When most people think of varicose vein treatment, they probably imagine modern, scientific procedures such as surgery or even lasers. I doubt that many people would believe that there are still doctors out there using leeches to treat unsightly or uncomfortable varicose veins, but the fact is that some medical practitioners believe these unusual creatures offer the best chance for a successful and safe varicose vein treatment.

In Australia, leeches are even used in some hospitals, though the treatment is still more likely to be found in alternative medical clinics. Doctors have been using a local species for years in microsurgery, but recently colleagues have been experimenting with leeches as a varicose vein treatment. The leeches are applied to the skin where the worst of the varicose veins are found and as they latch onto the patient’s skin an anticoagulant in their saliva starts to break down the clotted blood that causes the varicose veins. After a short treatment, the unsightly varicose veins have disappeared and in some cases, never return to that particular area of the body.

Of course, many people are uncomfortable with the idea of using such a medieval and archaic medical treatment in modern times, while others are just squeamish about having leeches stuck to their skin. Clinicians at The Private Clinic have a more modern approach, while some other doctors and clinicians who use the creatures for medical treatments insist that leeches are perfectly safe, very effective and that there is no risk of any contamination. The creatures are bred especially for medical use and are only ever used once to prevent the risk of blood conditions passing from one patient to another. In the Australian hospitals where leeches are used, they are destroyed after each use, but one alternative practitioner keeps his in a retirement jar. As well as being more animal friendly, it also allows nervous patients to see the animals before the procedure takes place.

Although hospitals are still more likely to use leeches in surgical situations, it is becoming more and more accepted that leeches could be used for other conditions, and in particular varicose vein treatment.