| Many alternative treatments have been researched | | | | Diseases, focused on 16 patients with an average |
| for the control of arthritis pain. Here is one that | | | | age 68. These patients had experienced persistent |
| comes from ancient days. | | | | knee pain for more than six months. None had |
| It sounds like something out of medieval times. Using | | | | suffered any knee injuries and all had x-ray evidence |
| leeches to treat every disease and condition known | | | | of osteoarthritis. These patients were already |
| to man. But as it turns out leeches are actually very | | | | treating their knee osteoarthritis with physical |
| powerful for treating a wide variety of ailments | | | | therapy, relaxation, diet and exercise. |
| including knee osteoarthritis. | | | | In this study, part of the group was provided |
| Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease | | | | traditional treatment and the rest were treated with |
| that results in the breakdown of the cartilage | | | | leeches. Four leeches were applied to the knee for |
| between the joints in the knees. This leads to pain, | | | | 80 minutes. Pain levels were measured three days |
| loss of range of motion and bone damage. There | | | | before and 28 day after the treatment. The results |
| appears to be several origins of knee osteoarthritis | | | | were rapid. Treatment with leeches resulted in pain |
| including joint deformity, repeated injury, or excess | | | | relief after three days and continued through the 28 |
| weight. There is no cure for osteoarthritis so the | | | | day test period. The patients who received traditional |
| focus is on treatments for the pain and reduction of | | | | treatment did not experience relief. There were no |
| continued damage to the joint. | | | | side effects noted from the leeches and the patients |
| And this is where leeches come in. Leeches secrete | | | | reported that the initial leech bite was mildly painful. |
| morphine, a potent pain killer. Leeches also secrete an | | | | A larger study was conducted involving 51 patients |
| anticoagulant which improves blood flow to the area | | | | age 40 and above with knee osteoarthritis with high |
| where the leeches are applied and an | | | | pain. Four to six leeches were applied to the affected |
| anti-inflammatory. Since inflammation is responsible for | | | | knee and were allowed to remain until they detached |
| the symptoms of osteoarthritis, researchers believe | | | | themselves, which took about 70 minutes. Then the |
| that leeches might relieve pain in patients with | | | | patients rested the knee for 12 hours. Researchers |
| osteoarthritis. | | | | then measured the patients' pain, stiffness and range |
| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classify | | | | of motion after 3, 7, 28, and 91 days. |
| leeches as medical devices and has approved them | | | | The results were similar to the smaller study. The |
| for microsurgery. The FDA is also involved in the | | | | patients receiving leech therapy reported less pain, |
| regulation of the transport and sale of leeches. In | | | | less stiffness, better function, and fewer total |
| Germany there has been an estimated 70,000 | | | | osteoarthritis symptoms through the full 91 days that |
| treatments a year over the last few years with four | | | | the researchers followed them. |
| to five used for each treatment. Most of these | | | | These studies give hope for alternative treatments |
| treatments have been aimed at pain reduction in | | | | of knee osteoarthritis for reducing pain and increasing |
| knee osteoarthritis. | | | | mobility. In order to properly validate these studies |
| Several studies have been conducted regarding the | | | | additional research needs to be conducted over a |
| use of leeches for treating knee osteoarthritis. | | | | longer period of time. But it appears that leeches do |
| One study, reported in the Annals of the Rheumatic | | | | provide relief to knee osteoarthritis sufferers. |