Leeches can cope remarkably well with inflammation, which underlies any pathological process, be it a destruction of cartilage a joint, a wound, a fracture, a burn, an infection, etc. The body separates inflammation from healthy tissues by creating a barrier around it made of collagen fibers.
The downside of it is that the barrier obstructs the blood flow needed to bring oxygen and nutrients to inflamed cells and remove waste products. This slows down healing and the build up of waste materials lead to oedema and venous stasis which typically accompany inflammation.
Thanks to all the above properties of saliva we have consistently good results with treating various inflammatory disorders.