Its not everyone cup of tea but my leech regime is based on keeping them out of my boots and legs, since being infection-free and able to walk is the most important thing. Leg bites are easily infected.
So simply tucking trousers legs into the socks in jungle boots works for me. This gives me time to spot some of them crawling up and a flick is all that's usually needed.
Some get to the tummy and some to the neck but bites here do not bleed much as the blood pressure is lower than the legs.Neither do they itch as much
At night a dab of Mopiko - antiseptic and a local anaesthetic covered with a band aid or micropore will help prevent any scratching and resultant infection.