Presentation

This website was created with the wish that everyone interested in hirudotherapy, or the use of medicinal leeches, could find useful and trustworthy information in one place.

For many people, leeches still arouse doubt, surprise or even aversion. They are often accompanied by the belief that this is merely an ancient form of bloodletting. Anyone who looks a little deeper into the history and modern research in this field, however, soon discovers that their action is considerably more complex.

The use of leeches reaches far back into the past. Historical sources testify to their use more than 3,500 years ago, and some researchers assume that humans were aware of their effects much earlier still. Today interest in hirudotherapy is growing once again, a trend supported both by modern scientific research and by the experience of numerous therapists, doctors and users around the world.

Andrej Hladnik

I first encountered hirudotherapy when I accompanied my father to his treatments in Croatia. Because I noticed positive changes in him and an improvement in his well-being, the field began to interest me more and more. At that point I decided to acquire professional knowledge and to seek out suitable training.

After extensive research I completed professional training in Biebertal, Germany, where I obtained my first certificates in the field of hirudotherapy. Later I built on my knowledge at the American Academy of Hirudotherapy, where I completed additional training under the mentorship of dr. Alicja Kołyszko, the academy's long-standing president.

My desire for a deeper understanding of the field also led me to Russia, where, together with my wife Vanja, I undertook individual training with Professor Albert Ivanovich Krashenyuk, one of the leading experts in the field of systemic hirudotherapy. There we earned the title, under the Russian classification, of "doctor of natural medicine – leech therapist". His systemic approach to the use of medicinal leeches is regarded as one of the most developed and thoroughly researched approaches in this field.

A holistic view of the person

Besides hirudotherapy, I have for many years also been interested in the field of spirituality, personal growth and inner development. I am a first-level teacher of Kriya Tantra Yoga following the programme of Polona Sepe Ambikananda. For more than ten years I studied classical tantra with dr. Jonn Mumford (Swami Anandakapila Saraswati).

The knowledge I have gained in these fields helps me in my work with people, as I believe that well-being is connected not only with the body but also with our inner balance. That is why in my work I always strive to treat the person as a whole – taking into account their physical, emotional and life circumstances.

I invite you to explore the content on this website and to discover for yourself the fascinating world of hirudotherapy and medicinal leeches.

Vanja Kofol Hladnik

I was brought to the path of hirudotherapy years ago by a set of circumstances that gradually grew into a deep interest in natural approaches to well-being and conscious self-care. I began building my knowledge through my own theoretical and practical training, and later furthered it in Saint Petersburg with Professor Krashenyuk. There I became acquainted with his distinctive, precise and holistic approach to hirudotherapy.

At the centre of my work I place the individual and respect for their physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness. I understand hirudotherapy as a field that demands professional knowledge, experience, responsibility, intuition and the attentive monitoring of each individual process.

Over the years I have also enriched my work with knowledge of aromatherapy, the formulation of natural cosmetics and botanical perfumery. These fields give me a broader and more connected view of natural care, well-being and the considered use of quality natural ingredients.

In my work I combine professionalism, attentiveness, respect for nature, continuous learning and a personal approach. What matters most to me are trust, sincere conversation and the sense that every approach is shaped thoughtfully, safely, respectfully and in accordance with the needs of the individual.