 articles were qualified for the review. The search resulted in 4 Randomized Controlled Trials, 5 case reports, and 2 case series. 2 systematic reviews and 2 meta-analyses. The research shows that the use of hirudotherapy can be an effective method in the treatment of pain in various clinical conditions. Both clinical studies and case reports confirm the effectiveness of this method in relieving pain.Conclusions: At this stage, it can be concluded that hirudotherapy can be an independent or supportive therapy in the treatment of pain in various diseases. Studies have differed regarding the use of leeches to treat pain. An important issue is to determine the appropriate leech use regimen: number of leeches, frequency and duration of use.