Zenodo
Hirudotherapy in France: Historical Rise, Decline, and Contemporary Clinical Revival — A Narrative Review with an Ayurvedic Perspective
By M. Danh Sang Sambo.
Abstract
Background
France holds a unique place in the history of medicinal leech therapy (hirudotherapy). During the nineteenth century it was the world's largest consumer of medicinal leeches, and it retains a leech-farming tradition in Gironde that dates to that period.
Objective
To trace the evolution of hirudotherapy in France from the Broussais era to present-day hospital practice, to summarise its current clinical indications and safety concerns, and to compare French experience with the classical Ayurvedic doctrine of Jalaukavacharana.
Methods
Narrative review of indexed biomedical literature, French historical and pharmaceutical-history sources, hospital protocols, institutional theses, and producer records.