Controversial homeopathic treatments could treat vitiligo, a new trial suggests.
Fourteen patients had fewer white patches on their skin after taking the alternative remedy that is widely considered to be ‘snake oil’.
Some 25 different treatments were dished out, including snake venom, a corrosive acid and a compound derived from the fluid of blisters from scabies.
Vitiligo made famous by model Winnie Harlow and late entertainer Michael Jackson, affects one in 200 people and is currently incurable.
The new study, led by Indian researchers, comes after Prince Charles and Boots the chemist were criticised for promoting alternative medicine.
A new book, set to be published next month, accused Charles of being ‘immoral’ for his backing and moaned at Boots for ‘ripping off’ customers.
Fourteen patients had less white patches on their skin after taking the alternative remedy that is widely considered to be ‘snake oil’ (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)

Researchers at the Centre for Classical Homeopathy in Bangalore led the trial of the alternative complementary medicine (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)
It follows the decision by the NHS to ban GPs dishing out homeopathic remedies as part of a major cost-cutting drive in March.
Researchers at the Centre for Classical Homeopathy in Bangalore led the trial of the alternative complementary medicine, taken by 200 million people worldwide.
The vitiligo patients given homeopathy – which works on the basis of ‘like cures like’ – included 13 women and one man.
The patients were followed up after 58 months, on average, suggesting they could have resorted to other methods to help treat the condition.
Skin camouflage creams, light therapy and medication are available in the UK, but it unsure what provision for the condition exists in India.
The findings, which showed that homeopathy had a positive effect on all 14 patients, were published in the American Journal of Case Reports.
Writing in the journal, the researchers said: ‘We believe that homeopathy may be effective in the early stages of vitiligo.

The vitiligo patients given homeopathy – which works on the basis of ‘like cures like’ – included 13 women and one man (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)

The patients were followed up after 58 months, on average (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)
‘In 14 patients with vitiligo treated with individualized homeopathy, the best results were achieved in the patients who were treated in the early stages of the disease.’
Some of the homeopathic remedies that were dished out included Psorinum – which is prepared from the fluid of blisters from scabies infested skin.
Nitric acid, described as irritating and corrosive to all tissues which it comes into contact with by Government officials, and venom from the timber rattlesnake were also used.
However, the researchers admitted further trials are needed as critics have long been sceptical over the supposed benefits of homeopathy.
Vitiligo Support International states that it has seen ‘no evidence’ that homeopathy can help to reverse pigment loss caused by the long-term condition.
Homeopathic and herbal remedies have been used for hundreds of year to tackle afflictions such as stress, insomnia and allergies.
However, scientists have repeatedly argued they are so highly diluted that little of the substance they contain actually remains.
Its central principle is that ‘like cures like’, that is a substance which causes certain symptoms can help cure those symptoms.
Another concept is based around a process of dilution in alcohol or distilled water and shaking, called succussion.
Advocates believe that the more a substance is diluted in this way, the greater its power to treat symptoms.
For example, caffeine is a stimulant, and is used to treat insomnia. And hayfever sufferers take a very weak solution of pollen.

The findings, which showed that homeopathy worked on all 14 patients, were published in the American Journal of Case Reports (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)

Writing in the journal, the researchers said: ‘We believe that homeopathy may be effective in the early stages of vitiligo’ (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)

However, they admitted further trials are needed as critics have long been sceptical over the supposed benefits of homeopathy (pictured left before treatment and right after treatment)