Leech Therapy: Contraindications and Training

Dr. Boris Wydoff

Leech therapy is a method that uses specially bred medicinal leeches whose saliva contains substances that affect blood clotting. Today, this method is also used in reconstructive surgery, but it has contraindications and risks. If you want to understand the subject, start by learning how leeches work, what the safety restrictions are, and where the method is used in modern medicine.

What Is Leech Therapy and How Do Medicinal Leeches Work?

Leech therapy is a method in which specially bred medicinal leeches are used for medical purposes. It is more than just an ancient form of bloodletting. When a leech attaches to the skin, it releases biologically active substances from its saliva into the wound.

One of the best-known substances is hirudin. It prevents blood from clotting by acting on thrombin. As a result, blood may continue to flow from the bite site for some time even after the leech has detached.

Other compounds have also been identified in the saliva of medicinal leeches. Researchers describe substances that affect platelet activity, inflammatory processes, and certain mechanisms through which cells interact with surrounding tissues. However, the presence of biologically active compounds does not, by itself, mean that the procedure is effective for every disease.

Today, medical leech therapy has a specific application in reconstructive surgery. Doctors use leeches in cases of venous congestion in transplanted tissues and surgical flaps when blood drainage is impaired. In these situations, temporarily removing blood helps support the tissues while new vascular connections develop.

Historically, leeches were used much more widely. People tried to use them for many different conditions, but modern medical indications should not be confused with all the ways they were used in the past. So, when studying leech therapy, it is helpful to distinguish three things: traditional use, proposed mechanisms of action, and the areas in which the method is used in modern medical practice.

What Conditions Are Medicinal Leeches Used For?

Leech therapy has a long history. In the past, medicinal leeches were used for various complaints related to circulation, inflammation, and other health problems. Books on traditional medicine contain many different recommendations for their use.

In modern practice, the method has its clearest role in plastic and reconstructive surgery. For example, after surgery, a transplanted section of tissue may have difficulty draining blood through the veins. Blood flows into the area, but it cannot leave properly through the venous vessels.

When this happens, the tissue may change color and become bluish or dark. Sometimes it becomes unusually firm, and its temperature drops. These are signs of a possible circulatory problem that requires professional assessment.

In certain surgical situations, medicinal leeches are used as a temporary way to improve venous drainage. Their use requires medical supervision because the condition of the tissue and possible complications must be monitored.

Leech therapy has also been studied in connection with joint diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and other health problems. However, research findings in one area cannot automatically be applied to another.

If you are an older reader, it is especially useful to remember this: if someone you know says that leeches helped them with a particular problem, that does not prove the same approach will work for someone else. The decision depends on the diagnosis, overall health, medications being taken, and an assessment of possible risks.

Who Should Avoid Leech Therapy and What Are the Contraindications?

The main feature of this method is its effect on the blood-clotting system. That is why people with disorders of hemostasis need to be especially careful when considering the use of leeches.

Restrictions include conditions associated with an increased tendency to bleed. Hemophilia and other blood-clotting disorders require particular attention. It is also important to know whether a person takes anticoagulants or other medications that affect the formation of blood clots.

Another group includes people who are sensitive to components of leech saliva. The possibility of an allergic reaction must also be considered when assessing the safety of the procedure.

Medical literature describes infectious complications associated with the use of medicinal leeches. For this reason, specially bred leeches are used for medical purposes, and the procedure itself must meet safety requirements.

In my books, I stated that the only contraindication to leech therapy was an abnormal prothrombin time, particularly in cases of hemophilia. I also described performing a prothrombin test before bloodletting. This is my position as presented in my books and reflects my approach to the preliminary assessment of blood clotting. Modern medicine takes a broader view of restrictions and also considers other risk factors, including the possibility of prolonged bleeding and infectious complications.

Pregnancy, childhood, and other special circumstances require a separate medical assessment. If the safety of the procedure for a particular group has not been established, you should not experiment with it on your own.

Leech Therapy: Contraindications and Complications — What Should You Watch Out For?

After a leech bite, bleeding may continue for some time. This is due to the anticoagulant substances released in the saliva. Unlike an ordinary small scratch, this wound may bleed longer than expected.

Another risk is infection. Medicinal leeches are associated with certain bacteria, so even when specially bred leeches are used, the possibility of infectious complications must be taken into account.

Local reactions are also possible, such as redness, irritation, and itching around the bite. If the reaction is severe or accompanied by other unusual symptoms, it should be assessed by a medical professional.

In reconstructive surgery, the risk of infection is particularly important because the tissues have undergone surgery. In these circumstances, doctors weigh the benefits of temporarily improving venous drainage against possible complications and monitor the patient's condition.

In my books, I described how a leech bite could continue to ooze blood for several hours. I considered five to six hours a normal occurrence within my method. I also wrote that in some cases, the bleeding continued longer. This is a description of my practical experience, not a universal standard for assessing bleeding. Prolonged or heavy bleeding requires medical attention.

Leech therapy should not be regarded as a harmless home procedure. Even if someone tolerated it well in the past, that does not rule out unwanted reactions the next time.

How Can You Tell Medical Leech Therapy from Home Experiments?

The first difference is where the leeches come from. Specially bred medicinal leeches are used for medical purposes. Leeches found by chance in a natural body of water are not a safe substitute.

The second difference is the involvement of a trained professional. A medical procedure requires an assessment of the person's condition, a review of contraindications, and monitoring for possible complications. Choosing the application site and the number of leeches yourself is no substitute for professional training.

