Homeopathic Treatment of Vitiligo in Buffaloes

Vitiligo is a progressive disease of skin in which melanocytes are gradually destroyed causing depigmentation. It is most commonly acquired hypomelanosis in human. Elephant, horses, dogs, poultry and buffaloes  are animal species in which Vitiligo has been recorded. In buffaloes depigmentation starts around  brisket and and may extend up to neck, abdomen, and flanks. In majority of cases hypomelanosis starts with destruction of melanocytes first in epidermal compartment and latter in follicular reservoir where most melanocytic stem cell are sitiuated. (Alain Taieb). The ultrastructural skin changes seen in animal closely resemble human cases (R.cerundolo et el.).

The aetiology of Vitiligo is unknown, but auto-immune, neural, self destruct, growth factor defect, and copper deficiency (P.N.Takker and Randhawa) hypothesis have been suggested. The treatment of vitiligo in human may take as long as six to eighteen months. Topical cortico-steriods and immunomodulators, ultra voilet A and narrow band ultra voilet B depigmentation, skin grafts are commonly used to treat human cases. No treatment for animal have been recommended, perhaps due to absence of cutaneous or systemic pathology except unsightly appearence.This short clinical report describes successful treatment of Vitiliginous buffaloes with homeopathic drugs.

Six buffaloes (2 dairy animals and 4 draught animals) were identified and owners were motivated to paticipate in the study. The animals had white patches on lateral sides extending from brisket up to flanks and  abdomen. The hairs on the demarcated spots were also depigmented. There was no photo-senstivety. The animals were lactating and working in field. The disease has a specific name "Chingar Pani" (scalding with hot water) in the local dialect (Chattisgarh - India). Homeopathic medicine Alumina, Arsenicum Album, Calcarea Carbonica, Mercurius Vivus, Sepia, Silicea, and sulphur are indicated for Vitiligo (Kent. J. T.). On symptom similarity Sepia was selected for dairy animals and Arsinicum Album for drought animals and were given in asecending order over a period of four months.

The spots started getting pigmented after second month onward and nearly became normal after four months. Relapse was detected in one dairy animal during six month follow-up and Sepia was given with intercurrent remedy resulting in complete depigmentation during next two months.

Successful treatment of vitiligo in animals, may help in better understandig of disease in human as nearly 95 million people are affected world wide. Animal cure with homeopathy do not present placebo problem and direct treatment/ effect relationship can be studied with a cheap biological material.

1. Alain Taieb - June 2000 - Intrinsic And Extrinsic Pathomechanisms In Vitiligo - Pigment Cell Research Volume 13 , issue supplement 8 page 41-47.

2. P.N.Takkar and S.S.Randhwa - chapter 15 D - Specific Geomedical Problems In Asia - Geomedicine- by Jul Lag - C R C Press 1990 ISBN - 0-8493-6755-7.

3. R.Cerundolo et. el. - 1993 - Vitiligo in two water buffaloes: histological ,histochemical , and ultrastructural investigation - Pigment Cell Research - Vol 6 , issue 1 , pages 23 - 28.

4. Kent. J.T. - Repertory Of The Homeopathic Materia Medica, enriched Indian edition, reprint edition 1992, B.Jain Publisher Pvt. Ltd.New Delhi (India).