Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 17: Leech therapy continues to be a widely practiced tradition in Kashmir, even as this ancient healing technique has largely been abandoned worldwide.
Every year, particularly on Novruz, the Persian New Year, practitioners set up open-air clinics in markets like Hazratbal, where hundreds seek the remedy for ailments ranging from swollen joints and headaches to frostbite and acne.
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Bilal Ahmad Hajam, a fourth-generation leech therapist, has been practicing this traditional healing method for over two decades. He learned the technique from his grandfather at the age of 12 and has remained committed to it ever since.
“When I was 12 to 14 years old, I became actively involved in the practice. It is our family tradition, passed down through generations,” Hajam said while feeding milk to a leech in preparation for therapy.
Hajam explains that the leeches, sourced from Afghanistan, are carefully raised in Kashmir under controlled conditions. Kept in earthen pots to shield them from the Valley’s colder climate, they are thoroughly washed and fed milk before therapy. To ensure maximum efficacy, leeches are starved for 12 hours before treatment, allowing them to extract the maximum amount of blood from an infected site.
He emphasizes the meticulous care involved in handling the leeches. “A single leech cannot be used on multiple people at a time. If we intend to reuse a leech, it must be quarantined for 31 days before it is safe for another procedure,” he said.
The tradition sees its peak on March 21, when belief in its effectiveness is at its strongest. Many Kashmiris undergo leech therapy on Novruz, believing the treatment is particularly beneficial on this day, as it symbolizes the rebirth of nature.
Of the 600 known species of leeches, Hirudo medicinalis is the most widely used for therapeutic purposes. While modern medicine largely disregards leech therapy as a mainstream treatment, practitioners insist it has no significant side effects as long as fresh leeches are used.
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