A 23-year-old man in Zhengzhou, Henan province, was rushed to hospital after inserting a live leech into his urethra out of curiosity and belief in an online folk remedy, causing severe pain and difficulty urinating.
According to Henan-based Dahe Daily, the man, identified only as Xiao Zheng, had purchased the leech online after reading claims about its supposed health benefits. He placed it into his urethra hoping it would produce a “special effect”, but instead suffered intense pain and urinary blockage.
Unable to sleep due to the discomfort, he sought emergency medical treatment. Doctors later discovered that the leech had travelled through the urethra into his bladder, where it released anticoagulant substances that worsened the situation.
A urologist performed a minimally invasive procedure to remove the foreign object through the urinary tract. The leech was successfully extracted, and the man’s pain immediately subsided. His urination returned to normal shortly after the operation.
Doctors warned the public against attempting unproven and dangerous remedies found online, saying such actions can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening injuries.
