Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a by-product of the wood industry, has been in use as a commercial solvent since 1953. It is also one of the most studied but least understood pharmaceutical agents of our time–at least in the United States.
According to Stanley Jacob, MD, a former head of the organ transplant program at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, more than 40,000 articles on its chemistry have appeared in scientific journals, which, in conjunction with thousands of laboratory studies, provide strong evidence of a wide variety of properties. (See Major Properties Attributed to DMSO) Worldwide, some 11,000 articles have been written on its medical and clinical implications, and in 125 countries throughout the world, including Canada, Great Britain, Germany, and Japan, doctors prescribe it for a variety of ailments, including pain, inflammation, scleroderma, interstitial cystitis, and arthritis elevated intercranial pressure.
Yet in the United States, DMSO has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval only for use as a preservative of organs for transplant and for interstitial cystitis, a bladder disease. It has fallen out of the limelight and out of the mainstream of medical discourse, leading some to believe that it was discredited. The truth is more complicated.
DMSO: A History of Controversy
The history of DMSO as a pharmaceutical began in 1961, when Dr. Jacob was head of the organ transplant program at Oregon Health Sciences University. It all started when he first picked up a bottle of the colorless liquid. While investigating its potential as a preservative for organs, he quickly discovered that it penetrated the skin quickly and deeply without damaging it. He was intrigued. Thus began his lifelong investigation of the drug.
The news media soon got word of his discovery, and it was not long before reporters, the pharmaceutical industry, and patients with a variety of medical complaints jumped on the news. Because it was available for industrial uses, patients could dose themselves. This early public interest interfered with the ability of Dr. Jacob–or, later, the FDA–to see that experimentation and use were safe and controlled and may have contributed to the souring of the mainstream medical community on it.
Why, if DMSO possesses half the capabilities claimed by Dr. Jacob and others, is it still on the sidelines of medicine in the United States today?
“It’s a square peg being pushed into a round hole,” says Dr. Jacob. “It doesn’t follow the rifle approach of one agent against one disease entity. It’s the aspirin of our era. If aspirin were to come along today, it would have the same problem. If someone gave you a little white pill and said take this and your headache will go away, your body temperature will go down, it will help prevent strokes and major heart problems–what would you think?”
Others cite DMSO’s principal side effect: an odd odor, akin to that of garlic, that emanates from the mouth shortly after use, even if use is through the skin. Certainly, this odor has made double-blinded studies difficult. Such studies are based on the premise that no one, neither doctor nor patient, knows which patient receives the drug and which the placebo, but this drug announces its presence within minutes.
Others, such as Terry Bristol, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of London and president of the Institute for Science, Engineering and Public Policy in Portland, Oregon, who assisted Dr. Jacob with his research in the 1960s and 1970s, believe that the smell of DMSO may also have put off the drug companies, that feared it would be hard to market. Worse, however, for the pharmaceutical companies was the fact that no company could acquire an exclusive patent for DMSO, a major consideration when the clinical testing required to win FDA approval for a drug routinely runs into millions of dollars. In addition, says Mr. Bristol, DMSO, with its wide range of attributes, would compete with many drugs these companies already have on the market or in development.
The FDA and DMSO
In the first flush of enthusiasm over the drug, six pharmaceutical companies embarked on clinical studies. Then, in November 1965, a woman in Ireland died of an allergic reaction after taking DMSO and several other drugs. Although the precise cause of the woman’s death was never determined, the press reported it to be DMSO. Two months later, the FDA closed down clinical trials in the United States, citing the woman’s death and changes in the lenses of certain laboratory animals that had been given doses of the drug many times higher than would be given humans.
Some 20 years and hundreds of laboratory and human studies later, no other deaths have been reported, nor have changes in the eyes of humans been documented or claimed. Since then, however, the FDA has refused seven applications to conduct clinical studies, and approved only 1, for intersititial cystitis, which subsequently was approved for prescriptive use in 1978.
Dr. Jacob believes the FDA “blackballed” DMSO, actively trying to kill interest in a drug that could end much suffering. Jack de la Torre, MD, Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery and physiology at the University of New Mexico Medical School in Albuquerque, a pioneer in the use of DMSO and closed head injury, says, “Years ago the FDA had a sort of chip on its shoulder because it thought DMSO was some kind of snake oil medicine. There were people there who were openly biased against the compound even though they knew very little about it. With the new administration at that agency, it has changed a bit.” The FDA recently granted permission to conduct clinical trials in Dr. de la Torre’s field of closed head injury.
DMSO Penetrates Membranes and Eases Pain
The first quality that struck Dr. Jacob about the drug was its ability to pass through membranes, an ability that has been verified by numerous subsequent researchers.1 DMSO’s ability to do this varies proportionally with its strength–up to a 90 percent solution. From 70 percent to 90 percent has been found to be the most effective strength across the skin, and, oddly, performance drops with concentrations higher than 90 percent. Lower concentrations are sufficient to cross other membranes. Thus, 15 percent DMSO will easily penetrate the bladder.2
In addition, DMSO can carry other drugs with it across membranes. It is more successful ferrying some drugs, such as morphine sulfate, penicillin, steroids, and cortisone, than others, such as insulin. What it will carry depends on the molecular weight, shape, and electrochemistry of the molecules. This property would enable DMSO to act as a new drug delivery system that would lower the risk of infection occurring whenever skin is penetrated.
