Hirudotherapy for heart failure

This disease occurs as a result of failures in the normal work of the heart as a pump that provides normal blood circulation. It can be caused by ischemic heart disease, heart valve defects, arterial hypertension, chronic lung diseases, and various heart diseases. Most often, heart failure is the result of ischemic heart disease in combination with hypertension, which leads to shortness of breath, cardiac asthma, pulmonary and peripheral edema.

Hirudotherapy for heart failure

Hirudotherapy for heart failure

Leech application zones.

  • The heart zone - over the heart area in the III intercostal space (points 3, 4, 5), point 8 - in the V intercostal space at the level of the middle of the clavicle, point 7 - at the left edge of the sternum at the level of the V rib.
  • The zone above the sternum - points along the midline at the level of the middle of the manubrium of the sternum, near the place of its attachment to the body (points 1, 2), point B - at the level of attachment of the V rib.
  • The sacral zone - the area of the sacrum-coccyx joint, points in the area of the end of the coccyx (17, 18) in the projection area of the sacrum (16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26).
  • The liver zone - the area in the projection of the liver and the right hypochondrium (points 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and point 9 at the top of the xiphoid process.

Peculiarities of the procedures.

As a rule, patients with heart failure require long-term treatment. If heart failure develops against the background of venous plethora, there is an increase in the liver, congestive rales in the lungs, the period of leech application is maximum (until they fall down). In decompensation, the liver and sacral zones are of particular importance, and to improve the condition of the heart muscle, local points of the heart zone give a good effect.

Number of leeches: 4-6 leeches per procedure. If the patient is in a relatively satisfactory condition, the number of leeches per procedure should be reduced to 3-4 and a long course of treatment should be carried out.

Number and frequency of sessions: procedures are carried out no more than 1-2 times a week. The choice of zones depends on the clinical picture and the nature of the body’s response to the procedures. The course of treatment is 7-12 procedures.

Combination with other methods of naturopathy: hirudotherapy can be the main method of treatment, but it must be combined with cardiac and diuretic herbal teas, procedures for cleansing the intestines and liver, and restoring a rational diet.