The third difference is understanding the purpose of the procedure. In modern reconstructive surgery, the goal is specific: to temporarily improve venous drainage in tissues affected by congestion. This is not the same as promising general improvements in health.

In my books, I described my own experience using leeches for venous congestion and discussed Dr. Zalmanov's method. I associated the effects of leeches with local circulation and the action of hirudin on the blood. This is my professional position and a description of practical experience, not a universal plan for self-treatment.

If you want to learn about leech therapy, start by studying anatomy, the physiology of blood circulation, the mechanisms of blood clotting, and safety requirements. Only by understanding these fundamentals can you thoughtfully explore the history of the method and its modern applications.

My Advice: How to Study Leech Therapy Responsibly

Start by understanding the role I assigned to leech therapy in my system of beliefs. In my books, I connect the use of leeches primarily with venous congestion. I was particularly interested in Dr. Zalmanov's idea of relieving blockages in the liver and restoring capillary circulation. I viewed leeches as one way of applying a local treatment, not as a universal answer to every health problem. That is why I recommend studying the history of the method and the ideas of its supporters while keeping their theories separate from modern medical indications.

Pay attention to how I described the intervals between procedures. In my books, I specified intervals of approximately four to six weeks between leech applications, rather than daily use. In other descriptions of my practice, I mentioned intervals of five to six and six to eight weeks. I believed that the treatment should be part of a defined course rather than a continuous procedure. This is a description of my approach, not a recommendation to prescribe your own leech therapy schedule. Modern medicine determines the frequency of use according to the specific clinical situation.

Study the nature of bleeding and the preliminary assessment of blood clotting. In one of my books, I wrote that we performed a prothrombin test before each leech application. This was essential to me. I also described oozing for five to six hours after a bite as an expected occurrence within my method. I believe that it is impossible to study leech therapy without understanding hemostasis. At the same time, my description should not be taken as permission to leave bleeding without medical supervision. Modern safety requirements call for assessing its intensity and the person's condition.

Study the areas I focused on in my practice. In my books, I described applying leeches to the liver area when the organ was enlarged and to the perineum as part of my approach to venous congestion. I also discussed Dr. Zalmanov's method and associated his ideas with improved capillary circulation. This is a description of my historical experience and personal system of beliefs, not an instruction for choosing application sites. Doctors do not regard the areas I mentioned as universal treatment points for every disease.

Do not forget the importance of a comprehensive approach. In my books, I repeatedly emphasized that using leeches should be part of a broader approach to health. I associate the state of circulation with the functioning of different body systems and consider it a mistake to expect one procedure to solve every problem. That is why, when studying this method, I recommend learning about underlying conditions, a person's overall health, and the factors that may affect safety. Additional naturopathic approaches should never replace medical care.

Where and How to Study

You can learn about Boris Wydoff's naturopathic approach at the Academy of Natural Healing. This educational program brings together the doctor's books, video courses, seminars, and audio materials. The program is organized into five consecutive stages.

The first stage focuses on books presenting the doctor's main ideas about the body, nutrition, and lifestyle. These include "The ABCs of Health," "A Handbook for the Healthy and the Sick," "Secrets of Youth, Health, and Beauty," and "Victory Over Cancer."

The second stage focuses on nutrition and cleansing. It includes lectures on the physiology of nutrition, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and other topics. The third stage explores diseases and practical areas of naturopathy. It includes materials on the heart and blood vessels, chronic diseases, baths, wraps, as well as the practical video course "Leech Therapy."

Particular caution is necessary when viewing this video course. It contains instructions for applying leeches yourself, choosing attachment sites, and handling bleeding wounds. It also includes claims that there are no side effects and promises of rapid effects on various diseases. These recommendations do not meet modern medical safety requirements and are not suitable for self-treatment. The educational materials can be viewed as an introduction to the author's approach, but not as a practical guide to performing procedures.

The fourth stage includes recordings of seminars and audio materials featuring the doctor's explanations and answers to listeners' questions. The fifth focuses on consciousness, the mind, suggestion, hypnosis, and parapsychology. After completing the program, students take an examination in person with Boris Wydoff. Graduates receive certificates in naturopathy and parapsychology bearing their names.

After completing the course, students will be able to understand the basic principles of naturopathy, recognize the relationship between nutrition and lifestyle and how they feel, learn about common health complaints, and understand which questions to discuss with a specialist. Studying the leech therapy video materials provides an opportunity to become familiar with the doctor's views on this method as part of the broader educational program.

It is important to understand that naturopathy training does not replace medical education and does not qualify you to perform medical procedures independently. Details and registration are available on the Academy's page.

When to See a Doctor

Leech therapy carries a risk of bleeding and infectious complications. That is why it is important to recognize the signs that require urgent medical attention.

Call emergency services immediately if severe or persistent bleeding occurs after the procedure, accompanied by pronounced weakness, dizziness, fainting, or a sudden deterioration in your condition. These symptoms may indicate significant blood loss.

Emergency medical help is also necessary if there are signs of a severe allergic reaction, especially difficulty breathing or significant swelling of the face and throat.

See a doctor if redness, soreness, swelling, or itching persists around the bite after the procedure. A specialist should assess whether a local infection or inflammatory complication is developing.

If unusual skin changes or general discomfort occur after using leeches, do not assume they are simply a normal reaction of the body. A medical professional should determine the cause.

You can read more about how I approach this subject on the "Youth and Longevity" page: Youth and Longevity.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

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