leeches
Swamp-dwelling bloodsuckers
Leeches are bloodsucking aquatic worms, historically used in medicine to draw blood from patients.
Modern medicine still uses them selectively to reduce swelling or restore circulation after surgery.
Figuratively, a leech is someone who drains others of money, energy, or resources: He's been leeching off his parents for years.
To leech is to cling parasitically or to extract something gradually.
Organism feeding on plasma
- ectoparasiteOrganism feeding on host externally
- infestationPest takeover situation
- hostOne receiving guests
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
bite · wading · swamp · jungle · pond · stream · freshwater · aquatic
Therapeutic withdrawal of fluid
- anticoagulantSubstance preventing blood clots
- phlebotomyExtracting blood medically
- microsurgeryMagnified procedures on minute structures
- reconstructiveRestoring original form
skin grafts · reattachment · circulation · blood flow · saliva · secretion · wound healing · plastic surgery
bloodsucker
Organism feeding on plasma
- ectoparasiteOrganism feeding on host externally
- infestationPest takeover situation
- hostOne receiving guests
parasitism · bite · wading · swamp · jungle · pond · stream · freshwater · aquatic · wetland
bloodletting
Therapeutic withdrawal of fluid
- anticoagulantSubstance preventing blood clots
- phlebotomyExtracting blood medically
- microsurgeryMagnified procedures on minute structures
reconstructive · skin grafts · reattachment · circulation · blood flow · saliva · secretion · wound healing · plastic surgery · therapeutic
freeloader
One exploiting others' generosity
parasite · drain · exploit · cling · dependent · user · taker · hanger-on · sycophant · mooch
- parasitestapeworm, roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, fleas
- animal parasitesfleas, ticks, mites, lice, worms
- old curesbloodletting, purging, cupping, bleeding, phlebotomy
- ancient surgeryamputation, trepanation, cauterization, bloodletting, cautery
- Islamic medicinecupping, Avicenna, physicians, healers, honey remedy
- segmented wormsearthworms, lugworms, sandworms, bloodworms, fireworms
leecheshosts
Those who entertain guests
providers · donors · givers · benefactors · symbionts
leechescontributors
Those who give help
givers · benefactors · providers · producers · philanthropists
leechesmutualists
Species benefiting each other
hosts · pollinators · symbionts · cleaner fish · mycorrhizae
- leech therapyMedical use of bloodsucking worms
- medicinal leechBlood-drawing annelid for treatment