{"id":50388,"date":"2021-08-06T09:33:05","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T09:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.plantheunplanned.com\/?p=50388"},"modified":"2022-12-16T06:40:37","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T06:40:37","slug":"how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle Leeches on Monsoon Trek?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leech: the word itself sends shivers down the spine, and if you are planning a monsoon trek, forget about staying away from these. On the one hand, these are inviting, gregarious and humble, and slimy, creepy, blood-sucking monsters on the other. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leeches on the monsoon trek are very prevalent; hence, it is imperative to know how to remove them most expediently. Having a clear understanding of how they function, where they are found, how they sense us, and how to remove them will come in handy if you go for a trek. Let us read more about how their bodies function. The more you know, the less scared you would be. So, read on!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aa32d1e63847\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aa32d1e63847\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#How_do_leeches_sense_our_presence\" >How do leeches sense our presence?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#Should_we_be_scared_of_these\" >Should we be scared of these?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#How_should_we_react_if_we_see_a_Leech_on_a_monsoon_trek\" >How should we react if we see a Leech on a monsoon trek?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#How_do_they_attach_themselves_to_their_hosts\" >How do they attach themselves to their hosts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#How_to_get_rid_of_these\" >How to get rid of these?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#Prevention\" >Prevention:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#Cure\" >Cure:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-leeches-on-trek\/#How_to_prevent_these_from_sticking\" >How to prevent these from sticking?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_leeches_sense_our_presence\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>How do leeches sense our presence?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leeches use<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">multiple sensors to sense us:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leeches can&#8217;t hear, although they can feel vibrations through their skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can&#8217;t see much either, but they have a strong sense of taste and touch.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are attracted to shadows.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surprisingly, they also react to the Carbon Dioxide that we exhale.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_we_be_scared_of_these\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>Should we be scared of these?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, absolutely not. You can see them as bloodsuckers, but they are benevolent medical gifts doctors use in medical processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will not even know if a leech is sticking to you until you spot it. Leeches use a substance that numbs the pain so that they can suck blood comfortably.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_should_we_react_if_we_see_a_Leech_on_a_monsoon_trek\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>How should we react if we see a Leech on a monsoon trek?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While trekking, you have to be careful on the trail. Leeches would be everywhere &#8211; On the ridges, grasslands, forests, rocks, water, basically everywhere. If you see a leech attached to your body, don\u2019t panic. Just be calm and patient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But we know leeches are awful. On the brighter side, they are harmless, except they suck a few drops of blood. The maximum time for which they will stick to you will be 20 to 30 minutes. So relax.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_they_attach_themselves_to_their_hosts\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>How do they attach themselves to their hosts?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have suckers attached on both sides of their body, i.e. head and tail, using which they move.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When they find an exposed area, they use blade-like teeth set into their jaws to open up the flesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By releasing substances like anticoagulant Hidurin, they prevent blood from clotting so that they can feast for a longer duration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with that, their saliva contains a substance that dilates blood vessels and anaesthetises the wound area (rendering the bite painless) to increase blood flow.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They then feast and party!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_rid_of_these\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>How to get rid of these?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prevention\"><\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #339966; text-decoration: underline;\"><b>Prevention:<\/b><\/span><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Methods like pulling, scratching, alcohol, heat, or sprinkling salt sound sure shot, but they are worst because of the following reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The methods mentioned above might lead to the leech getting off, but it might also lead the sucker to keep sticking to your body, resulting in bleeding for hours and hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, leeches don&#8217;t have an immune system that sterilizes their gut, as humans have. While pulling them off, they may regurgitate\/puke the whole blood they ingested and other microbes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applying a sanitizer, Dettol, Odomos, or a mix of tobacco + castor oil might also not work during the monsoon since the sanitiser will wash off your skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cure\"><\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><b>Cure:<\/b><\/span><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a facile, more humane, and painless way to get rid of these: if you see one sitting on your shoe, skin or cloth, <\/span><b>give multiple jerks to the creature with the help of your thumb and index finger till it gets off<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and you will be done. Easy, isn\u2019t it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you see a bite, washing the wound with salt water and putting a bandage is the best way to prevent infection. Otherwise, if you are on a trek, just remove the creature for some time, and forget about it till you get back home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_prevent_these_from_sticking\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>How to prevent these from sticking?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ther<span style=\"color: #000000;\">e is possibly no way if you are trekking in the monsoon to stay away from these. You are entering their homes (read: forest), so you must be prepared for all circumstances. Some ways to prevent these:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Wear full-length clothes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Tuck your T-shirt under your pant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Wear long socks and tuck your pant inside your socks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Apply leech re<\/span>pellants like <strong>S<\/strong><\/span><b>anitiser, Dettol, Odomos, or a mix of Tobacco + Castor Oil.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Above all, get used to leeches on the monsoon treks. We hop<\/span>e that this will ease your anxiety a bit. Other than these essential points, you just have to keep looking, keep moving and keep removing. Happy Luck!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leech: the word itself sends shivers down the spine, and if you are planning a monsoon trek, forget about staying away from these. On the one hand, these are inviting, gregarious and humble, and slimy, creepy, blood-sucking monsters on the other. Leeches on the monsoon trek are very prevalent; hence, it is imperative to know [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4320,"featured_media":50397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50388"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53741,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50388\/revisions\/53741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plantheunplanned.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}