How to Remove a Japanese Mountain Leech

This video describes a simple procedure for removing leeches from the body. The idea is to break the mouth and sucker suction which the leech uses to hold on to the skin. This can be done fairly easily be simply slipping a fingernail between the skin and the mouth and again between the skin and the posterior sucker (or vice versa). This procedure has some advantages over other methods such as the use of salt, soy sauce or heat as no tools are required and most importantly it avoids causing the leech much trauma, which could induce the animal to regurgitate into the wound and possibly transmit parasites or infections into the host animals body. I have used this method several times since learning about it from a YouTube viewer and it seems to work very well. I apologize that I cannot remember the name of the viewer who suggested this technique to me, though I would like to extend my thanks if they happen to read this.

This video was shot by eight year old Emily and was filmed in a wet and very narrow canyon deep in the mountains near Shizuoka City, Japan. In the video I commented that the leech had not yet had a chance to bite me; however, I soon discovered that I was wrong as the wound began to bleed. Interestingly though, the blood did clot rather quickly which leads me to think that the leech had, in fact, only recently become attached and had not yet had a chance to inject very much anticoagulant. This was one of two leeches which managed to climb onto me during this particular hike though Emily spotted the second on my shoe before it could get to the skin. Fortunately neither Emily or Yumiko were leech victims on this hike.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• leech
• mountain leech
• yama biru
• hiru
• leech removal
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[itruztno1]

Is it ok to just flick it, not off, i mean like flick on top of it and crush it?

[softypapa]

@itruztno1 Once the leech is firmly attached they stick pretty good and may be difficult to flick off. This should work fine though while they are still crawling and before they latch on. ~Kurt :-)

[itruztno1]

@softypapa Ok but what i mean is for example, if the leech is on the palm side of my hand biteing me, could i just clap my hands together really hard and crush it to death, or can that do something bad to me?

[softypapa]

@itruztno1 Though I am not certain, I suspect that what you suggest may not be a good idea. Keep in mind that the leech has an open mouth into your bloodstream and if you damage the animal it may regurgitate its stomach contents into your blood. This could cause unknown parasites from the leech to enter your body which may or may not have harmful effects. ~Kurt :-)

[itruztno1]

@softypapa Ok that makes sense, but what if im trapped in the jungle and ive somehow had an accident and lost both of my arms and i notice a leech on my chest and theres a fire near by, could i get as close as i could to the fire and try to burn it off my chest? Ive heard that urine works too, not sure if thats correct but if it was could i lie on my back with a stiffy and try to piss on it? i think i read that its something to do with the salt in the urine...too bad if it was on my face...

[softypapa]

@itruztno1 :-) I don't think you can pee with a stiffy? ~Kurt :-)

[Lastshadow94]

I was expecting one of those massive mountain leeches. Ah well, still informative.

[FreeRunMonster802]

@ebenbaker1 what if u dont have a lighter.

[CocoEspada]

"I'm here with my family." *pans to no one* lol I thought that was funny.

[Crazygmodman360]

Since you live in japan. is there really a himuro mansion up there? just curious

[ebenbaker1]

could just burn the fucker.

[Gumbo550]

do it solid snake style, burn them off with a cigar

[DOMOfreak1232]

haha i like ur vids Kurt...i wish that kinda stuff happend in my boring life...i live in Utah and the only weird incect ive seen was a blue and red bee and it was on the ground and i steped by it i think, and it started schreeching and i saw it, so i ran away cuz it scared the shit outa me and it chased me for just a second. i had no idea what it was, and ive never seen anything like it.

[SteamMrOwned]

@softypapa You can pee with a stiffy, but it will go flacid in the process. Don't ask...

[bananian]

Omg, Surviorman in Japan