DMSO perhaps has been used most widely as a topical analgesic, in a 70 percent DMSO, 30 percent water solution. Laboratory studies suggest that DMSO cuts pain by blocking peripheral nerve C fibers.3 Several clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness,4,5 although in one trial, no benefit was found.6 Burns, cuts, and sprains have been treated with DMSO. Relief is reported to be almost immediate, lasting up to 6 hours. A number of sports teams and Olympic athletes have used DMSO, although some have since moved on to other treatment modalities. When administration ceases, so do the effects of the drug.
Dr. Jacob said at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Health in 1980, “DMSO is one of the few agents in which effectiveness can be demonstrated before the eyes of the observers….If we have patients appear before the Committee with edematous sprained ankles, the application of DMSO would be followed by objective diminution of swelling within an hour. No other therapeutic modality will do this.”
Chronic pain patients often have to apply the substance for 6 weeks before a change occurs, but many report relief to a degree they had not been able to obtain from any other source.
DMSO and Inflammation
DMSO reduces inflammation by several mechanisms. It is an antioxidant, a scavenger of the free radicals that gather at the site of injury. This capability has been observed in experiments with laboratory animals7 and in 150 ulcerative colitis patients in a double-blinded randomized study in Baghdad, Iraq.8 DMSO also stabilizes membranes and slows or stops leakage from injured cells.
At the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1978, 213 patients with inflammatory genitourinary disorders were studied. Researchers concluded that DMSO brought significant relief to the majority of patients. They recommended the drug for all inflammatory conditions not caused by infection or tumor in which symptoms were severe or patients failed to respond to conventional therapy.9
Stephen Edelson, MD, F.A.A.F.P., F.A.A.E.M., who practices medicine at the Environmental and Preventive Health Center of Atlanta, has used DMSO extensively for 4 years. “We use it intravenously as well as locally,” he says. “We use it for all sorts of inflammatory conditions, from people with rheumatoid arthritis to people with chronic low back inflammatory-type symptoms, silicon immune toxicity syndromes, any kind of autoimmune process.
“DMSO is not a cure,” he continues. “It is a symptomatic approach used while you try to figure out why the individual has the process going on. When patients come in with rheumatoid arthritis, we put them on IV DMSO, maybe three times a week, while we are evaluating the causes of the disease, and it is amazing how free they get. It really is a dramatic treatment.”
As for side effects, Dr. Edelson says: “Occasionally, a patient will develop a headache from it, when used intravenously–and it is dose related.” He continues: “If you give a large dose, [the patient] will get a headache. And we use large doses. I have used as much as 30ÝmlÝIV over a couple of hours. The odor is a problem. Some men have to move out of the room [shared] with their wives and into separate bedrooms. That is basically the only problem.”
DMSO was the first nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory discovered since aspirin. Mr. Bristol believes that it was that discovery that spurred pharmaceutical companies on to the development on other varieties of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. “Pharmaceutical companies were saying that if DMSO can do this, so can other compounds,” says Mr. Bristol. “The shame is that DMSO is less toxic and has less int he way of side effects than any of them.”
Collagen and Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a rare, disabling, and sometimes fatal disease, resulting form an abnormal buildup of collagen in the body. The body swells, the skin–particularly on hands and face–becomes dense and leathery, and calcium deposits in joints cause difficulty of movement. Fatigue and difficulty in breathing may ensue. Amputation of affected digits may be necessary. The cause of scleroderma is unknown, and, until DMSO arrived, there was no known effective treatment.
Arthur Scherbel, MD, of the department of rheumatic diseases and pathology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, conducted a study using DMSO with 42 scleroderma patients who had already exhausted all other possible therapies without relief. Dr. Scherbel and his coworkers concluded 26 of the 42 showed good or excellent improvement. Histotoxic changes were observed together with healing of ischemic ulcers on fingertips, relief from pain and stiffness, and an increase in strength. The investigators noted, “It should be emphasized that these have never been observed with any other mode of therapy.”10 Researchers in other studies have since come to similar conclusions.11
Does DMSO Help Arthritis?
It was inevitable that DMSO, with its pain-relieving, collagen-softening, and anti-inflammatory characteristics, would be employed against arthritis, and its use has been linked to arthritis as much as to any condition. Yet the FDA has never given approval for this indication and has, in fact, turned down three Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to conduct extensive clinical trials.
