Heal Yourself At Home

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NEWSTARTS CHART

Nine Life Choices for Vibrant Health

N E W S T A R T S

Attend to Diet, Lifestyle & Emotional State

Why do this?

Nutrition

Exercise

Water

Sunlight

Thoughts

Air

Rest

Trust

Sex

Antibiotic	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.
Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)	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
Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis)	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. MartinsYet 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, 1994The 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
Burns/Sunburn	A 50-100% solution, applied as quickly as possible after the burn, can ease pain and diminish scarring.
Bursitis	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.
Cancer	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, 1990In other studies, it has been found to protect non-cancerous cells while potentiating the chemotherapeutic agent.
CNS Trauma /Paralysis/Stroke	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 muscleDMSO 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
Frostbite	People using DMSO even up to 24 hours after the frostbite showed total recovery.
Frozen shoulder	A 70% solution of DMSO can relieve pain and increase mobility - Apply for up to a month.
Healing	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.
Hemorrhoids	Apply a 70 % solution to the hemorrhoid for quick relief of pain and swelling.
Injuries / Inflammation	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.
Insect stings	Immediate topical application on bee/wasp stings stops pain and swelling in minutes - Nothing beats DMSO for this use!
Interstitial cystitis	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
Muscle spasms (including nighttime muscle cramps)	DMSO helps remove toxins and waste material and improves circulation in the muscles to help relieve muscle spasms.
Neuritis	The pain of this nerve inflammation is relieved from 50 - 95 % of the time.
Pain
Peyronies disease	Topical application to the penis removes pain about 50% of the time.
Prostatitis	About 75 % of those treated may get relief from associated pain.
Pruritis ani	Up to 90% of those affected find relief from rectal itching and pain from the application of 70% DMSO to the anal area.
Sciatic nerve pain	Apply DMSO topically
Scleroderma	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.
Tendonitis	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.