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Most of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are associated with impaired blood supply to the brain. Insufficient supply of nutrients leads to dizziness and headaches, temporary visual and hearing impairments, deterioration of memory and attention. Pain in the neck and shoulders is usually associated with impaired muscle tone - they reflexively tense to compensate for the disease. Treatment of osteochondrosis with leeches allows you to eliminate both groups of symptoms, improve overall well-being, and restore normal tone.
The connection between the disease in this part of the spine and blood flow
Ossification of the soft core of the vertebral disc (pulp), which acts as a shock absorber between the vertebrae, is called osteochondrosis. Dystrophic changes of this kind are common among middle-aged and older people, and occur due to the physiological process of aging of cartilage tissue or are a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle:
- low physical activity;
- presence of bad habits;
- muscle weakness.
Depending on which nerves and blood vessels are affected as a result of the disease, the following symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis may occur:
- Decreased hearing, vision, and frequent dizziness occur due to decreased blood flow in the artery running along the spine, which is responsible for feeding the brain. Prolonged compression of a vessel can cause a pre-stroke condition and the development of a stroke.
- Pain in the heart area, in rare cases - tachycardia, arrhythmia, which is caused by compression of the nerve roots responsible for the innervation (supply of nerve cells) of the pectoral muscle and diaphragm. There is no direct effect on the heart, but the resulting pain is cardiac in nature.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can cause compression of the veins that provide blood flow from the head, which leads to increased intracranial pressure and, as a result, severe pain in the back of the head (migraine), nausea, and vomiting.
The use of hirudotherapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by swelling in the neck and shoulders, pain in this area.
Using leeches helps:
- get rid of pain resulting from compression of the spinal nerves by damaged vertebrae or intervertebral discs;
- normalize metabolism in the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, as well as in the soft tissues surrounding the spinal column;
- get rid of swelling and inflammation by getting rid of stagnant venous blood enriched with decay products, as well as due to bleeding of wounds after leech bites;
- activate the immune system;
- normalize sleep;
- get rid of headaches and dizziness.
What is hirudotherapy?
An unconventional method of treatment using medicinal leeches is called hirudotherapy. Only three subspecies of annelids are used in the process:
- pharmaceutical - dark green, with a yellow belly and six stripes on the back;
- medicinal (medical) - dark brown-olive color, with red-yellow stripes on the back and dots throughout the body;
- eastern - there are orange stripes and black spots on the back, the belly is black with green splashes.
Other types of leeches can harm humans.
Reviews
Hirudotherapy is widely popular and gives excellent results. However, finding a qualified specialist with extensive experience in this field of medicine is quite difficult.
The use of leeches has an excellent analgesic and relaxing effect. Improvement in well-being is observed after visiting the first session of hirudotherapy.
Hirudotherapy is more effective in combination with the use of manual therapy . Naturopathy, a branch of medicine that also includes treatment with leeches, is increasingly in demand. Patients are also attracted by the assurances of hirudotherapists that each leech is used only once. However, the cost of each procedure is not small and not everyone can afford it.
It is not correct to use hirudotherapy as the only treatment method that will help get rid of the problem once and for all. This method will only help get rid of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis for a certain period of time . However, if the courses of treatment are not regular, all symptoms will return again.
Benefit
Hirudotherapy is carried out in areas with impaired blood flow - the skin in these places is characterized by an increase in temperature, which is felt by leeches.
Mechanism of action on the body
A waterworm installed in the cervical area compresses the skin with its perioral muscles and bites it first with the front teeth, then with the remaining teeth to a depth of 2 mm, sucking out stagnant blood.
As a result, there is an increase in blood flow to the diseased area. During feeding, the leech injects saliva containing biologically active substances, including hirudin, which affects humans as follows:
- has a sedative and mild anesthetic effect;
- dilates blood vessels, eliminates inflammation;
- reduces blood clotting, preventing thrombus formation.
Therapeutic effect
The use of leeches for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has a triple effect:
- unloading of regional blood flow after therapeutic bloodletting, normalization of pressure;
- the leech bites through the skin at points with the largest number of nerve endings, so the effect after the session is comparable to acupuncture;
- immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory effects of the salivary secretion of the worm.
