A. HISTORY
Hirudotherapy was already used by the ancient Egyptian approximately 3,500 years ago.
The Hindu God of MedicineDhanvantari (8th Century BC) was represented as holding a leech in his hand.Leeches were used by the ancient Greeks, Persians and reached it’s popularity in the 18 Century, when also Napoleon was treated for his hemorrhoids.
The word leech is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word leace (to heal) and for over 2000 years, leeches were applied without justification for a multitude of maladies as an adjunct to blood-letting[1].