What are the effects and benefits of leeches?

Under normal circumstances, the effects and benefits of leeches include nutritional supplementation, blood breaking, stasis removal, meridian unblocking, and thrombosis prevention. Leech is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that must be used under the guidance of a doctor and should not be self-administered. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Nutritional supplementation: Leeches contain nutrients such as proteins, trace elements, and vitamins, which help replenish nutrients lacking in the body.

2. Blood breaking: Leeches have a salty and bitter taste that affects the blood; they possess blood-breaking properties, promoting blood circulation, regulating blood flow, and thereby preventing blood stagnation.

3. Stasis removal: Leeches can help decompose and eliminate stagnant blood, accelerate blood circulation, and relieve circulatory obstructions and stagnations.

4. Meridian unblocking: When leeches attach to acupuncture points on the human body, they secrete enzymes that help unblock meridians and maintain smooth energy flow.

5. Thrombosis prevention: Leeches can inhibit thrombin from binding to platelets and promote the dissociation of thrombin from platelets, thus helping prevent the formation of blood clots.

Due to their blood-activating effects, leeches may cause miscarriage or premature labor if taken by pregnant women; therefore, they are contraindicated during pregnancy.