Moreover, its use for arthritis remains controversial. Robert Bennett, MD, F.R.C.P., F.A.C.R., F.A.C.P., professor of medicine and chief, division of arthritis and rheumatic disease at Oregon Health Sciences University (Dr. Jacob’s university), says other drugs work better. Dava Sobel and Arthur Klein conducted their own informal study of 47 arthritis patients using DMSO in preparation for writing their book, Arthritis: What Works, and came to the same conclusion.12
Yet laboratory studies have indicated that DMSO’s capacity as a free-radical scavenger suggests an important role for it in arthritis.13 The Committee of Clinical Drug Trials of the Japanese Rheumatism Association conducted a trial with 318 patients at several clinics using 90 percent DMSO and concluded that DMSO relieved joint pain and increased range of joint motion and grip strength, although performing better in more recent cases of the disease.14 It is employed widely in the former Soviet Union for all the different types of arthritis, as it is in other countries around the world.
Dr. Jacob remains convinced that it can play a significant role in the treatment of arthritis. “You talk to veterinarians associated with any race track, and you’ll find there’s hardly an animal there that hasn’t been treated with DMSO. No veterinarian is going to give his patient something that does not work. There’s no placebo effect on a horse.”
DMSO and Central Nervous System Trauma
Since 1971, Dr. de la Torre, then at the University of Chicago, has experimented using DMSO with injury to the central nervous system. Working with laboratory animals, he discovered that DMSO lowered intracranial pressure faster and more effectively than any other drug. DMSO also stabilized blood pressure, improved respiration, and increased urine output by five times and increased blood flow through the spinal cord to areas of injury.15-17 Since then, DMSO has been employed with human patients suffering severe head trauma, initially those whose intracranial pressure remained high despite the administration of mannitol, steroids, and barbiturates. In humans, as well as animals, it has proven the first drug to significantly lower intracranial pressure, the number one problem with severe head trauma.
“We believe that DMSO may be a very good product for stroke,” says Dr. de la Torre, “and that is a devastating illness which affects many more people than head injury. We have done some preliminary clinical trials, and there’s a lot of animal data showing that it is a very good agent in dissolving clots.”
Other Possible Applications for DMSO
Many other uses for DMSO have been hypothesized from its known qualities hand have been tested in the laboratory or in small clinical trials. Mr. Bristol speaks with frustration about important findings that have never been followed up on because of the difficulty in finding funding and because “to have on your resume these days that you’ve worked on DMSO is the kiss of death.” It is simply too controversial. A sampling of some other possible applications for this drug follows.
DMSO as long been used to promote healing. People who have it on hand often use it for minor cuts and burns and report that recovery is speedy. Several studies have documented DMSO use with soft tissue damage, local tissue death, skin ulcers, and burns.18-21
In relation to cancer, several properties of DMSO have gained attention. In one study with rats, DMSO was found to delay the spread of one cancer and prolong survival rates with another.22 In other studies, it has been found to protect noncancer cells while potentiating the chemotherapeutic agent.
Much has been written recently about the worldwide crisis in antibiotic resistance among bacteria (see Alternative & Complementary Therapies, Volume 2, Number 3, 1996, pages 140-144) Here, too, DMSO may be able to play a role. Researcher as early as 1975 discovered that it could break down the resistance certain bacteria have developed.23
In addition to its ability to lower intracranial pressure following closed head injury, Dr. de la Torre’s work suggests that the drug may actually have the ability to prevent paralysis, given its ability to speedily clean out cellular debris and stop the inflammation that prevents blood from reaching muscle, leading to the death of muscle tissue.
With its great antioxidant powers, DMSO could be used to mitigate some of the effects of aging, but little work has been done to investigate this possibility. Toxic shock, radiation sickness, and septicemia have all been postulated as responsive to DMSO, as have other conditions too numerous to mention here.
DMSO in the Future
Will DMSO ever sit on the shelves of pharmacies in this country as a legal prescriptive for many of the conditions it may be able to address? Will the studies we need to discover when this drug is most appropriate ever be done? Given the difficulties the drug has run into so far and the recent development of new drugs that perform some of the same functions, Mr. Bristol is doubtful. Others, however, such as Dr. Jacob and Dr. de la Torre, see the FDA approval of DMSO for interstitial cystitis and the more recent FDA go-ahead for DMSO trials with closed head injury as new indications of hope. The cystitis approval means that physicians may use it at their discretion for other uses, giving DMSO a new legitimacy.
Dr. Jacob continues to believe that DMSO should not even be called a drug but is more correctly a new therapeutic principle, with an effect on medicine that will be profound in many areas. Whether that is true cannot be known without extensive a publicly reported trials, which are dependent on the willingness of researchers to undertake rigorous studies in this still-unfashionable tack and of pharmaceutical companies and other investors to back them up. That this is a live issue is proved by the difficulty the investigators with approval to test DMSO for closed head injury clinically are having finding funds to conduct the trials.
In 1980, testifying before the Select Committee on Agin of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Scherbel said, “The controversy that exists over the clinical effectiveness of DMSO is not well-founded–clinical effectiveness may be variable in different patients. If toxicity is consistently minimal, the drug should not be restricted from practice. The clinical effectiveness of DMSO can be decided with complete satisfaction if the drug is made available to the practicing physician. The number of patient complaints about pain and the number of phone calls to the doctor’s office will decide quickly whether or not the drug is effective.”
