Effectiveness of individualized homoeopathic medicines and Psoralea corylifolia mother tincture external application in vitiligo: an open randomized pragmatic trial

Vitiligo is a common chronic skin depigmentationdisorder. It is due to stoppage of melanin formation by the melanocytes and presentsas asymptomatic depigmented macules anywhere on the body including mucousmembranes of lips and genitalia. In vitiligo, there is a marked reduction or evenabsence of melanocytes and melanin in the epidermis. It affects around 0.5%-1% of the world population. As high as 8.8% prevalence have been reported inIndia, where considerable stigma is attached to the disease. Vitiligo patches can appear anywhere on theskin, but commonly affected sites include the area around the orifices, thegenitals or any sun-exposed areas such as the face and hands. The hair andrarely, the eyes may also be affected. Fifty percent of cases appear before the age of20, with the disfigurement resulting in psychiatric morbidity in 16-35% ofthose affected. Depression, sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts,difficulties in relationships, and avoidance of social situations have beenreported in individuals afflicted by vitiligo before adulthood. In India, in particular, it ranges from 6.25-18%.Some studies reveal it as high as 40%. In 19th century, practitioners acknowledged limitations fortreatment of this condition and suggested Sulphide of Arsenicum to lessen thepatch. The homoeopathic literature suggest a number of medicines for the conditions. In a recent review, 11 research papers related to homoeopathy on vitiligowere identified. The investigators also identified a recentlypublished case series revealing promising role of homoeopathy in treatment ofvitiligo. Under such circumstances, the authors considerit very important to undertake a pragmatic trial with adequate methodologicalrigor. In this prospective, open, randomized, three parallelarms, pragmatic trial, 60 patients suffering from vitiligo will be randomized to either individualized homeopathic medicines (IH; n=20), or Psoralea corylifolia mother tincture external application (PC; n=20), or both (IH + PC; n=20). Outcomes will be measured in terms of VASI, VitiQoL, and DLQI, measured at baseline, after 3 months, and after 6 months. Comparative analysis will be carried out to detect group differences, if any. Results will be published in scientific journals.