Anger at leech cancer cure claim branded ‘witchcraft’

A leech therapist’s alleged cure for cancer and Parkinson’s disease is being slammed by medical specialists as ‘‘witchcraft’’ from a ‘‘charlatan’’.

Mehdi Jaffari has rooms on Auckland’s North Shore where he offers leech therapy and travels overseas to provide training for those wanting to learn more about his craft.

Eighteen months ago a complaint was made to the Minister of Health about Mehdi’s medical claims.

However, it was only after an investigation by Sunday News that he was told on Friday to stop advertising and selling leeches.

In 2015 Maria Lupton, who breeds and sells medical grade leeches to hospitals around the country, raised the issue with the Health Minister. She was so worried about Mehdi’s claims that developed and small veins could be linked. ‘‘Until then people would have lost their finger or ear.’’ she refused to sell him leeches. Maria knows very well that leeches have their place in hospitals to assist with blood flow in skin grafts and small body parts that are re-attached after an accident.

At the time she was told by the Minister’s office that Medsafe – which is responsible for regulating therapeutic products – would investigate and get back to her.

Meanwhile, Mehdi’s clinic continued and he collected his own leech supply that is kept in a pond to use on his clients at a cost of about $55 per leech – five or six are used in every treatment. He promises cancer and Parkinson’s patients that his therapy will not only treat but cure some of them – as long as they don’t have medical interventions such as chemotherapy or medication.

‘‘Leeches have over 100 enzymes and when they attach themselves they inject it. When a

Using leeches comes with risks such as on-going bleeding, he says, and sometimes patients need a transfusion if they keep