It may be premature to call for the full rehabilitation of DMSO, but it is time to call for a full investigation of its true range of capabilities.
References
- Kolb, K.H., Jaenicke, G., Kramer, M., Schulze, P.E. Absorption, distribution, and elimination of labeled dimethyl sulfoxide in man and animals. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:85-95, 1967.
- Herschler, R., Jacob, S.W. The case of dimethyl sulfoxide. In: Lasagna, L. (Ed.), Controversies in Therapeutics. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1980.
- Evans, M.S., Reid, K.H., Sharp, J.B. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) blocks conduction in peripheral nerve C fibers: A possible mechanism of analgesia. Neurosci Lett 150:145-148, 1993.
- Demos, C.H., Beckloff, G.L., Donin, M.N., Oliver, P.M. Dimethyl sulfoxide in musculoskeletal disorders. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:517-523, 1967.
- Lockie, L.M., Norcross, B. A clinical study on the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide in 103 patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal injures and inflammation. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:599-602, 1967.
- Percy, E.C., Carson, J.D. The use of DMSO in tennis elbow and rotator cuff tendinitis: A double-blind study. Med Sci Sports Exercise 13:215-219, 1981.
- Itoh, M., Guth, P. Role of oxygen-derived free radicals in hemorrhagic shock-induced gastric lesions in the rat. Gastroenterology88:1126-1167, 1985.
- Salim, A.S., Role of oxygen-derived free radical scavengers in the management of recurrent attacks of ulcerative colitis: A new approach. J. Lab Clin Med 119:740-747, 1992.
- Shirley, S.W., Stewart, B.H., Mirelman, S. Dimethyl sulfoxide in treatment of inflammatory genitourinary disorders. Urology 11:215-220, 1978.
- Scherbel, A.L., McCormack, L.J., Layle, J.K. Further observations on the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide in patients with generalized scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis). Ann NY Acad Sci 141:613-629, 1967.
- Engel, M.F., Dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment of scleroderma. South Med J 65:71, 1972.
- Sobel, D., Klein, A.C. Arthritis: What Works. New York: St. Martins Press, 1989.
- Santos, L., Tipping, P.G. Attenuation of adjuvant arthritis in rats by treatment with oxygen radical scavengers. Immunol Cell Biol72:406-414, 1994.
- Matsumoto, J. Clinical trials of dimethyl sulfoxide in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Japan. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:560-568, 1967.
- de la Torre, J.C., et al. Modifications of experimental spinal cord injuries using dimethyl sulfoxide. Trans Am Neurol Assoc 97:230, 1971.
- de la Torre, J.C., et al. Dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment of experimental brain compression. J Neurosurg 38:343, 1972.
- de la Torre, J.C., et al. Dimethyl sulfoxide in the central nervous system trauma. Ann NY Acad Sci 243:362, 1975.
- Lawrence, H.H., Goodnight, S.H. Dimethyl sulfoxide and extravasion of anthracycline agents. Ann Inter Med 98:1025, 1983.
- Lubredo, L., Barrie, M.S., Woltering, E.A. DMSO protects against adriamycin-induced skin necrosis. J. Surg Res 53:62-65, 1992.
- Alberts, D.S., Dorr, R.T. Case report: Topical DMSO for mitomycin-C-induced skin ulceration. Oncol Nurs Forum 18:693-695, 1991.
- Cruse, C.W., Daniels, S. Minor burns: Treatment using a new drug deliver system with silver sulfadiazine. South Med J 82:1135-1137, 1989.
- Miller, L., Hansbrough, J., Slater, H., et al. Sildimac: A new deliver system for silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of full-thickness burn injuries. J Burn Care Rehab 11:35-41, 1990
- Salim, A. Removing oxygen-derived free radicals delays hepatic metastases and prolongs survival in colonic cancer. Oncology49:58-62, 1992.
- Feldman, W.E., Punch, J.D., Holden, P. In vivo and in vitro effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on streptomycin-sensitive and resistantEscherichia coli. Ann Acad Sci 141:231, 1967.
Source: Alternative & Complementary Therapies, July/August 1996, pages 230-235. DMSO Organization would like to thank the publisher for permission to place this fine article on the World Wide Web. The Publisher retains all copyright. To order reprints of this article, write to or call: Karen Ballen, Alternative & Complementary Therapies, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2 Madison Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538, (914) 834-3100.
Excellent article. I have tried topical application of DMSO I purchased as a horse ointment and got miraculous results on a joint and muscle injury.
I have heard that DMSO can also be used as a “piggyback” drug delivery system. Anyone out there heard anything about this?
