Natural Remedies for Vitiligo

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease characterized by patches of skin losing pigment. This occurs when the skin’s pigment cells die or are unable to function normally.

Although vitiligo has no known cause, most experts believe it runs in the family. Some research also shows that autoimmune disorders, oxidative stress or viral disease increase the risk of developing vitiligo.

Around 1.5% of the human population are afflicted with this condition. Although vitiligo does not cause any uncomfortable symptoms, some have grown intolerant of sunlight. This skin condition is benign and should not be a cause of concern. Vitiligo is also not contagious. It’s not caused by any microbes. It’s also not a pre-cancerous condition.

Symptoms of Vitiligo

Vitiligo starts with a small white spot in random parts of the body. The spot will start growing, developing into patches of white skin. The patches of skin are white at first but will darken gradually. As the white patches grow bigger, they merge into other patches. In some cases, the whole body turns white from all the merged patches. But the process of merging skin patches is gradual.

All-Natural Remedies for Vitiligo

Basil Leaves

Basil leaves are packed with antiviral, antibacterial and anti-aging properties. That’s why basil leaves are traditionally prepared to treat all kinds of skin diseases, including vitiligo. To treat vitiligo using basil leaves, crush it with lime juice. Lime juice aids in melanin production. Crush the leaves and gather the extracts. Apply it on the affected area thrice per day for up to 6 months.

Red Clay

Red clay got its reddish coloring from its rich copper content. Some experts believe red clay aids in the production of melanin in the skin. To use red clay to treat vitiligo, mix a couple of tablespoon with ginger extract to a paste. Apply the paste on the white spots once a day. Ginger extract will boost the efficacy of red clay. It will also promote better blood circulation.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains botanical compounds that boost skin re-pigmentation. To use turmeric to treat vitiligo, mix it with mustard oil. First, gather several turmeric roots. You need about 500 grams of turmeric root. Crush the roots with the back of a knife. Now, soak the turmeric root in 8 liters of water overnight.

In the morning, boil the solution. Reduce it to 1/8th of its original volume. Strain the liquid and then mix 500 grams of mustard oil. Heat the mixture until all that’s left is the oil. Now, apply the oil on the white patches twice daily.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba extract is an effective treatment for advanced stages of vitiligo. Take 40 mg. of Ginkgo biloba supplements thrice per day. This will help pigment cells to work properly again. Clinical testing suggests that ginkgo Biloba extract might help treat vitiligo.

Babchi Seeds

Babchi seeds are traditionally used to treat vitiligo too. To use babchi seeds to treat this skin disorder, mix it with tamarind powder. You want to add equal amounts of shelled babchi seeds and tamarind powder. Soak the mixture in water for four days. Strain the seeds and ground to a paste. Apply the paste on the affected area for a week. Some people are sensitive to babchi seeds so do a patch test first. Do not use this method if skin irritation occurs.