Out to left field, I live in Australia and was doing some reading about surgical procedures that used leaches to increase the blood flow.

[Downunder27]

My mind has gone into overdrive and wondered if anyone had looked into this from a Raynaud's affect point of view? I know it's out there but I'm trying to work through my Scleroderma and Raynaud's without chemicals. Any thoughts?

[Purple_Badgers]

hi, I wouldn’t volunteer myself to try this (!) but I did know that leeches are sometimes used in this way. However, in my understanding they are attached to very specific, limited areas to prevent tissue death and promote healing e.g. where a skin graft has been used.

Not sure that leech therapy could be applied for a systemic problem like Raynauds in any useful way, though I’m happy to be corrected if anyone knows more about this 😀

[Lupiknits]

It’s a fascinating thought and I know, as Purple_Badgers has said, that leaches are in use medically , though I can’t work out how they might help Raynaud’s.

On a bad day I’d be quite ready to volunteer to try them. 😉

[HowNowWhatNow]

Interesting. What have you tried so far?

[Midgebite21]

Raynauds is a transient ischaemic attack ( it comes and go’s) . The use of leeches is probably useless long term and very inconvenient as it will have no long term effect. Best to avoid triggers eg wind chill , keep core temperature consistent and use vasodilators as medicated. If you do try it though would be interested to hear your results as I’m a health care practitioner as well as a scleroderma /Raynauds sufferer x

[HowNowWhatNow]

I have just googled it and see at least one medical paper on the subject. Look in a medical database and you will I’m sure find more.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

also - I have only watched the first two seconds of this, but worth a try:

m.facebook.com/watch/?v=626...