Magdalene Westendorff – biologist, Doctor of biological Sciences (PhD), Natural health professional (Hirudothery). Freelance scientific collaborator in the Biebertaler Blutegelzucht GmbH (Biebertal, Germany). Member of the German Association of the promotion of therapies using Hirudinea and their species conservation.
Graduated with honours from the Biological faculty of the Kiev State university, worked while studying time in the Department of biochemistry of the nervous system in the Institute of biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and wrote the thesis about functions of membranes of brain cells. Scientific works in the field of physiology, pathophysiology of animals, genetics and ecology of insects and biology of Hirudinea. PhD at the University in Leipzig (1986). Studies in the school for natural health professionals, passed state examination and works above all as a hirudotherapist. Studied at courses of hirudotherapy in Moscow (Dr. Sukhov)
Holds lessons about scientific bases of hirudotherapy at the European Academy of Hirudotherapy (Ltd.) in Wil, Switzerland, in training courses at the Biebertaler Blutegelzucht GmbH and in the natural health professional association Berlin (Fachverband Deutscher Heilpraktiker, Landesverband Berlin-Brandenburg e. V.)
Author of scientific papers about problems of physiology and pathophysiology of animals, genetics of sawflies (Symphyta, Hymenoptera), and ecology of insects and leeches (Hirudinea); co-author of a guide about hirudotherapy (D.K.Schweizer & M.Westendorff: Hirudotherapie. Ein Handbuch der Blutegel-Therapie, Wil, 2013).