The method does not completely eliminate cervical osteochondrosis, but in combination with other methods of treatment, SCH enhances the effect of medications and herbal remedies.
We talked about whether it is possible to completely recover from SCH here.
Possible complications after treatment with leeches
When bloodletting procedures are performed correctly, patients experience virtually no complications. But exceptional situations are possible when the human body reacts negatively to the effects of a leech bite. Circumstances such as:
- Poor quality treatment of the area where leeches will be planted, resulting in infection at the bite sites.
- Mechanical damage to the skin in places to which leeches stuck.
- Violation of the recommended regimen after hirudotherapy sessions.
- Incompatibility of the medications used and treatment methods with bloodletting.
- Using low-quality leeches.
- If the patient's skin is highly sensitive, itching and rashes may occur. With proper care, such negative manifestations quickly disappear. They should not be a reason to stop treatment with leeches.
It is recommended to visit the physiotherapy room for procedures on the fifth day after treatment with leeches. A competent doctor knows the intricacies of hirudotherapy and will be able to competently and efficiently prescribe the rest of the set of procedures. There is no need to be afraid of negative consequences, because the beneficial properties of bloodletting are much greater.
Session
Treatment is carried out by a hirudologist in a special room with leeches intended only for one patient. Using worms on another person is unacceptable.
Preparation
To avoid causing rejection in leeches, follow these recommendations:
- On the day of treatment, do not take water procedures and refuse to use cosmetics and perfumes.
- The day before the appointed date, avoid drinking alcohol. Also stop smoking 4-5 hours before.
The duration of the session, indications and contraindications are determined individually for each patient by the doctor. Before installing the leech, the specialist treats the patient’s skin with clean water.
Process
- The doctor takes the leech from the container with his hands and places it on the neck in the projection areas of the vertebrae, after rubbing the skin until it becomes slightly red.
- The first and second sessions last 20-30 minutes. During this time, the leech does not have time to get enough, and the doctor forcibly removes it.
- Subsequent procedures last about an hour. The aquatic worm manages to suck up to 5-15 ml of blood and falls away from the person on its own.
- Blood may flow from the bite site for 6-7 hours, so a bandage with sterile cotton wool is applied to it.
The general course is 7-10 procedures, 1-3 times a week. Repeated treatment can be carried out after 4 weeks.
How much is used in one session?
To carry out one treatment procedure for cervical osteochondrosis, from 4 to 10 leeches are used, depending on the patient’s weight.
How to behave during therapy?
- To eliminate the possibility of prolonged bleeding after the session, do not lie on your back for 3-4 hours.
- Do not remove the bandage earlier than 10 hours after the end of the procedure; if it gets slightly wet, add cotton wool or a clean cloth.
- In case of heavy bleeding, carefully, so as not to damage the wound, remove the bandage, treat the bite area with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%), apply a cotton swab, also soaked in peroxide, to the skin and secure it tightly. You should not lubricate the leech installation site with irritating agents: iodine, brilliant green, alcohol.
- An individual allergic reaction to saliva is possible: severe itching, redness of the skin or rash. If such manifestations occur, take an antihistamine and consult a doctor.
- Adhere to the principles of proper and balanced nutrition, do not eat fatty, salty, spicy foods and refrain from consuming refined foods.
How it works
The method is famous for its simplicity. A leech is attached to a certain point on the body. And immediately, thanks to the composition of the worm’s saliva and the complex of interaction processes, the therapeutic effect begins.
As soon as the leech attaches itself, it injects hirudin to prevent blood clotting. This substance, along with all the others contained in the saliva of the worm, penetrates into the body the deeper the longer the leech remains in the stage of active saturation.
When treating osteochondrosis of the neck with hirudotherapy, blood-sucking “healers” are placed mainly on the posterior cervical area. They ensure the outflow of blood, neutralizing its stagnation and making way for fresh blood, which is free of toxins and has enough oxygen. Blood flow is restored, swelling and inflammation are relieved, pain goes away and the body is cleansed of toxic debris.
Session Description
The treatment regimen for cervical osteochondrosis with leeches looks like this. The doctor recommends this treatment. The doctor - hirudotherapist (or hirudologist) - conducts it. You cannot perform any actions with leeches on your body on your own for several reasons.
- Firstly, the worms must be special, and not caught in the nearest pond.
