DMSO Health Benefits
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Antibiotic
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Researchers as early as 1975 discovered that DMSO could break down resistance
developed by certain bacteria.
Feldman, W.E., Punch, J.D., Holden, P. In vivo
and in vitro effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on streptomycin-sensitive and
resistant Escherichia coli. Ann Acad Sci 141:231,
1967.
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Arthritis(Osteoarthritis)
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DMSO can relieve joint pain, increase range of
motion and increase grip strength in arthritis, but DMSO works best of all
in osteoarthritis - Patients of all ages get good results, no matter
how long or how severe the condition. Larger joints - hip, knee, shoulder
- may require longer treatment.In the largest study, in Germany, over 1641
patients applied topical DMSO 2-4 times /day for the first week, then twice/day
for the remainder of 2-6 months, until remission of symptoms occurred. 851
one patients enjoyed full remission, 553 had partial relief, and 237 reported
no benefit.
In another study with 152 patients, a 90% solution of DMSO was applied
topically 4 times /day to the joints and surrounding areas. Patients reported
considerable pain relief just minutes after application, lasting 4-6 hours.
Almost 85% reported significant results.
Steinberg A. The employment of dimethyl sulfoxide
as an antiinflammatory agent and steroid-transporter in diversified clinical
diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):532-50.
In a Russian test, scientists concluded that:
"the use of DMSO for inflammatory and degenerative
joint disease is well founded. Treatment with DMSO in different combinations
is tolerated well by patients and adverse side effects are seldom encountered."
DMSO is most effective for those who have had
arthritis for a short time - Although it relieves pain in both acute
and chronic arthritis, it works best in the acute forms, due to DMSO's reducing
inflammation and autoimmune antibodies that damage or destroy tissue. It
also prevents free radicals from destroying lubricating fluid in the joints.
DMSO injections (rather than application
to the skin) may be indicated in really severe conditions
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Arthritis(Rheumatoid
arthritis)
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Sometimes it works for RA, sometimes it doesn't
- Although controversial, DMSO's pain-relieving, collagen-softening,
and anti-inflammatory characteristics make it a likely choice against arthritis.
Not only has the FDA not given approval for this use, but has instead turned
down 3 Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to conduct extensive
clinical trials.
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.
Sobel, D., Klein, A.C. Arthritis: What Works.
New York: St. Martins
Yet laboratory studies have indicated that DMSO's capacity as a free-radical
scavenger suggests an important role for it in arthritis.
Santos, L., Tipping, P.G. Attenuation of adjuvant
arthritis in rats by treatment with oxygen radical scavengers. Immunol
Cell Biol 72:406-414, 1994
The Committee of Clinical Drug Trials of the
Japanese Rheumatism Association conducted a trial with 318 patients at several
clinics using 90% DMSO for 4 weeks 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.
Matsumoto, J. Clinical trials of dimethyl sulfoxide
in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Japan. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:560-568,
1967.
The former Soviet Union and other countries use DMSO for different
types 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."
- Dr. Jacob
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Burns/Sunburn
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A 50-100% solution, applied as quickly as possible
after the burn, can ease pain and diminish scarring.
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Bursitis
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DMSO relieves acute bursitis 80-90% of the time
- Even in chronic bursitis
with calcium deposits, DMSO brings good results in weeks to months, and
the calcium deposits eventually fade away. DMSO research: A study involving
293 patients with acute bursitis showed complete relief in
136 patients, partial relief in 121, and 36 with no change. In the same
study, of 782 patients with chronic bursitis, 345 experienced
complete relief, 321 showed partial remission, and 116 saw no change in
three months. The protocol was 5 ml (1 tsp.) of 90% DMSO topically applied
to the affected and surrounding area 2-4 times/day.
John H,
Laudahn G. Clinical experiences
with the topical application of DMSO in orthopedic diseases: evaluation
of 4180 cases.Ann
N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):506-16.
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Cancer
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One rat study found DMSO to delay the spread
of one cancer and prolong survival rates with another.
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
In other studies, it has been found to protect non-cancerous cells
while potentiating the chemotherapeutic agent.
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CNS Trauma /Paralysis
/Stroke
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DMSO quickly and effectively lowers intracranial
pressure - Since 1971, Dr. de la Torre, then at the Universityof
Chicago, has experimented using DMSO with injury to the CNS.
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.
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.
Since then, DMSO has used for human patients suffering severe head
trauma, in those whose intracranial pressure initially remained high, despite
the administration of mannitol, steroids, and barbiturates.
In addition to its ability to lower intracranial pressure following
closed head injury, Dr. de la Torre's work suggests that DMSO may
prevent paralysis, given its ability to speedily clean out cellular debris,
stopping the inflammation that leads to muscle tissue deathby preventing
blood from reaching muscle
DMSO has proven to be the first substance to significantly lower intracranial
pressure, the number one problem with severe head trauma, in humans and
animals.
"We believe that DMSO may be a very good
product for stroke 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."
- Dr. de la Torre
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Frostbite
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People using DMSO even up to 24 hours after the
frostbite showed total recovery.
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Frozen shoulder
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A 70% solution of DMSO can relieve pain and increase
mobility - Apply for up to a month.
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Healing
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Used for minor cuts and burns with reports of
speedy recovery - Several studies have documented DMSO use with soft
tissue damage, local tissue death, skin ulcers, and burns.
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.
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Hemorrhoids
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Apply a 70 % solution to the hemorrhoid for quick
relief of pain and swelling.
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Injuries / Inflammation
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DMSO's abilities to reduce inflammatory/pain
and increase circulation produces impressive results - with
strains, sprains, bruising, bone fractures, whiplash, athletic
injuries etc: especially if treatment is begun s oner rather
than later.
Expect pain relief within 20 minutes - swelling is
dispelled almost completely within a few hours of application. Apply 90%
solution topically 2-4 times daily.Swollen ankles reportedly shrink in less
than an hour.
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Insect stings
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Immediate topical application on bee/wasp
stings stops pain and swelling in minutes - Nothing beats DMSO
for this use!
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Interstitial cystitis
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In the study that prompted the only current FDA
approval of DMSO, 64 % of the men and 54 % of the women obtained relief
of symptoms
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Muscle spasms,
(including nighttime muscle cramps)
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DMSO helps remove toxins and waste material and
improves circulation in the muscles to help relieve muscle spasms.
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Neuritis
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The pain of this nerve inflammation is relieved
from 50 - 95 % of the time.
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Pain
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Peyronies disease
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Topical application to the penis removes pain
about 50% of the time.
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Prostatitis
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About 75 % of those treated may get relief from
associated pain.
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Pruritis ani
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Up to 90% of those affected find relief from
rectal itching and pain from the application of 70% DMSO to the anal area.
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Sciatic nerve pain
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Apply DMSO topically
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Scleroderma
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This rare, disabling, sometimes fatal disease, results from 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 there is no effective mainstream 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 co-workers 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."
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.
Researchers in other studies have since come to similar conclusions.
Engel, M.F., Dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment
of scleroderma. South Med J 65:71, 1972.
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Tendonitis
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Applied regularly, DMSO eases the pain of tennis
elbow, golf elbow, tendonitis of the foot/ankle - A study of 50 patients
showed significant results in 94% of patients. A 90% solution was applied
to the area every 4 hours at the beginning, then decreased for the remainder
of the treatment period. Patients usually found relief within 10-15 fifteen
minutes following the treatment.
Steinberg A. The employment of dimethyl sulfoxide
as an antiinflammatory agent and steroid-transporter in diversified clinical
diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):532-50.
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