French researchers, in a small, short study, have found that a week of wound debridement (removing the dead and dying tissue) with maggots was more effective than conventional methods in patients with chronic venous ulcers. No, the maggots were not left in the wound all the time! Sterile maggots were placed in a special bag and allowed to access the wound surface through a very thin membrane two times per week. Patients found this treatment painless and accepted it well.
PositiveTip: Maggot therapy was approved by the FDA in 2004, so, if you have a wound caused by poor circulation, ask your doctor about this method.