DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)

What is DMSO ?

DMSO is a powerful health therapy tool having 2 main purposes

Available as a liquid or gel it is used externally as a:

1. Medicine Carrier / Cell membrane penetrant.  Useful for carrying therapy ingredient into body through the skin and into cells
2. Precursor to anti-inflammatory MSM (methylsulfonylmethane).  This active form of DMSO provides organic sulfur for symptomatic relief of inflammation and pain

DMSO is a 100% natural, organic substance.

A byproduct of the lumber industry with a slight smell of garlic.

DMSO is a byproduct of kraft pulping (the "sulfate process" for manufacturing wood pulp, consisting mostly of cellulose fibers) in the production of paper.    Wood chips are treated with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide to break the bonds between cellulose and lignin, the natural material that bonds tree cells together.

Crown Zellerbach, a timber processing company, attempted to get rid of this so called 'waste' by spraying it on dirt roads to compact the earth. However, various animals would come and lick it up, and deer would even lick six inch potholes in the road in their determination to obtain this substance. Dr. Stanley Jacob of the Oregon Health Sciences University observed this and later identified this "lip-smacking" substance as DMSO, a healing penetrant that instantly soaks in through the skin and reduces pain.

15% of DMSO is converted to its active form MSM in the body. 

Whether taken orally, intravenously, or applied topically. MSM is equivalent to DMSO but contains an additional oxygen atom - actually making it DMSO₂.

• MSM is ~ 34% sulfur by weight.    Sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in the body after calcium and phosphorus and is considered by some to be a much depleted mineral in many people - likely a major reason why DMSO /MSM is able to achieve its healing results.

MSM - Dietary sulfur

Sulfur - Healing Mineral

MSM is a nutrient found in many foods.   Unpasteurized milk is a particularly rich dietary source of MSM, and small amounts of MSM are found in fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, wheatgrass juice, rain water and aloe vera. Food refining and processing reduces MSM content, much the way it reduces vitamin and mineral levels.

DMSO / MSM is normally present in the bodies of people and animals.    In significant amounts in nerve tissue, skin, hair and joints. Milk from mammals has a high concentration. Its presence decreases with age.

DMSO is a carrier and cell penetrant

DMSO is able to quickly penetrate through the skin and into the body's cells.  By way of illustration, a minute or two after rubbing some DMSO on the soles of your feet, you would taste its "garlicky" presence in your mouth. Furthermore, DMSO can pass the blood / brain barrier, making it useful for accessing problems in the brain or nerves.

DMSO can also be combined with other substances and carry them inside body cells.   E.g. rubbing a  mixture of vitamin C with DMSO will carry vitamin C into the body.  Combining DMSO with cesium chloride (as used in a powerful anti-cancer therapy) would carry its extremely alkaline cesium inside cells, whether the mixture was taken orally or rubbed on the skin.

For details of DMSO's many health-beneficial functions:     Health functions of DMSO

DMSO is the only coxib-class NSAID approved by the FDA for treating interstitial cystitis

Commonly used as an anti-inflammatory / painkiller for horses, but the FDA has only approved its use for humans in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

DMSO Types and Strengths?

DMSO comes as a liquid or gel in various strengths and can be bought scented.    It can also be bought combined with aloe vera instead of water

The recommended DMSO strength is 70%.    i.e. 70% DMSO (99.9% pure) and 30% distilled water or aloe vera juice. 90% DMSO can also be used with care.

Warning: DMSO should not be used with rubber and some plastics

DMSO is a solvent for rubber and some plastics.  If DMSO comes into contact with them and reacts with them, DMSO will carry the toxicreaction products into the body

Do not use rubber gloves.    PERIOD!

Test plastics for reactivity before using them to store or apply DMSO

• Test plastic containers (including nebulizers), gloves, or plastic bags used to cover hands.   By leaving material in contact with some DMSO for 24 hours to see if material has been affected / altered in any way. See chart for a list of plastic types that DMSO do and do not react with:

DMSO compatibility with plastic types and other materials

• Some DMSO products are sold in glass, more are sold in HDPE plastic containers

A few people have a DMSO Allergy

A very few people are allergic to DMSO, usually meaning that they have weak liver function.    Can result in a bad reaction from using DMSO.

The following test is recommended to check for an allergy to DMSO:

How to test for DMSO allergy