- Secondly, it is necessary to take into account existing contraindications.
- And thirdly, the hirudotherapist knows how and where to place leeches better than even the most experienced patient in these matters.
Osteochondrosis of the neck means that the placement will be made on the cervical spinal area, but not necessarily only on the sides of the spinal line. Leeches can be located on the shoulders and directly on the neck.
The doctor’s task is to place the worms in the area of the vertebrae so that they themselves identify the problem areas and attach to them. In addition to the vertebrae, leeches can be placed along the entire line of the shoulders, the back of the neck, as well as anywhere on the body that seems suspicious to the hirudologist for swelling or blood stagnation. With cervical osteochondrosis, these places can be located on the arms, lower along the spine, in the scapular region. In principle, a good doctor will place a leech anywhere on the body if they notice swelling, since this will provide additional acupuncture effects.
During a session, the patient can be given up to a dozen leeches at the same time. Considering that each is capable of pumping out up to 15 ml of blood in half an hour, the loss is quite effective. But, unlike, for example, blood loss due to injury or donation, the restoration of blood volume occurs much faster, and the patient practically does not have time to feel the absence of 150 ml of blood in the body.
Osteochondrosis is, first of all, damage to the intervertebral discs. Therefore, pain points indicated by the patient are considered as priority installation points. But it is the doctor who decides how many individuals to use, where to apply them and for how long, while monitoring the patient’s condition during the session.
An important factor is the patient’s consent to treatment. Of course, an adult who comes for hirudotherapy according to a doctor’s indications is unlikely to grab his hands and not allow him to apply leeches
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But in addition to external non-resistance, the patient’s internal consent is also important, because many people treat worms crawling through the body, to put it mildly, without much enthusiasm
Yes, there is little pleasure in the procedure. The leech looks unpleasant, and in order to decide to feel it on your body, you may need to overcome a certain barrier of disgust. After the first session it will be easier, the person will get used to it. And if there is no individual intolerance, you need to try and start the recommended treatment, despite possible negative feelings.
Contraindications
Treatment is not used in the following cases:
- congenital poor blood clotting (hemophilia) or hemorrhagic diathesis;
- decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit (decreased number of red blood cells in relation to the total blood volume);
- malignant neoplasms;
- individual intolerance to leech enzymes;
- pregnancy;
- heart defects;
- hypotension;
- children under 7 years of age and people over 70 years of age;
- It is not advisable to undergo treatment during menstruation and 7 days after it;
- Do not apply leeches for 14 days after severe colds, flu, or sore throat;
- recent injuries or surgical operations associated with large blood loss are also a contraindication to hirudotherapy.
results
A positive effect is observed after the first sessions:
- normalization of night sleep;
- elimination of inflammation of the spinal nerves and pain syndromes;
- improving blood supply to the cervical spine;
- orgelase, which is part of leech saliva, promotes the formation of new blood vessels, the resorption of blood clots and swelling.
Treatment at home
The procedure can be carried out at home, after consulting with your doctor:
- bring the worm with the front sucker to the prepared skin, wait for the bite;
- if treatment takes less than half an hour, the leech will not fall off on its own, so bring a cotton swab dipped in a strong-smelling substance to it;
- disposal occurs by placing the worm in a container with chloramine.
We talked about other methods of treating SCH at home in a separate article.
Places where they put it and photos
- Two points located at the level of 5-6 vertebrae at the base of the neck, on either side of the central axis.
- The third point is localized on the 7th cervical vertebra, the remaining zones are located symmetrically in the collar area.
Leeches can also be placed along the spine or in areas of pain.
Below are photos that show where to place the leeches:
The treatment of SCH can be facilitated by folk remedies, manual therapy, wearing a collar, acupuncture and massage.
Opinions of doctors and patients
Taking into account the opinions of doctors who treat SCH and those patients who have undergone hirudotherapy sessions, we can note the positive dynamics of the recovery process.
Such treatment can only be an additional method that does not replace medical consultation and medication.
The naturopathic method has proven itself most effectively in healing diseases of blood vessels, joints and connective tissues, gynecological problems and neurological ailments. Hirudotherapy can cause harm only if you try to use it yourself, due to ignorance of the treatment regimen and the inability to apply leeches.
