What is Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
In 1866, Russian scientist Alexander Saytzeff isolated a most curious and peculiar chemical compound. It was crystalline, odor-less, non-toxic and had a garlic-like taste when consumed. At the time, Saytzeff had no way to predict that his discovery was going to prove highly controversial throughout its entire medical history, that it was going to be tested in thousands of studies and provide miraculous relief for numerous patients. I'm talking here about dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an organic sulfur compound which was used only as an industrial solvent, that is, until its medical properties were discovered in 1963 by a research team headed by Stanley W. Jacob, MD. DMSO is a by-product of kraft pulping (the 'sulfate process') which converts wood into wood pulp leaving almost pure cellulose fibers. As industrial as it may sound, the process simply entails a treatment of wood chips with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, known as white liquor, breaking the bonds which link lignin (from the Latin word lignum, meaning wood) to the cellulose. DMSO is useful as a pain reliever and also in burns, acne, arthritis, mental retardation, strokes, amyloidosis, head injury, scleroderma, it soothes toothaches, eases headaches, hemorroids, muscle strains, it prevents paralysis from spinal-chord injuries and softens scar tissues. In fact, it is useful in well over 300 ailments and is safe to use.
You might think that a compound that has so many alleged uses and benefits should be automatically suspect, so let's have a close look at its properties and the data available and we'll shed some light in this miraculous chemical. Sulfur: The Stuff of Life DMSO is an intermediate product of the global Sulfur Cycle which distributes bioavailable sulfur for all animal and plant life (Parcell, 2002). Sulfur compounds are found in all body cells and are indispensable for life, they are needed for a number of chemical reactions involved in the detoxification of drugs and other harmful toxins, and they have potential clinical applications in the treatment of a number of conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, athletic injuries, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and AIDS (Parcell, 2002). Among the sulfur compounds, DMSO is probably the one that has the widest range and greatest number of therapeutic applications ever shown for any other single chemical. It has around 40 pharmacological properties that may be beneficial in the prevention, relief or reversal of numerous diseases (Morton, 1993).
Someone complained to Dr. Jacob of a splitting headache and had them apply some DMSO. The headache was gone in minutes, came back in four hours, and left for good after DMSO was applied a second time. Used for one purpose, sometimes it did another; put on a cold sore, within a few hours it cleared up a woman's sinusitis. A woman who had had a stroke found after DMSO was painted on her painful jaw that she could now write with her paralyzed hand and could walk better. (Haley, 2000)
Therapeutic Properties DMSO is an effective pain killer, blocking nerve conduction fibers that produce pain. It reduces inflammation and swelling by reducing inflammatory chemicals. It improves blood supply to an area of injury by dilating blood vessels and increasing delivery of oxygen and by reducing blood platelet stickiness. It stimulates healing, which is a key to its usefulness in any condition. It is among the most potent free radical scavengers known to man, if not the most potent one. This is a crucial mechanism since some molecules in our bodies produce an unequal number of electrons and the instability of the number causes them to destroy other cells. DMSOhooks on to those molecules and they are then expelled from the body with the DMSO.
DMSO also penetrates the skin and the blood-brain barrier with ease, penetrating tissues, and entering the bloodstream. Furthermore,DMSO protects the cells from mechanical damage and less of it is needed to achieve results as time passes as oppossed to most pharmaceuticals where increasing doses are required. It has a calming effect in the central nervous system and it reaches all areas of the body, when absorbed through the skin, including the brain. That is, DMSO applied to one area often leads to pain relief in some other location due to its systemic effect. It acts as a carrier for other substances or drugs and it also potentiates their effect. In fact, certain drugs dissolved in DMSO, such as corticoids, antibiotics and insulin, may be used in a lower dose than usual without reducing their therapeutic efficacy and in addition, their undesirable side effects are greatly diminished. Also, drugs are able to pass through the blood-brain barrier which is usually impenetrable. DMSO promotes the excretion of urine and functions as a muscle relaxant. It boosts the immune system, increasing the production of white cells and macrophages that destroy foreign material and pathogens in the body. It also has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. DMSO also increases the permeability of cell membranes, allowing a flushing of toxins from the cell.
DMSO has radioprotective properties against lethal and mutagenic effects of X-rays in cells, cellular systems and whole animals. It also has cryoprotective properties, meaning that it is capable of protecting against injury due to freezing. DMSO has also been shown to have cholinesterase properties (Sams, 1967), in other words, it inhibits an enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine, increasing both the level and duration of action of this important neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine is responsible for learning and memory and is also calming and relaxing. Acetylcholine is also a major factor in regulating the immune system, acting as a major brake on inflammation in the body. As a source of sulfur, DMSO aids in heavy metal detoxification. Sulfur binds with toxic heavy metals (mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, nickel) and eliminates them via urination, defecation and sweating.
