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What is Leucatin?

Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier

Leucatin was the name of an all-natural system designed to remedy nail fungus once sold exclusively over the Internet. The system was available as a two-part package called Leucatin Nail Fungus Control and contained two separate products. The first product was a homeopathic preparation in capsule form that was to be taken orally, while the other product was a topical solution to be applied to infected nails. Since the two products were bundled together, the package was sometimes referred to collectively as simply Leucatin. Despite still being advertised on a hand full of web sites, however, Leucatin is no longer available in the U.S.

Formerly manufactured and distributed by Selmedica, Leucatin was advertised as being guaranteed to cure toenail and fingernail fungus within seven days. However, this claim was dubious since even the manufacturer conceded that it would be necessary for the entire nail to grow out from the nail bed, a process that can take 8-12 months to complete. The now defunct company also claimed that Leucatin was registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and manufactured according to its standards. In addition, the company stated that Leucatin was the subject of several clinical studies that earned its entry into the U.S. Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. However, there is no evidence to support or validate any of these claims.

Leucatin is used to treat nail fungus.
Leucatin is used to treat nail fungus.

In March of 2008, local authorities in Shelby County of Tennessee obtained search warrants and entered two of Selmedica’s production facilities and the personal home of the company’s owner in response to more than 100 reports being filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB lodged a formal complaint against the company alleging that it defrauded consumers of more than $18,000.00 US Dollars (14,000+ Euro). A subsequent investigation into the company’s operations revealed that it made e-books available for sale online that were supposedly written by medical experts when they were not. This prompted authorities to file additional charges against the company’s owner for allegedly conducting deceptive business practices and impersonating a medical professional.

Valerian root was among Leucatin's botanical ingredients.
Valerian root was among Leucatin's botanical ingredients.

When Leucatin was actively being made and sold on the Internet, the company focused on promoting the all-natural effectiveness of the product. The oral supplement portion of the treatment contained homeopathic dosages of Thuja occidentalis and Berberis vulgaris, otherwise known as Northern White Cedar and European Barberry, respectively. It also contained numerous other botanicals listed as inert ingredients, such as garlic, goldenseal root, St. John’s wort, and valerian. The accompanying topical solution was formulated from tea tree oil, neem, and extracts of echinacea and ginseng, among other herbs. It also contained homeopathic concentrations of sulphur.

Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier

Contributing articles to WiseGEEK is just one of Karyn’s many professional endeavors. She is also a magazine writer and columnist, mainly for health-related publications, as well as the author of four books. Karyn lives in New York’s Catskill Mountain region and specializes in topics about green living and botanical medicine.

Learn more...
Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier

Contributing articles to WiseGEEK is just one of Karyn’s many professional endeavors. She is also a magazine writer and columnist, mainly for health-related publications, as well as the author of four books. Karyn lives in New York’s Catskill Mountain region and specializes in topics about green living and botanical medicine.

Learn more...

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    • Leucatin is used to treat nail fungus.
      By: ramvseb
      Leucatin is used to treat nail fungus.
    • Valerian root was among Leucatin's botanical ingredients.
      By: marilyn barbone
      Valerian root was among Leucatin's botanical ingredients.