Vitamins, herbs, acupuncture and physical therapy are some types of alternative medicine for scleroderma. Learn about these and others, including what studies have to say about some of them.

Scleroderma
Scleroderma comes from the Greek words skleros, meaning hard, and derma, meaning skin. It is an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. It is categorized as a rheumatologic disorder and is characterized by fibrosis in the skin and internal organs, causing a thickening and hardening of the involved areas. There are two types: localized and systemic. Localized affects only the skin, usually the hands and feet. Systemic affects large areas of the skin and may affect internal organs. Localized rarely becomes systemic or causes serious complications. Systemic can result in damage to organs (lungs, heart, kidneys), cause arthritis, inflame muscles and slow gastrointestinal tract contraction - it can be fatal.

Scleroderma is a rare and progressive disease that is not contagious. It affects women more than men and normally occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. It can affect one's ability to accomplish everyday tasks, and can have a big impact on a person's self-esteem. There is no cure. Conventional treatment includes penicillamine and other immunosuppressive drugs, glucocorticoids and cholchicine. According to Alan R. Gaby, MD, none of these have a high degree of efficacy. However, there are several natural treatments that show promise in treating this condition.

Para-Aminobenzoic Acid
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is a naturally occurring substance found in the folic acid vitamin and some foods, including meat, milk, eggs and grains. It appears to have an antifibrotic action because of its beneficial effect in people with Dupuytren's contracture and Peyronie's disease - other connective tissue disorders.

In 1948, it was reported to be an effective treatment for scleroderma when given as potassium para-aminobenzoate (KPAB). Over time, the skin became softer and thinner, with improved range of motion.

In 1961, data showed that 97 of 104 patients had moderate to considerable improvement of the skin after being treated with 12 grams of KPAB a day. Some had a complete remission, while others had to continue treatment indefinitely. In the 1980s, according to a retrospective analysis of 390 patients, those who took KPAB had a much slower rate of decline in pulmonary function and a significantly higher rate of survival than those who did not receive it.