Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Medicinal Leech Therapy, anybody?

My Fellow KickASers,

I am sorry I have not been hanging around too much... Things are not well on the personal front. But I hope you all are doing well...

I recently took up ayurvedic therapy with newly opened holistic spine health center (www.spinalogy.com) in town and the guys there recommended that after around 10 days of massages and steam baths, I should go for medicinal leech therapy. Now the group of doctors here from different backgrounds like allopathy, physiotherapy, ergonomy and ayurveda. They believe it will help me (see www.leeches.biz). My sister, who is also a doctor, is least comfortable and wants me to give it a pass. My instincts, after reading about it, tell me that its a little yucky (with after effects lasting upto 48 hours) but its good for me. Infact, according to Sanskrit writings, Dhavantari, the father of Indian medicine, held nectar in one hand and a leech in the other. Leech therapy is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Paintings of medicinal leeches have been found in pharaohs tombs.

I have been asked to take it tomorrow, so there's not much time to ponder over it. Can you guys help me with you opinions?

I have always taken your advice with much regard. Thanks in advance.

Yours truly,

Ankush

I'm inclined to say it won't do much for AS. It would be wonderful for a lot of things like skin wounds that won't heal, infections, and similar stuff.

This is the last post I read tonight and I saw it didn't have any replies so I'm putting one in without reading the links you provided and based solely on what I've heard/read about this sort of stuff in the past.

Hope you come to a decision and your family doesn't give you a hard time about it. Good luck and come back to let us know how it goes, okay?

It doesnt hurt to try it. There does not seem to be any side effects for trying leech therapy, so why not try it. Plesae let me know how it works for you.

Ankush, somehow I missed this on Friday. Did you decide to go for it? How was it?

Warm hugs,

I wish you good luck Ankush, I hope it helps you.
Kind Regard,
Debra

Hi Kat, I did not go for it last weekend. I still have an option this coming weekend. The thing helps resolve, at least temporarily, muscle tension and other issues related to bad blood flow in the affected region. It was prescribed to me for the muscle contractions i have had for years around my pelvis and gluteus muscles, but it seems none of the conventional doctors, even those closely related, see any good coming out of it.

Sigh... I did catch a viral infection over the weekend and am still struggling to come out of it.... These little cold and cough instances make us realise how AS has eaten up our bodies. I can't even cough openly, with stiff ribs and reduced chest expansion....

I hope it helps, Ankush. Not fond of leaches, myself, as a rule, but had heard that they were making something of a comeback from a medical standpoint. If you go for it, I'll be interested to hear if it was helpful.

Take care of you, OK?

Warm hugs,