DMSO & MSM

DMSO or Dimethyl Sulfoxide: I would use with caution, both internally and externally. Potentially very useful, but I’ve tended to stay away from consistent use. There are many books and research on the benefits of DMSO, which essentially allow cell walls to be more permeable, thereby allowing nutrients in and toxins out of the cells. But at the same time, this permeability potentially allows for other non-beneficial nutrients to enter the cell. Therefore, choosing a high-quality DMSO product is essential and honestly, if you intend to use it frequently I would do more research on your own or use under the supervision of a seasoned practitioner. DMSO is known to be an aggressive free radical scavenger.

What I can say is that DMSO is also used as an industrial solvent (which sounds pretty scary, and is one of the reasons I use it very infrequently). And the permeability works both ways as it can transport anything harmful that you come in contact with into the cell as well.  It is also very popular in the equine community, particularly to reduce inflammation in race horses. As a result, there are numerous low quality (i.e. low purity) products on the market. Purity is essential, even a 99% or 99.9% is not pure enough. Who knows what the remaining 1% or 0.1% is, which will be easier absorbed into your cells in the presence of the DMSO.

Jacob labs (https://jacoblab.com/OrderDMSO99.html) makes a 99.98% purity product and I would pay $5 more for the glass bottle.  Higher purity products are available from some pharmaceutical companies, but you will be paying a premium for the purity. It may be worth it, it may not. I believe there is a lot of potential with this chemical, but more research needs to be done, particularly on how it’s administered and optimal dosage, which is also unique to the individual.

As for MSM or methylsulfonylmethane, like DMSO it is also sulfur based, it is not considered a solvent and so can more easily be sold over the counter.

While likely too simplified, I think of MSM as a safer version of DMSO, as it is naturally occurring in the body and has little to no of the side effect that DMSO have, such as rashes, bloating, headaches, and the like.

Sulfur is a very important mineral in the body’s detoxing process, and one that is often deficient in our modern diets. Sulfur plays a critical role in detoxification, and also in inflammatory conditions. For detoxification, sulfur is part of one of the most important antioxidants that your body produces: glutathione. Without sulfur, glutathione cannot work.

Other benefits:

• Helps in conditions like asthma
• Helpful in allergies
• Helpful in maintaining a proper pH balance
• Helps cure gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, nausea, constipation and hyperacidity
• Helps reduce snoring, when taken diluted with 16 percent water content
• Helps conditions like cramps, headaches and muscular pain, especially caused by hormonal imbalance
• Heals carpal tunnel syndrome
• Helps balance your blood sugar level
• Reduces overall stress levels