I use MSM a derivative of DMSO. I used to have severe crippling Sciatica, and my life was endless days full or pain, and hopeless desperation. Even Narcotics didn’t take away the pain. Since MSM (and Noni Juice for awhile) I have not even felt my Sciatica in 8 years. Except for a couple of times I didn’t take it for a few months then it would start to come back. I am a concrete finisher and my knees were shot out too, and now they are perfectly healthy and never bother me at all. Do a search on it other than what I have posted below… it is a cure all… really!!! It works at the cellular level, and if your cells are functioning properly they they will start to fix everything else.
What is MSM ? This is just a basic description.. if you have problems do a thorough search on it… do a testimonial search on it
MSM (Methylsulphonylmethane) is a naturally occurring organic sulphur compound found in all living plant and animal tissues. It is essential for all bodily systems and normal organ functions. Since naturally occurring MSM is easily destroyed by food processing and constant utilization and excretion by the body, supplementation may be necessary to meet bodily requirements.
Sulphur is found in every cell in the body. It is structurally and functionally important to 150 compounds within the body, including tissues, enzymes, hormones, antibodies and antioxidants. Organic sulphur is known for its anti-inflammatory and circulation enhancing properties. The link between MSM and organic sulphur may explain the positive health benefits one receives after incorporating MSM into the diet.
Robert J. Herschler, an American chemist, began his study of MSM in 1955. His investigations subsequently leading to his securing a total of nine United States and several additional foreign patents governing the biological and cosmetic use of MSM.
Most health experts are familiar with dimethylsulphoxide, commonly known as DMSO. Thousands of studies have documented DMSO’s anti-inflammatory and circulation enhancing properties in treating a wide variety of medical conditions. MSM, methylsulphonylmethane, is a close chemical relative and the simplest organic dialkylsulphone which is emerging as one of the safest and most effective compounds in the support and maintenance of good health and vitality. Where DMSO was noted for bad breath and dry itchy skin (often experienced from ingesting too much yellow sulphur), MSM seems to provide all the benefits and advantages without the troublesome side effects of its predecessor.
MSM is a snow white, crystalline, water soluble, odorless and almost tasteless powder. It is neither a drug or food additive but what could be termed ‘a nutritional mineral’, such as sodium or sulphur required by the body for life processes.
MSM is an essential nutrient that has often been overlooked. According to Mr. Herschler, it is ‘shy, evasive, and escape-prone’. While not a problem within the marine life food chain, there is a problem within the terrestrial environment where it can be driven out of any food, plant, fish, meat, fruit or milk by even moderate processing including heating or drying.
MSM is the stable end-product of the methyl-S-methane series of compounds that provide all life with a dominant amount of bio-available sulphur. Together with its precursors, MSM is abundant in both the food chains of land and sea.
Sulphur is one of the essential minerals, ranked as a macronutrient in the vertebrate diet. Earlier methionine work and ongoing MSM research indicates that it is the structure of the sulphur donor molecule, not the amount of sulphur assayed in the diet of an animal or plant that is critical. The body must receive sulphur in the form of a sulphur donor molecule since it cannot assimilate elemental, yellow sulphur into the body.
The list of sulphur uses in the body is extensive. It includes hair, nails and skin, connective tissue and enzymes, hormones and immunoglobins. Without adequate and properly delivered sulphur , life functions as we know them would cease or be greatly inhibited. Without adequate sulphur tie-bars (-S-S- or disulphide bonds) of connective tissue, the body would be reduced to a pool of liquid protoplasm. Experimental findings suggest that MSM has a biological role as a cell wall stabilizing factor.
MSM has been chemically present on Earth for a very long time. During the development of all higher life-form genetic codes (and in-vivo synthesis so directed), three nutrients were always present; water, sodium chloride and MSM. MSM was a factor in the diets of our ancestors as far back as the middle ages. Since most modern-day diets in developed countries include a considerable amount of processed foods. MSM is normally present in very small quantities or missing altogether.
MSM Supports Multiple Structures and Functions in the Body.
Allergies: MSM is said to help fortify the body’s natural barriers against allergens. Oral MSM helps in the alleviation of allergic response to pollen and foods. Sulphur plays a major role in detoxification and elimination of free radicals. It also assists the integrity of the mucous membrane tissues.
Respiratory System: MSM helps strengthen the lungs, possibly regulating the fluid that covers the surface of the airways. It may provide relief from the symptoms of lung dysfunction by the plasticizing effect on the membranous surface of the lung involved in gas exchange.
Carbohydrate Metabolism: Sulphur is needed to produce insulin and other vital components that contribute to healthy carbohydrate metabolism. MSM helps make the cells more permeable allowing them to absorb blood sugar. Alpha Lipoic Acid, a sulphur containing compound, plays a role in the generation of energy and in glucose balance.
Hair, Skin and Nails: Sulphur is necessary for the production of collagen and keratin These proteins are essential for the health and maintenance of hair, skin and nails. Collagen binds the structures of skin together while keratin is the primary component in hair, nails, skin and tooth enamel. MSM enhances tissue pliability and encourages repair of damaged skin.
