Vitiligo is characterized by loss of pigment (melanin) in the skin, leading to bleached white spots, which may spread over a large part of the body. Auto-immunity is suspected as the cause of this condition.
Vitiligo treatment in TCM revolves around clearing toxins and improving proper flow of Qi and Blood to the skin. Blockage and stagnation, whether of blood, energy, body fluids or emotions, are considered the root of many health problems. When these vital substances don’t flow properly, toxins cannot get eliminated, and can easily build in the body. The Koebner phenomenon is itself a very clear illustration of this principle, as the trauma produces an instant bruising/blockage, and if the person is predisposed to vitiligo, it may then trigger its onset.
The Chinese medical treatment of vitiligo is reasonably well represented by these five institutes that specialize in the field. Because the recipes used are valued by their developers, there is a hesitancy to provide ingredients list or, at least, complete ingredients lists and details of processing. Fortunately, a certain amount of information has been conveyed that gives insight into the treatment methods and outcomes.
The theories used for treatment of vitiligo involve general principles of Chinese medical theory. It is proposed that the patient who suffers from this condition has a deficiency syndrome (particularly a blood deficiency and kidney/liver deficiency), which is what allows the person to be susceptible to the skin abnormality. It is also proposed that there is blockage of the circulation of qi and blood, with blockage of the channels of circulation (blood vessels, meridians). Generally, such blockage is involved in diseases that persist and progress, and it is pointed out that blood stasis plays an important role in stubborn cases of vitiligo. It is mentioned that wind or wind-damp contributes to the disease. The general theory of traditional Chinese medicine is that external pathological influences, such as wind, penetrate the skin, particularly via the pores (described as sweat pores or hair pores or hair orifices) to cause disease. Wind is able to penetrate because of the deficiency, and the disease progresses and is retained by congestion and stagnation of qi and blood circulation induced by the wind, damp, and other pathological factors. This description could be applied similarly to eczema, psoriasis, and other skin diseases that arise in one area, and then spread, persisting for years if not effectively treated. Autoimmune processes have been suggested as a contributor to these various persisting skin diseases.
Treatment of skin diseases with Chinese medicines is almost always with topical therapies and internal therapies, and vitiligo is no exception. Some doctors emphasize the topical treatment, others emphasize the internal treatment, but both appear important to the prompt and complete resolution of vitiligo. It is possible, even likely, that most or all of the topical therapies include either psoralens or other photosensitizers; an example, is the liniment made with angelica and cinnamon bark, angelica contains psoralens.