FDA and Big Pharma Obstacles
DMSO is sold in health food stores, mail-order outlets, on the Internet, and in most countries around the world. It is used by millions for its health benefits yet in the U.S., DMSO has FDA approval only as a preservative of stem cells, bone marrow cells, and organs for transplant, and for interstitial cystitis - a painful inflammatory condition of the bladder which is very difficult to treat with other therapies. That DMSO has not found favor as a remedy for other medical conditions is partly due to the inability to test it in double-blind experiments. Blind studies, as the name suggests, requires that a study be done without knowing which patient is taking the placebo or the drug. In the case of the DMSO, a blind study is impossible since the peculiar garlic-like taste and smell (no matter the route of application) gives it away and no satisfactory placebo could be devised that would mimic this particular effect of DMSO (Steinberg, 1967).
If you search for DMSO on the U.S. National Library of Medicine (pubmed.gov), you'll get almost 30,000 indexed results, making it one of the most studied compounds of our time. Yet, we are led to believe that DMSO can't pass the required regulations for its approval in other medical conditions even though its effectiveness and low toxicity profile is unquestionable. You see, DMSO is a common chemical that can be manufactured cheaply. No drug company can get an exclusive patent since it is also a natural compound, therefore there is no significant financial return. In fact, an executive of a major drug company is quoted as saying, "I don't care if DMSO is the major drug of our century and we all know it is, it isn't worth it to us" [CBS TV show 60 minutes with Mike Wallace, The Riddle of DMSO]. If DMSO were to be approved by the FDA, it would be competetive and drug companies would be unable to hold the patents.
The FDA and 'big pharma' would prefer we remain dependent on their drugs.
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Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) What You Need to Know
1. An inexpensive compound called dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) holds great promise in managing a diverse array of health conditions, yet has largely been ignored by the medical community.
2. Originally discovered as a byproduct of paper manufacturing, DMSO has demonstrated remarkable anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties.
3. DMSO is currently approved for only one clinical indication: interstitial cystitis, a painful chronic inflammatory condition of the urinary bladder.
4. One of DMSO’s most promising roles is treating severe closed head trauma. Research by Dr. Stanley Jacob shows that DMSO relieves brain swelling and restores blood flow and oxygenation following such injuries.
5. Studies suggest further applications for DMSO in fighting illnesses such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
6. DMSO’s benefits are largely unknown and unavailable to the US public, primarily because it is an inexpensive compound that is ineligible for patenting by pharmaceutical companies.
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Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been studied for various therapeutic uses.
Here are 20 healing aspects of DMSO:
1. Anti-inflammatory: DMSO has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, which will help reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation associated with various conditions like arthritis and sports injuries.
2. Analgesic: DMSO will act as a pain reliever by reducing nerve impulses that transmit pain signals.
3. Wound Healing: DMSO can promote wound healing by enhancing tissue repair processes and reducing inflammation.
4. Transdermal Delivery Enhancer: DMSO can penetrate the skin easily, making it useful as a vehicle for delivering medications through the skin and into the bloodstream.
5. Antioxidant: DMSO has antioxidant properties that can help protect cells from oxidative stress and damage.
6. Vasodilator: DMSO can dilate blood vessels, which may improve blood flow and circulation to injured or ischemic tissues.
7. Anti-fibrotic: DMSO has been studied for its potential to inhibit the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in various organs.
8. Immunomodulatory Effects: DMSO can modulate the immune response, potentially making it useful in autoimmune conditions.
9. Antibacterial: Studies show that DMSO has antibacterial properties, which will help in treating certain infections.
10. Antifungal: DMSO has antifungal properties, making it potentially useful in treating fungal infections.
11. Neuroprotective: Studies show that DMSO has neuroprotective effects, protecting nerve cells from damage or degeneration.
12. Cryoprotective: DMSO can preserve cells and tissues during cryopreservation, as it helps prevent ice crystal formation.
13. Radioprotective: DMSO can protect cells from radiation-induced damage.
14. Detoxification: DMSO has detoxifying properties, helping to eliminate toxins from the body.
15. Anti-viral: DMSO has antiviral properties..
16. Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Inhibitor: DMSO can inhibit MMPs, enzymes involved in tissue remodeling and repair, which are beneficial in wound healing and tissue regeneration.
17. Mucolytic: DMSO has been used as a mucolytic agent to help break down mucus in conditions like respiratory infections.
18. Antispasmodic: DMSO has muscle-relaxing properties, which help in treating conditions involving muscle spasms or tension.
19. Promotes Cartilage Health: DMSO can help protect and promote the health of cartilage, which is beneficial for conditions like osteoarthritis.
20. Enhanced Drug Delivery: DMSO can increase the absorption of medications when applied topically, improving their effectiveness.
