Leech therapy has been practiced since medieval times and probably much before. It is very popular in Iran today. Leeches have been used to help cure problems with gout, which accompanies a lot of inflammation in the body and for helping regulate a person's blood pressure.

The leeches are placed on a person's body to draw blood from the individual. The practice is similar to use maggots, which are often placed on live creatures to help eat away infection (which is what they do, see below).

Here are some benefits of using leeches that are widely publicized:

• Leech therapy can help improve venous congestion, making surgical maneuvers including the re-attachment of appendages more possible.
• They assist with wound care.
• They can help clear poison from the body.
• They help reduce swelling.
• They release pain reducing and blood thinning chemicals in the body which may help prevent clotting while reducing discomfort.
• They can vaso-dilate meaning open up the venous system in some respects.

While leech therapy has long been used by mankind to help heal and cure many symptoms and diseases, it has only recently begun surfacing again. Even so, you may be hard pressed to find this popular therapy in most doctor's offices, because it would take some time for it to become mainstream.

Maggots are used in various places of the world to help cure infection. In surface wounds, one might place maggots inside to help rid the body of a skin infection. It may sound unhealthy, but it is practical in some cases and certainly useful in situations where one has an infection and is not near a medicine chest.

Despite the popularity of leech therapy, maggot therapy has not yet caught on as widely. There are documented benefits of this form of therapy; however it is more likely to be used in alternative practice rather than in a traditional setting. This may change with time however.

In many African countries, people use a natural substances, a small stick or twig cut from wild trees as a toothbrush they carry around in their mouth all day long. This natural tooth brush helps them save a few dollars in the grocer so they don't have to buy toothbrushes and paste.

Many know that these particular twigs are not fancy but often do a better job of cleaning the teeth than traditional brushes made of plastic. A tree stick or chewing stick of more commonly known as a “sothiou” or in some cases it is called “mswaki” which translate into “to clean” or “clean”.

Often called chew sticks these sticks are now available in many raw food stores because they are plant based. You do not need to use fluoridated toothpaste with them. You can actually munch on the stick all day, as it emits a type of liquid most believe help with the tooth care process.

Because most raw food diets do not consist of much junk food, the sothiou does a good job of getting rid of most of the germs and bacteria that would cause tooth decay.

Natives of some villages in Africa even use twigs to help fight toothaches. While this may sound outrageous, it is true. There are certain trees, including the gum trees that apparently have pain relieving properties.

When an individual has a toothache, someone goes to the gum tree and cuts a twig. The twig must be chewed, which in essence helps remove particles that form between teeth. It can also brush the teeth.

While many find the process a bit bitter, this twig is just as capable of cleaning the teeth as any modern tooth brush and paste. There is even evidence suggesting the twigs contain compounds that can help eliminate bacteria in the mouth, including the types of bacteria that may cause diseases like gum disease or tooth decay.

Because these little sticks do not contain any fluoride, they are perfectly safe for anyone including younger children! For raw foodists looking for a natural source of dental care, the first place to start ma be a chewing stick or a few. You might want to look for a stick containing anti-microbial components because these are best at fighting bacteria.

This can prove especially beneficial in families with several children!

In the Ukraine you can receive a radon bath treatment or shower to cure many different ailments. You can also receive radon treatment of your gums. They are even used for reproductive complaints. Radon is said to help fight arthritis and other diseases often caused by aging, and for treating skin diseases, diabetes, inflammation in the body, and even vascular problems or peripheral (in the arms and legs primarily) nerve problems. Can it really do all that?

Most people would say you have to try it before you buy it. There is at lest some medical evidence in all cases to back up these claims. If you are a true fan of nature as most raw foodists are, it is at least worthwhile to check into some of these treatments. At least the tree sticks, which is definitely a cure for bad breath that Mother Nature intended. And, you don't have to worry about cooking anything, just grab a stick and start chewing, just what nature really intended.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari