A small non-magical worm that sucks blood.
- Leeches are used in Polyjuice Potion, apparently whole (Pm).
- Leech juice is used in Shrinking Solution .
The author wrote on Pottermore that she chose this ingredient for Polyjuice Potion because leeches "suck the essence out of one and into another" (Pm).
Commentary
Etymology
MIddle English for "blood-sucking worm"
Notes
Leeches have been used medicinally for thousands of years, going back to ancient India and Greece. The leech was attached to a patient and allowed to suck their blood, which was thought beneficial for removing "bad humors" that caused the illness.
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Tags: blood medicine/medical