Unani experts unfold the ancient leech therapy to heal acne and hair fall

Hakeem Kazi has been practicing as a leech therapist in Mumbai for over a decade now Located next to Mahim Dargah Shareef his clinic is packed with a flurry of patients seeking treatments for their skin and hair problems In a conversation with Middaycom he reveals the latest purchase he made to source a fresh batch of 500 leeches from ThailandTracing the roots of the therapy he says ldquoIt is an ancient practice originating in the Unani System of Medicine from the Greek region Dating back to approximately 3000 years ago Unani medicine terms this therapy as IrsaaleAlaq The basic concept of this therapy is based on the equilibrium of naturally occurring body humours which include blood phlegm yellow bile and black bilerdquoNot only Unani but this ageold therapy has found mentions in traditional Sanskrit texts for medicinal purposes Carried under the guidance of a Unani doctor the therapy is known to heal diverse skin and hair problems like acne eczema psoriasis ulcers and hair fall Middaycom spoke to Unani physicians Hakeem Kazi and Dr Mushir Ansari to unravel the therapeutic mysteries induced by leechesHow exactly does leech therapy workLeech therapy is a Unani process of bloodletting It essentially refers to the evacuation of impure blood to heal the body with the help of medicinal leeches Where when and how a leech bites and sucks comprise the decisive junctures of this process A leech possesses three jaws and is endowed with 5060 denticles which are very minute in size Its agile body squirms and forms a strong grip in an attempt to latch onto the skinWhen a leech bites into the skin the denticles move in tandem to open up the skin of the infected area Dr Ansari explains that when the skin opens up the leech secrets saliva which contains proteins and peptides that enter the bloodstream This leads to the thinning of blood which improves blood circulation and releasing of pressure from the heart and blood vessels On the exterior the leech swells in size and stops sucking the blood It is then removed carefully and the wound is sealedAfter the procedure is over the saliva remains active for the next 48 hours It works as an anesthetic analgesic and antiseptic It continues to work as an anticoagulant thereby thinning the blood for smooth flow Post therapy the leech leaves behind small Yshaped scars which have been reported to heal within a week Dr Ansari who has been practicing this therapy for the past 12 years recommends leech therapy for those who wish to avoid chemical treatmentsTreatments for health ailmentsAcne Eczema and PsoriasisLooking at the images of leeches on the face is enough to get one squeamish It has been referred to as the lsquoworldrsquos most disgusting facialrsquo However many patients suffering from severe acne and pimples seek leech therapy in a bid to attain good skin Leeches have been deployed as active ingredients in facials owing to their magical properties of sucking dirty blood from the skinSoft yet stern leeches jab their sharp denticles into the affected area on the face Kazi recommends that patients must remain calm while the procedure is carried out The leeches get to work and devotedly suck the bacteria out making the skin smoother and free from blemishes The treatment is completely natural and takes about an hourEczema is a skin condition marked by dry and irritable whitecoloured patches on the skin Anyone suffering from Ezcema undergoes a psychological social and financial drain owing to the severity of this condition It dampens the skinrsquos natural barrier leading to moisture loss and increased vulnerability to outside elementsWhen leeches are introduced to the affected regions they reduce the symptoms of Eczema like itching oozing and inflammation A recent case study by the National Institute of Health US found that the quality of a patientrsquos life also improved significantly after leech therapy Similarly for psoriasis Hirudotherapy or leech suction shows excellent results in relieving the patients of this skin ailmentNonhealing ulcers from diabetesKazi shares that the vascular capabilities of leeches in their interaction with humans are the most effective for blood thinning Often diabetic patients who depend on Insulin shots develop nonhealing ulcers This illness is caused by the halt of blood flow in certain body parts like toes fingers hands and feet The tissue in these regions gets damaged due to vascular irregularities caused by diabetes If not treated timely the damage becomes permanent and leads to the amputation of certain body partsIn order to prevent permanent damage increased blood circulation is required in these regions This is achieved by Hirudin an essential secretion released in the leech salivary glands Hirudin acts as a suppressor of blood clotting and improves blood circulation in the region The leech is dropped onto the nonhealing wound where it secretes Hirudin into the body thereby thinning the blood and saving the part from further damageAlopecia or baldnessAlopecia refers to an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles leading to hair loss Kazi shares that he has been experiencing a wide influx of patients suffering from hair fall A person suffering from this condition experiences clumpy hair fall leaving irregular round patches of bald spots or hair fall in menrsquos beards The condition is marked with inflammation and can inflict both men and women Medicinal science has found no cure for this condition however there are treatments that aid hair growthLeech therapy has proved to be effective in reversing this condition When leech is applied to thinning or balding patches they facilitate the delivery of essential nutrients that assist in strengthening the hair follicles Improved blood circulation has been found to reverse balding and promote hair growth as wellOther conditions to be treatedThe wondrous effects of leech therapy extend beyond skin ailments and diabetes ldquoAlmost all diseases can be healed with the help of these bloodsucking creaturesrdquo says Kazi Dr Ansari reveals numerous ailments that can be treated by leeches Migraine paralysis blood pressure issues pain management in joints and muscles dental problems gastric issues cholesterol and arthritisHow safe is leech therapyNaturally occurring leeches found in marshy lands ponds and rivers contain significant amounts of poison Such leeches are not fit for this therapy Effective leech therapy involves the usage of nonvenomous leeches which are cultivated in an artificial environment like ponds Kazi informs us about the several breeding centers that have sprouted up in Delhi where the leeches are bred in a safe and controlled setting Postbreeding leeches undergo rigorous quality checks where if traces of poison are detected the leeches get discardedSide effects of leech therapyIf the practitioner adheres to guidelines and follows Unani principles the chances of side effects are next to none However certain cases have witnessed the pitfalls of leech therapy Dr Ansari sheds light on a few of them1 Areas bit by a leech may experience itching if not cleaned properly2 Loss of blood flow in patients undergoing blood thinning medication3 Inflammation with chances of bacterial infection4 Prolonged bleeding in select patientsAlso Read Skincare tips and home remedies for surviving the Mumbai monsoon