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Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) Many Potential Medical Applications
Since the early 1960s, DMSO’s pharmacological actions and efficacy have been documented in hundreds of laboratory studies. According to Dr. Stanley Jacob, DMSO holds promise in treating the following conditions:
Alzheimer’s disease. DMSO has been shown to dissolve amyloids, the proteins that occur in the hallmark brain lesions of patients with Alzheimer’s and almost invariably lead to the functional loss and eventual death of brain cells.
Arthritis. With its ability to penetrate tissues, DMSO shows value in reducing pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and possibly gout.
Atherosclerosis. In laboratory animals, DMSO has demonstrated its ability to retard the development of atherosclerosis induced by dietary cholesterol, as well as suppress the accumulation of cholesterol in tissues despite severe hypercholesterolemia (elevated blood levels of cholesterol).
Down’s syndrome. Researchers have noted that when children born with Down’s syndrome were treated with DMSO, mental and neurological functions improved in a number of areas.
Drug extravasation injury. When chemotherapy drugs exude into surrounding tissues (extravasate), the effects are highly damaging. DMSO application significantly improved anthracycline-associated extravasation tissue injury in a study conducted by Stephen B. Strum, MD, a member of the Life Extension Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Fibromyalgia. According to Dr. Jacob, 70% of fibromyalgia patients he treated with DMSO for several years experienced benefits with no side effects. He believes these effects were due to pharmacological actions of DMSO such as free-radical scavenging, analgesia, anti-inflammation, softening of scar tissue, reduction of muscle spasms, and stimulation of healing.
Herpes / shingles. DMSO has been used to enhance penetration of alpha-interferon ointment in the treatment of herpes / shingles.
Interstitial cystitis. Instilling DMSO in the urinary bladder is an FDA-approved palliative treatment for this chronic inflammatory condition.
Malignancy. Researchers concluded DMSO exerts a significant survival advantage in gastric cancer.
Plastic surgery adjunct. DMSO has been shown to aid healing and reduce pain and swelling.
Prostatitis. Significant symptomatic relief occurred when DMSO was injected by catheter into the prostatic urethra.
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy. DMSO helps relieve the pain of this condition, an autonomic nervous system disorder characterized primarily by overwhelming pain in the extremities. Dr. Jacob notes that in Holland, a physician is breaking the law if he does not prescribe topical DMSO for reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
Scleroderma. In basic work done at the Cleveland Clinic, topical DMSO was found to have an anti-inflammatory effect while increasing blood supply to the skin.
Spinal cord injury. Data shows that if DMSO is given intravenously within the first 45-60 minutes after injury, the number of laboratory animals that recover was much higher than in those not receiving DMSO. Dr. Jacob says this is an area he would like to pursue, noting, “If we have 10,000 severe spinal cord injuries per year in the US—quadriplegic and paraplegic—there could be fewer patients who will need long-term care.”
Stroke. DMSO combined with a sugar that fuels energy production was well tolerated in elderly stroke patients, and could be of benefit in reducing neurological disability after stroke.
Ulcerative colitis. In controlled human studies, orally administered DMSO produced some improvement in the condition.
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The DMSO Cancer Treatment
As a treatment for cancer, DMSO prevents rapidly growing cells back to their regular form. It also stimulates the tumor-suppressing protein called HLJ1, which reduces the growth of the adjacent cancer tumor cells. To put it simply, Dimethyl Sulfoxide arrests the development of cancer.
Numerous experimental and clinical data suggest a possible productive role of DMSO as an active drug or adjuvant therapeutic agent to improve the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies and control abnormal cell differentiation, in particular inhibition of end-cell differentiation, in tumors.
Chemotherapy extravasations can sometimes cause problems during cancer treatment. Chemotherapy medicine may leak from the affected part, trapping it in the surrounding tissues. With the help of DMSO, the toxicity rate reduces to a significant degree. Research also shows that topical application successfully reduces pain, inflammation, and swelling. The chemical properties of DMSO as a solvent make it readily absorbed by the skin. It increases the body’s absorption of other medications.
Studies conducted by Dr. Hoang and his colleagues confirmed that DMSO prevented the advancement of two types of cancer: Prostate cancer and Gallbladder cancer. Each study expounded a significant improvement in clinical symptoms, blood tests, and quality of life. Both cases studies saw the benefits of the therapy persisting long after DMSO administration.
Cancer Types that DMSO Can Treat
According to laboratory reports, here’s a list of the types of cancers that DMSO can treat.
Melanoma
Colon cancer
Leukemia
Lung cancer
Ovarian cancer
Lymphoma
Prostate cancer
Gallbladder/ Bile duct cancer
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DMSO Documents
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Where to buy DMSO:
DMSO gel with Aloe Vera: https://amzn.to/3wuSohN
DMSO Dimethyl sulfoxide Liquid 99.9%: https://amzn.to/48qquRo
Healing with DMSO: The Complete Guide to Safe and Natural Treatments for Managing Pain, Inflammation, and Other Chronic Ailments with Dimethyl Sulfoxide: https://amzn.to/4bKPRjJ