UNKNOWN — A woman who turned to alternative treatment found herself enduring her worst nightmare after her “natural cure” ended up leaving her practically nose-less.

The unidentified woman shared her story on a forum discussing skin cancer remedies, and later became the subject of a YouTube video by World’s Greatest Medical - Case Studies.

Her ordeal started with a bump on her nose that turned out to be a basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that was relatively easy to treat. Doctors advised Mohs micrographic surgery, a procedure that would involve removing thin layers of tissue until the area became cancer-free.

The woman opted out of the surgery, choosing instead to go the natural route and use black salve, a topical paste that burns skin tissue. She applied the herbal remedy to her nose and to another undiagnosed spot on her forehead, which she believed was also a basal cell carcinoma.

Days later, her face swelled painfully and eventually started growing huge black scabs called eschar.

Three weeks later, she pulled the eschar away to reveal a gaping hole where her nose used to be. The cartilage inside was visible, and the hole was so deep and big she could draw air through it.

In the end, the woman needed reconstructive surgery to fix her nose. She believes the salve took out only the cancerous cells, and may have left her with less initial scarring than the Mohs surgery.

But the Sydney Morning Herald reports that according to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, there is no evidence to prove black salve is effective in treating cancer. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed it as one of 187 fake cancer cures, and is actively banning its use.