Gastro – intestinal: MSM helps promote good digestive and absorption of nutrients. It helps us to utilize the food we eat. Sulphur-bearing vitamins such as thiamine prevent constipation and biotin, another B vitamin, helps to metabolize and digest starches, fats and proteins.
Bones, Joints and Ligament’s: Sulphur is critical in the formation of collagen and glucosamine- which are vital components for healthy bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. Sulphur also makes cells more permeable, allowing nutrients and fluids to flow freely through the cells and remove toxins; ultimately reducing pain and inflammation.
MSM for Racing Pigeons, Cage & Aviary Birds & Domestic Animals.
MSM is ideally suited for racing pigeon’s and cage and aviary birds. Because it is said to help fortify the body’s natural barriers against allergens, it could play an important role in eliminating or reducing allergic reaction to dust particles often found in lofts, aviaries, cages, etc. Its potential to strengthen the lungs and regulate the fluid that covers the surface of the airways is another important factor in dealing with atmospheric pollution.
Efficient carbohydrate metabolism is one of the factors essential for health. This is particularly important where the basic diet is primarily one of seeds and cereals r complete food mixtures, in the case of dogs, cats and other domestic mammals. MSM helps make the cells more permeable, increasing their potential to absorb blood sugar.
Because sulphur is necessary for the production of collagen and keratin – proteins essential for the health and maintenance of skin, feathers and claws – MSM may help enhance tissue pliability and encourage the repair of damaged skin.
An efficient digestion in man, animal and birds is essential for the proper extraction of the nutrients contained in food. For example, thiamine – a sulphur bearing vitamin – helps in metabolizing and digesting fats, starches and proteins. This is particularly important for racing pigeons and other birds and animals for strenuous pursuits.
Sulphur is essential for the formation of a good skeletal structure, playing an important role in the formation of collagen and glucosamine – vital components for health bones, joints, ligament’s and suchlike. It also helps to efficiently remove toxins from the system – an important health factor.
Varying amounts of sulphur are present in grasses, seeds, cereals and other freshly harvested, uncooked foods. However, such amounts vary considerably because of soil quality, harvesting techniques, type and length of storage and many other factors. Because of these imponderables, it is impossible to assess the amount of sulphur contained in food at any one time, unless such food is scientifically analyzed immediately before feeding – a practical impossibility for most people!
To make certain that sufficient sulphur is contained in the diet, daily supplementation is the obvious course. The following maintenance dosages will be found adequate in most cases.
Dosages:
Where a particular health problem exists for which MSM may be considered remedial or helpful, the dosage may be increased to 1.2 a level teaspoon to 250mls of water or pro rata.
Racing Pigeons, Cage & Aviary Birds. Domestic Animals: 1/4 level teaspoonful of MSM to 250 mils of water or pro-rata. Stir until powder is dissolved and feed fresh daily.
Why Use MSM ?
MSM is versatile in its application and can be used alone or in combination with other active ingredients.
MSM is a water soluble white crystalline powder which blends easily with any mixture.
MSM is odorless and non-allergenic.
MSM has no known toxicity assuring safe use and handling.
MSM is patented and licensed material which provides assurance of its value in the nutritional and cosmetic industries.
MSM can be added to soft food mixes for birds and other animal foods if preferred. Because birds and animals often do not drink water on a regular basis, the addition of the powder to daily food ration, etc., may be considered more beneficial. Either way, the matter is one for individual judgment and preference.
The combination of MSM and Colloidal Silver may offer additional health advantages when fed on a regular basis. For example, both elements can be mixed into the drinking water or other foods as desired without detriment to their efficacy.
This is the cheapest place to buy it. This will last you about 3-4 years
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Thanks again Smilardog.
Smilardog, I have a question for you. Post back at me on this article as soon as you see this, o.k.?
#1
Reporting in for the question????
I have an article that I’ve had half written for a couple of weeks now, and it’s on this very subject. What I have so far is my personal testimony about MSM, and what I don’t have is the actual information about it written up yet. You have far more already in your comment than I had planned on posting in the article. Would you consider combining the two, sending it in to Henry under both our names, and posting as an article? Your comment/information is outstanding enough to post as an article on its own merit. I would greatly appreciate it, it would save me a lot of time. I’m a one finger typist, and what you wrote would take me an hour or more at least to manage.
btw, FAR more people would see it in an article format than in the comment section of just one article. 🙂
I am sure that we could put something together. The info that I put down about MSM I just copied and pasted off the web from a quick search. I would like to contribute to doing something though, because MSM is a really good healer of just about anything, not to mention that it is a great de-toxer. I mean it flat out will flush a life time of toxins out of your cells. Ask, Henry for my email and send me what you got so far, and I will read it and get back to you tomorrow. It would be great to get the word out on MSM, and get people the help they need to heal
If you copied and pasted, you’ll need to check to see if it’s copyrighted.
Well, there are articles out their that are much more better, I just didn’t have time to hunt them down. But, maybe could write something taking quotes out of a bunch of articles and then just list all of the sources at the end of it.
