Doctors are practising what they leech

IF YOU think your job sucks spare a thought for the Richardsonianus australis, a species of leech increasingly being used for medicinal purposes.

By InvestSMART · 30 Oct 2011

By InvestSMART ·
30 Oct 2011

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IF YOU think your job sucks spare a thought for the Richardsonianus australis, a species of leech increasingly being used for medicinal purposes.

The practice of leech therapy has been around for more than 2000 years, with the creatures used to treat everything from hysteria to haemorrhoids. They fell out of favour with the advent of modern medicine but are back in vogue and being used by both mainstream medics and alternative practitioners.

The Richardsonianus australis, a species from Victoria, has been used in NSW public hospitals for about a decade, mainly in the field of microsurgery. Now alternative practitioners in Australia have latched on to the leech as a treatment for conditions such as varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis and arthritis.

And clinics overseas offer leech therapy as a beauty treatment. Stefan Hafner, a Sydney leech therapist who has worked as a paramedic and has a background in acupuncture, has been using the creatures for about a year.

"They are very effective for certain conditions," he said. "The main active ingredient in their saliva is called hirudin, which is a very strong anticoagulant. Leeches can be used to treat any condition where you have pooled blood, such as varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, bruising or osteoarthritis of the knee.

"It's about breaking down coagulated blood which blocks blood flow to the area."

He admits some patients are squeamish about the idea of having the parasites on their body.

"Some people are really for it they are really interested," he said. "Other people just find it too gross."

Hafner buys his beasts from a leech farmer in Victoria ("He posts them by express mail") and retires them after use.

"I can't reuse them because of the risk of cross infection," he said. "So I keep them in a retirement jar and have them on display in the clinic so people can look at them. In a hospital setting, they usually get killed."

A spokeswoman for NSW Health said leeches were used in about six public hospitals in the state, generally in plastic surgery to reduce blood clots after skin grafts or the reimplantation of fingers.

Glenn Orgias, a surfer who had his left hand reattached after a shark attack in 2009, was the beneficiary of leeching as part of his treatment.

Liverpool Hospital is the leader of leech therapy in NSW, using it between 10 and 15 times a year and distributing leeches to other hospitals around the country.

Formerly housed in a room containing cleaning equipment, the leeches were moved to their own room in the hospital's orthopaedic and trauma ward this year.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What is leech therapy and why is it being used again in Australia?

Leech therapy uses medicinal leeches (notably the Richardsonianus australis) to draw pooled blood and deliver hirudin, a natural anticoagulant. The practice, which dates back centuries, has returned to use in Australia for specific medical situations such as microsurgery and plastic surgery where breaking down coagulated blood can restore circulation.

Which NSW hospitals currently use leech therapy and how often is it used?

NSW Health says leeches are used in about six public hospitals, mainly in plastic and microsurgery. Liverpool Hospital leads the practice, using leeches roughly 10–15 times a year and distributing leeches to other hospitals around the country.

What medical conditions are treated with leech therapy in hospitals?

In hospital settings leech therapy is mainly used to reduce blood clots after skin grafts and in reimplantation (for example, reattaching fingers). The therapy helps where pooled or coagulated blood blocks blood flow following microsurgery.

Are private clinics and alternative practitioners offering leech therapy?

Yes. The article notes alternative practitioners in Australia have adopted leech therapy for conditions such as varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, bruising and osteoarthritis of the knee, and some overseas clinics even offer leeching as a beauty treatment.

What does leech saliva contain and how does that help patients?

Leech saliva contains hirudin, a potent natural anticoagulant. Hirudin helps break down coagulated blood and improve blood flow to affected areas, which is why leeches can be effective for pooled-blood conditions and certain post-surgical needs.

How are leeches sourced, handled and disposed of in clinical practice?

According to the article, practitioners obtain leeches from leech farmers (some are posted by express mail). Clinicians retire leeches after one use to avoid cross-infection; in private clinics they may be kept in a ‘retirement jar’ for display, while hospitals typically euthanise them.

Are there safety concerns or infection risks with leech therapy?

Yes. The article highlights cross-infection risk as the reason leeches aren’t reused. Hospitals manage leeches in controlled settings (Liverpool Hospital moved their supply to a dedicated room) and retire or kill leeches after use to reduce infection risk.

Has leech therapy been proven effective in modern medical practice?

The article indicates leech therapy is used in mainstream medical settings—particularly in microsurgery and plastic surgery—because it can be effective for breaking down pooled blood and restoring circulation. It’s used selectively and alongside modern surgical care rather than as a broad replacement for standard treatments.