Are leeches a protected species?
Are leeches a protected species?
Leeches are still afforded protection by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and are regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Berne Convention, and the European Union Habitat Directive.
Are medicinal leeches endangered?
Hirudo medicinalis, the European medicinal leech, is one of several species of leeches used as “medicinal leeches”….
| Hirudo medicinalis | |
|---|---|
| Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1) | |
| CITES Appendix II (CITES) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
What are European medicinal leech used for now in the US?
The European medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis). Image credit: Sebastian Kvist. Today, two leech species — Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo verbana — are used for healing practices based soundly in science, primarily for the replantation of digits or skin grafting surgery.
How much is a medical leech?
Pricing
| Medicinal Leech Price List ** | |
|---|---|
| 7-99 leeches* | $ 18.15/each |
| 100 or more leeches | $ 16.15/each |
| LE2004 HIRUDO SALT | |
| 25 gm (makes 50 liters/13 gallons) | $ 15.00/each |
Are leeches FDA approved?
Maggots and leeches are the first living creatures to be approved by the FDA as medical devices. Although newly recognized by the FDA, the medicinal leech has been used therapeutically for thousands of years.
What is the family of leech?
Leeches in the hirudidae family are characterized by having well developed jaws, with one row of sharp teeth. Their pharynx is short and very muscular. They also have a crop with lobed shaped caeca.
How long do medicinal leeches live?
They become reproductively mature in about a year. A leech can live from 2–8 years. The medicinal leech has become rare in its original range in Europe.
Where are Hirudo medicinalis found?
As noted in the Introduction, Hirudo medicinalis was once abundant in Northern Europe, from Ireland in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east, and from Southern Scandinavia to the countries bordering the Mediterranean ( Elliott and Tullett 1984 , 1986 , 1992 ), where the Southern species H. verbana occurs (Fig.
Is leech therapy FDA approved?
After thousands of years of use as an alternative treatment to blood-letting (an antiquated and abandoned practice of draining blood to cure diseases) and amputation, the FDA today approved the commercial marketing of leeches for medical purposes.
Can I buy leeches online?
Leech Ordering and Shipping is Worldwide! The leeches will arrive alive to your doorstep, just a few days after shipping.
