Leech Therapy Common side effects:

• Mild pain during treatment
• Prolonged afterbleeding (bleeding from the leech bite)
• Itching and reddening of skin around the leech bite (allergy-like)
• Swelling - hands, fingers joints and toes can be more prone 
• Bites can take a while to heal 
• you will bleed so dark colour clothing that can be binned if necessary. The leeches just want you to feel better and they are not judging your fashion sense. Please wear comfortable and low value dark clothing that is easy.
• I will not drink alcohol or get intoxicated after my treatment for 7 days
• I will not scratch or irritate the bites with my fingers as that might lead to infection.
• I will not spray perfume or other toiletries on my leech bites. 
• I will not cover or clog my bites with makeup until they have healed.
• I will not scrub or otherwise itch or inflame my leech bites but allow them to heal.
• If I have a suspected infection (where it oozes) then I will go seek medical advice.

My own experience

• I am a slower healer and have often drastically reacted to insect bites. For my face it took about 2 weeks for the bites to improve after a month nothing was visible
• First treatment on my hand and fingers resulted in my hand blowing up with inflammtation. I bloodlet to manage this and took antihistamines
• The immediate improvement in my facial psoriosis and hand ezcema / psoriosis was substantial so I didn't care about the side effects
• My hands were bleeding and my face was bandaged. I looked like an Egyptian Mummy, it was Halloween luckily
• Face bites are hard to hide (normally with the facial it is just below the chin so on a low visability point)

You can take antihistamines to manage this potential side effect.

You may need to have bandages.

I consent to the proposed treatment (leech therapy) and aftercare measures.

Information for the Patient and Consent Form for Leech therapy

We recommend that you go home and relax after treatment. If you are able then use an old (clean) towel and remove the dressing and allow the wounds to bleed.

If you wish to put on a dressing make it loose and remember to change it frequently as needed

It is quite normal to bleed 24 hours after your treatment. The bleed is integral in getting a good result. The saliva contains many bio-active substances.

You must allow yourself time to rest and clear your schedule for the next few days.

If possible avoid washing for 24 hours (this is to avoid removing the leech saliva).

You are scheduled to receive leech therapy. The treatment may produce side effects, which are usually harmless and temporary.

If complications occur contact me.

Should you need antibiotics if the bites become infected you may need to see your GP, local A&E or minor injuries unit.

 Side Effects

Infection (skin infection)

Temporary enlargement of lymph nodes

Pigmentation disorders

Scarring at site of leech bite

Temporary swelling of treated part of the body, arm, or leg

Some side effects require treatment with the following items:

(compression bandages for bleeding),

antibiotics for infection,

antihistamines for allergies, etc

If side effects should develop, please contact me 07979531902.

DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL AFTER TREATMENT THIS IS A BLOOD THINNING TREATMENT, AVOID ASPRIN AND OTHER BLOOD THINNERS

Contraindications: Leech therapy should not be performed in patients with:

Anticoagulant co-medications (e.g., Marcumar, Warfrin) you must come off this medication for 5 days minimum before you can have this therapy

IF YOU ARE TAKING ASPRIN

Hemophilia

Hematological diseases (rare genetic disorders, anemia, conditions related to HIV, sickle cell disease, and complications from chemotherapy or transfusions)

Acute gastric ulcers

Erosive gastritis

Immune deficiency due to AIDS

Chemotherapy

Severe chronic diseases (advanced-stage cancer, dialysis, etc)

History of poor wound healing (associated, e.g., with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, obesity, and long-term cortisone treatment)

Known allergy to any of the active substances in leech saliva

Tendency to develop keloids or scarring

I promise to take care of myself after treatment. I will not scratch or itch the bite (as this could lead to infection). Should the bit become infected I will go to the local A&E or GP or minor injuries unit and ask for antibiotics (such as 500mg of ciprofloxacin three times a day for 7 days)

I understand that I must not get intoxicated before or in the days after the treatment as the therapy is blood moving and this can likewise adversly affect my recovery. 

The potential side effects are understood by me. To my knowledge, none of the above mentioned contraindications apply.