Smilardog, thanks for the info. Always looking for alternatives.
Wow! There isn’t much difference between Veterinarian and Naturopathic supplements. I’ll bet I could take my cat off of Adequan shots (I give every 3 weeks) which is nothing more than (Novartis) glucosamin/condroitin for arthritis and put her on MSM. I’ll have to check into this. Would save me alot of $$’s.
Thanks for this Smilardog.
. . .
Hey Cathleen, for years now I have raised my 4 children and used a legal way to acquire antibiotics without prescription and the office visit charge. Look in aquarium supplies for fish tank antibiotics and you can find most. They probably have better quality control than the ones we’re prescribed at $120.00 per visit. Less than $30.00 for 100 tabs at 250mgs. used them for years with good results.
Cathleen, about a year and half ago, my cat started limping one day. I figured she’d get over it on her own, but it only got worse. So after about three weeks, I started mixing MSM (I’ve been taking it for about 15 yrs.) in water, then mixing it into her canned food. She stopped limping after about a week or so, and I’ve been giving it to her ever since. No health problems yet.
Thank you Paraclete for the article!
I am really behind in reading, have been trying to catch up the past few….. days…
#1 I was wondering why you didn’t do your article on MSM yet 🙂 Thank you Smilardog for the info you posted! I’m looking forward to you guys putting your info together and posting it!!!!!!!!
Hey guys, I am allergic to sulfa drugs big time (I looked like a red bloated chinese balloon face, my pharmacist didn’t even recognize me)! but am thinking that is because it was a synthetic sulfa/sulfar antibiotic yes? or it’s something totally different.
My foot is still not healed yet, I have one more round of Cheph 1000mg qid, that I’m not going to do (First day w/o pain meds tho….) I’m going to buy the DSMO and try that. A friend told me she bought a jar of it at Target without a script. Does that sound right, that it’s OTC?
Well, I hope this isn’t so old that you guys that know, will let me know 🙂 Am going tomorrow if I can’t find it DMSO OTC will stop at friends house and get a bit 🙂
Going to be ordering supps too (Was going to tonight but will wait to find out if can take MSM if would be allergic?) and try the MSM. Let me know okay? TY 🙂
Oh and Millard! Love your antibiotic discovery!!!!!!!! Used to have Koi 🙂
I have got DMSO from “Mother Natures” health food store. I got roll on DMSO and some other DMSO that is not roll on. No script required. When I had MRSA they had me on some realy weird anti- biotics 4 of them infact. I did a lot of blood cleaners and liver builders since though and I have not had any prob.s. and I had my MRSA about 12 – 13 yr.s ago – it almost killed me. In fact they had me on such high doses of morophine that I quit smoking cigarettes while on a morophine dream in the hospital – Millard was there and never thought I would quit LOL, I learned how to use Morophine yr.s ago. In fact Mllard and his son were the ones to get me to get checked out and they – the doctors – took me imediately to surgery – I hate hospitals and Dr.s but I guess Millard did save my life on that one for sure. They said that I would have dierd in a day if I didn`t get it taken care of – ya see RT Hawk, I went septic and didn`t even know I was so bad because of being septic. Mrsa is a killer for sure, and it is hard to beat.
Hey Digger,
I’m glad your still here Digger! TY Millard & Son!
You are a treasure! 🙂
Digger, the doc doesn’t know what I have. It was diagnosed as staph/mrsa at first because of lesion and blisters and negative for fungal.
1st culture didn’t show any growth after 72 hrs., (After on antibiotic for wk.) back on 3 more wks antibiotic (<Abt., I think?) back to Dr. after busted open again and oozing, 2nd culture and finish biotics.
Off biotics abt. 3 days busted open again oozing.
Dr. said surgery hospital, I said No freakin way, he opened and drained again in his office (I see my time space is off here newho) 3-12 day 1000mg 4xa day, 3 rounds. I am stopping/ed biotics from second round about 3 days ago (Still changing dressing and applying biotic oint) this crap on my foot is something unknown to Dr., tho he's drained a Lot of crap from it x3….nasty freakin' thick nasty stuff, has an odor too ick! New something? Frick his stuff isn't working, trying what probably will 🙂 I hope!
Thanks for answering me!
He didn't give me morphine (Probably woulda worked) because I wouldn't take the pain med q4h as he said to, q6h then 5 1/2, then 5hrs. 1/2 at a time 1/2-1 hr. apart and no more than 2 a day. Heck woulda been stoned out of my mind if I took it every 4 hrs.!
I was septic a couple of times, yeah hard to think and drive for sure!
eh, why I did the antibiotics……leaning towards sepsis thinking again? Like I can't get enough sleep.
Thanks again for getting back w/me Digger, going to get my crap together and go and get both tomorrow DSMO and MSM at our organic foods store 🙂
To our continued good health! Cheers! TY again!
Make yourself a gallon of strong colloidal silver water and completely emerge your foot in it until it shrivels up. I can’t imagine anything living through that. Just what I would do anyway.
