Vitiligo, Leucoderma
Vitiligo, also called Leucoderma (or Leukoderma, lit. ‘White Skin’) is a condition where skin pigment is lost in certain areas, resulting in white or whitish patches.In Humoral Pathology, it is often associated with Phlegm Humor. One part of the Bile Humor is responsible for skin color and complexion, and if obstructed with Phlegm humor (its energetic opposite), it can’t reach that area of skin. It can be sometimes be caused by Melancholy. In either case, the offending Humor is purged. The former was called ‘White Vitiligo’, the latter, ‘Black Vitiligo’.
Regimen in Phlegm Vitiligo:
Avoid:
Phlegm-producing Foods: milk and milk products, lemon and lime, tamarind, orange/ citrus fruits, parsley, custard apple, guava, prunus, cashew nuts, melon, water melon, Chinese dates, sour tomatoes.
Foods hard to digest: egg, beef, venison, fish
Diet:
-Wheat, Rice, Indian Millet, Pulses, Maize
-pure ghee
-broad beans, French beans, Spinach, Bitter gourd, Onion, Beet root, Potatoes, Carrot, Turnip, Chillies, Black pepper
-Figs (fresh and dry), Almond, Walnut, Dates, Mango, Apricots, Grapes, Papaya
-Mutton
Black Vitiligo is treated by preparing and purging the Melancholy humor.
Topical Applications:
1. Madder root or Costus applied with Honey.
2. Fumitory mixed with Vinegar and applied. (Ayurveda)
3. Onosma applied with Vinegar (Unani)
4. Gum Ammoniac with vinegar
5. Seed oil from Pongamia or Belleric Myrobalan is applied (Ayurveda)
6. Paste of the seeds of Pharbitis Qian Niu Zi (TCM)
7. Paste of the seeds of Abrus precatorius (Ayurveda)
8. Apply tincture of Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi (TCM)
9. Nigella essential oil applied topically (Unani)
10. Coptis with Vinegar and Honey as a paste (Unani)
11. Oil of Vipers was commended.
12. Cantharide tincture applied (well diluted)
13. Cuttlefish bone, a paste made with Lemon or Lime juice is applied
14. Scorpion, powdered and mixed with Vinegar is applied (Unani)
15. Borax as a wash (1 in 40)
16. Avicenna recommended Sulphur baths.
Topical Compounds:
1. Psoralea and Senna leaf applied as a paste.
2. Turmeric, Madder, Mustard seed (dry-fried), equal parts.. Form a powder. Mix with a little ghee to form a paste which is rubbed on, left until dry, the rubbed off. (
3. Fumitory with Alum, Saltpeter, Red Earth, mixed with Vinegar and applied. (Ayurveda)
4. Radish seeds, Garden cress (Lepidium), Madder, Alecost, Gypsophila paniculata and verdigris in equal (parts). Grind with wine vinegar and apply. (Sabur Ibn Sahl’s Dispenstaory)
5. Garden cress, Asiatic Crowfoot (Ranunculus asiaticus), Larkspur (Delphinium spp.), Cantharides, of each one part. Mix with a decoction of Madder and wine vinegar. (Sabur Ibn Sahl’s Dispenstaory)
6. Oxidized copper, orpiment, garden cress, burnt (but not slaked) lime, and potash, equal parts. Steep in child’s urine (or vinegar) for 4 days in the sun. Apply after washing the part with urine or vinegar. (Sabur Ibn Sahl’s Dispenstaory)
7. Litharge, Realgar, Sulphur
Internal Compounds:
1. Psoralea Treatment
An Indian study investigated Psoralea powder (5 grams), used internally and externally. Five grams of powder was steeped in 50 mls. water, and the infusion drunk. The sediment left in the cup was mixed with Cumin vinegar for application to the patch, then exposed to sunlight for at least 30 minutes, then washed off. This was continued for 60 days. After treatment 71% of white depigmented patches and 66% of pink depigmented were relieved with other symptoms like itching, burning and loss of hair being alleviated in the majority of cases.
2. Pills for Vitiligo (Unani)
Ginger
Senna
Turpeth
This is a Phlegm purgative medicine for Vitiligo.
3. Vitiligo Powder
Eclipta
Dodder
Psoralea
Cassia tora, equal parts
Make a powder
4. Safuf-e-Bars (Powder for Vitiligo) (Unani)
Celery seed 25 grams
Red Earth 12.5 grams
Tephrosia purpure 6.25 grams
Black Pepper 6.25 grams
Powder. Dose 5 grams is soaked overnight in water. The liquid is drunk in the morning and the past massaged on the area.
5. Electuary for Vitiligo (Unani)
Dodder 30 dirham
Yellow Myrobalan 23 dirham
Chebulic and Black Myrobalans 7 dirham each
Seedless Raisins 60 dirham.
Pound to a paste, grind in violet oil and almond oil Take as much as one walnut, morning and evening. (Sabur Ibn Sahl’s Dispenstaory)
Research:
1. Herbal Compounds for the Treatment of Vitiligo: A Review.
2. A review article about some herbs affecting vitiligo based on Avicenna’s Canon.
3. Herbal Compounds for the Treatment of Vitiligo: A Review.
4. Fabrication of anti-vitiligo ointment containing Psoralea corylifolia: in vitro and in vivo characterization.
5. [The network pharmacological mechanisms of four anti-vitiligo Uyghur medicines based on Phlegmatic temperament theory].
6. Clinical trial of certain ayurvedic medicines indicated in vitiligo.
7. Potential anti-vitiligo properties of cynarine extracted from Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd.
8. Oral Chinese herbal medicine in combination with phototherapy for vitiligo: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
9. Integrating modern dermatology and Ayurveda in the treatment of vitiligo and lymphedema in India
10. Original Research Article (Experimental): Design and Development of Unani Emulgel for Vitiligo
11. The Safety of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Vitiligo and Hypermelanosis: A Systematic Review of Use and Reports of Harm.