Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in Treatment of Vitiligo: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial.

Objective

The feasibility of a definitive trial was tested to evaluate individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) for the treatment of vitiligo.

Design

This was a double-blind randomized (1:1) placebo-controlled pilot trial conducted at the National Institute Homeopathy, India. Sixty patients with vitiligo were included in the study. Interventions: IHMs and identical-looking placebos at 50-millesimal (LM) potencies. Outcome measures: Feasibility issues and scores from the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI), Vitiligo-specific Quality-of-life instrument (VitiQoL), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months.

Results

The recruitment and retention rates were satisfactory. Mean reductions in the outcome measures were higher in the IHM group than placebo.

Conclusions

Definitive efficacy trials are warranted. Clinical Trials Registry-India: CTRI/2018/10/016160; secondary identifier UTN: U1111-1221-7704.