Hey Henry,
Yeah, Dr. has me doing betadine soaks…..Hebaclens in shower.
Colloidal Silver makes more sense, an Uncle sent me a wire and instructions a long time ago, shoulda kept it closer at hand. Would rather it shrivel up than have it cut off 🙂 something seriously thinking about.
Yeah, Digger right about not thinking right.
Thank you Henry, I’ll update in a few days or try to call in Monday if all goes well 🙂
I was in the hosp. quarentine when they had me on morophine, yea for 4 day on realy high doses. Ya see RT, morophine had a problem with me back in the 70`s and 80`s and now I have to be admitted to get any controled stuff. I learn how to work and use that stuff on the street way back in the day. Haven`t used at all except for that stint with MRSA though – and I don`t even jones for it :)…………….. LOOK OUT FOR THAT MRSA eh there RT!!!, it is nothing to fool with. I haven`t been sick at all sinse I had that but I do do a lot of natural/herbal blood cleaners etc.. Ya know if you want have Henry or #1 give you my e-mail add. RT.
Yeah, That is good Digger Henry can give you mine as well which ever way ya want to go 🙂 I think #1 is sleeping, I haven’t seen a comment from him lately hehe! And yeah, had the feeling to do a clens big time lately.
Probably good thing I didn’t have it eh 🙂 and glad ya don’t jones for it!!!!!Oh! forgot to say ConGrat’s on the quitting smoking before (however ya did it 🙂
And like I tell my son, the past is the past….for a reason 🙂
Hey RT, yes I’ve been slacking this week, but for a couple of reasons. We had TWO containers this week, back to back, and that’s always the part of my job that is toughest on me. The other one, though, is the one that’s REALLY pissing me off. My boss isn’t allowing me to use my computer at work at all since last Friday (the bast@rd), and it’s killing me. Haven’t been able to listen to Henry’s show since Monday (took that day off). Hopefully that won’t last much longer, I haven’t talked to him at all this week, and he can only take that for so long before he’ll capitulate.
I’m going to go get some dinner now, but I’ll be back online in about 45 mins. or so. 🙂
That would be good RT. Henry can give it to you or to me 🙂 . It would be good.:)
Hey #1, don’t feel too bad, slacking bad here, no containers even to blame 🙁
Man, wonder whats behind ur boss’ behavior?
LOL! I’d be saying bast@rd too if I couldn’t listen to WFTT!
Have an Awesome dinner!
There’s one more reason I haven’t been posting comments as much lately, (but don’t tell Henry or I’ll be in big trouble). LOL. I don’t have much of a social life anymore, because most of my friends deserted me after I started wearing a tin foil hat a few years ago. Other than FTT, Starbucks is the only place I hang out, and I’ve actually made a number of new friends there. Some of them are even awake, and sometimes I get into some very interesting conversations there, and might go a half hour or longer between comments. Just last night I met a young lady there (her first time), we talked for a while, and then she read my article on cancer (I still think that was my best one) She really liked it (and didn’t even mind the hat).
That said, I’ve GOT to wear my boss down, so I can start listening to The Word again. I’m really jonesing here. 🙂
p.s. just sent digger your #, I don’t have your e-mail.
oops my bad. I just checked my texts, and I do have it. I’ll send it now.
Do research about this stuff – ya know DMSO. I do not know if that would help your infection or not. Henry has a excelent reccomendation about that colloidal silver too RT…….. Have you ever been checked for diabetes or do you have a family history of that. Has your Dr.asked you about that? You may be diabetic.
Will do. Yep Henry does!
Yeah (did FBS test long ago), it runs in my blood, I am hypoglycemic at times, since teens.
Mom was diabetic.
I watch that, pokey finger 🙂
Still hypo if I forget to eat sometimes, but watch diet, eating and exercise pretty closely.
I did think about that.
So far doesn’t look like that or smell like that.
I go to my Dr. because my Dr. knows I know maybe more than him in some areas (He is extremely good in pharmacology tho).
I usually go in and tell him what I need. This case I followed, good point Digger! 🙂 I know what I would have ordered for someone else, which was what I was going to do hehe! he seemed so sure his antibiotic would take care of it……….
Oh and P.S., I thought I’d make it look like I’m talking to myself again.
Not! hehe! but I am sorry I am so behind in reading articles. Lately just time to pick a few each day and lucky to catch WFTT, this foot infection is knocking me on my hiney Big Time! Sorry again about catching up!
Take care of that infection OK RT !!! I know that that will wear ya right out. Study up on some of those herbals and stuff. I know #1 is good with some good stuff especially B17 and MSM ya know. I got some realy good sources for herbal/culinary/medicinal herbs and spices also. Those that I got were going to be my suppliers for my business, but I lost it, however you can still do excellent business with them. Like I said, RT , ask #1 or Henry for my mail add..
Txtd #1 Digger, told him ok 🙂 and sorry for interrupting his dinner 🙁
TY for all the info Digger and Henry! Appreciated!