DMSO: The Real Miracle Solution

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Due to the nuclear alert in Japan and its likelihood to affect the United States and other parts of the world, I decided to carry this article which I wrote for the Dot Connector Magazine‘s issue N. 12.

First, a little bit of background.

Radiation produces free-radicals (“inflammatory molecules”) that damage cells that make up tissues such as organs, glands, muscles, and bones. Besides causing the cells to age more quickly they also become distorted, or mutated, creating cancers such as leukemia, anemia, birth defects, and other diseases.

Sulfur has a long history of use as an antidote for acute exposure to radioactive material. DMSO is the classical sulfur compound. A Japanese study showed that even low concentrations of DMSO had radio-protective effects through the facilitation of DNA double-strand break repair, providing protection against radiation damage at all cellular levels in the whole body.

Remember that boosting your body’s detox capabilities and overall anti-oxidants levels is a key to survive in these stressful times. Being on a detox diet is crucial to regain health in a toxic environment. Our extensive experience and research shows that those on a no grain/low carb (no gluten) and non dairy diet fare MUCH better.

For more information on how to protect yourself from nuclear radiation, see:

Treatments for Nuclear Contamination

Iodine Treatments for Radiation Exposure

Greenmedinfo.com – Radioprotective

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.

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, providing miraculous relief in 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 consisting of 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, 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, it softens scar tissues. In fact, it is useful in well over 300 ailments and it is safe to use. You would think that a compound that has so many alleged uses and benefits will be automatically suspect, but careful examination of its properties and the data available will 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, intersticial 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 gave him permission to apply some DMSO after hearing of its capabilities. 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. DMSO hooks 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 anti-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).

The FDA and big pharma would prefer we remain dependent on their drugs.


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. In the words of the director of the Bureau of Drugs of the FDA, J. Richard Crout, M.D., “DMSO is a low toxicity and safe compound (…) I think that it is a fact of life that drug companies are not going to invest in something unless they think there is some financial return” [CBS TV show 60 minutes with Mike Wallace, The Riddle of DMSO].

Despite restrictions on the use of DMSO, thousands of Americans purchase it on the ‘black market’ each year, its popularity due not to publicity, but rather ‘word of mouth’. When you have something that relieves all kinds of ailments, including some life-threatening ones, people naturally recommend it to friends and family!

In Perspective

In the 1960s, research with DMSO on humans was temporarily halted after certain animals treated with DMSO were found to have changes in the eye lens. Some of these changes resembled those seen in aging dogs (Gordon, 1967), but nevertheless, research was gradually restarted after no evidence was found of eye changes in humans. As Daniel Haley reports in his book Politics in Healing: “Tests in rabbits, dogs, and pigs (but not humans) had shown some problems. When quantities of DMSO equal to about ten times the maximum human dose were given every day over a period of six months, slight changes in the lenses of the animals’ eyes would result, enough to produce a slight nearsightedness. The lens changes were not enough to cause dogs difficulty when running – they didn’t bump into things – and in some cases, the changes disappeared after the massive DMSO doses were stopped. In no test at that time or since has DMSO ever caused cataracts, either in animals or in humans” (Haley, 2000).

In fact, DMSO is effective for macular degeneration and retinal disease, both diseases of the eye. This effectiveness was first discovered when patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a retinal disease, were taking DMSO for certain musculoskeleteal disorders. They sensed that their vision had improved and some had remarkable results (Morton, 1993).

As far as eyes are concerned, the evidence on DMSO is quite to the contrary. When several patients treated with DMSO for muscular problems reported to Dr. Jacob that their vision had improved, he sent them to Dr. Robert O. Hill, ophthalmologist at the University of Oregon Medical School. Confirming the favorable changes, Dr. Hill began his own experiments with DMSO (after it was known that the lens changes did not happen in humans). His research showed drops of 50% DMSO to be effective in retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration, and presented a report on this at the New York Academy of Sciences symposium in 1971. (Haley, 2000)

In contrast, the number of medication-related deaths in the U.S. is estimated at over 200,000 a year, making medications the third or fourth leading cause of death (Pezzalla, 2005). Even common pain relievers called NSAIDs, examples of which include Advil, Motrin, Aleve and aspirin, account for an estimated 7,600 deaths and 76,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. every year (Tamblyn et al, 1997). Taking this into consideration, it is safe to declare that DMSO is among the safest substances in the world today. In fact, the classic test for toxicity -the LD-50 test – measures the lethal dose (LD) at which half of a group of test animals is killed. The LD-50 tests for aspirin and DMSO show that aspirin is seven times more toxic than DMSO (Haley, 2000).

Quick Guide and Ailments

DMSO is generally applied to the skin in a gel, cream, or liquid. It can be taken by mouth or as an intravenous injection, in many cases along with other drugs. It has also been administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intrathecally, by inhalation, instilled into the eye, on the mucous membranes, and into the urinary bladder. Strenghs and dosages vary widely.
If you are just dealing with pain or an injury, use a topical application. Don’t drink it. Drinking it is for serious detoxing and other internal necessities. If you use a rose scented DMSO cream, chances are that nobody will be able to smell DMSO’s garlic-like smell.

DMSO being distilled.

 

The usual oral dose of DMSO is one teaspoon per day of DMSO 70% (Morton, 1993). But since it can trigger detoxification reactions and DMSO’s total excretion from the body can take several days, it is best to do it only once a week. Start with half a teaspoon of DMSO 50% and increase to a teaspoon of DMSO 70% only if any possible detoxification reaction is well tolerated.

When you use liquid DMSO in the skin, let it dry for over 20 to 30 minutes before wiping the rest out. The skin must be clean, dry, and unbroken for any topical use of DMSO. The face and the neck are more sensitive to DMSO and no higher concenrations than 50% should be applied there. Topical concentrations of DMSO should be kept below 70% in areas where there is a reduction of circulation. When 60 to 90% DMSO is applied to the skin, warmth, redness, itching, and somtimes local hives may occur. This usually disappears within a couple of hours and using natural aloe vera, gel or cream, will help counteract or prevent this effect. When 60 to 90% DMSO is applied to the palm on the hand, the skin may wrinkle and stay that way for several days.

“My brother put some DMSO gel (70% dmso, 30% aloe vera) on his shoulders and lower part of neck because he had muscle pain/soreness in that area, and it caused skin redness/irritation for a few hours, although it did diminish the muscle soreness as well…my grandma has rheumatoid arthritis that made her legs swell up and hurt continuously, and I had her apply the same DMSO gel, and after about 2-3 days of applying it once a day, the swelling was 90% gone, and I think within 4-5 days it was 100% gone, and she said the pain diminished as well.” – Michael Shatskiy, Los Angeles, California, United States

Chronic pain patients often have to apply the substance for 6 weeks before a change occurs, but many report relief to a degree that had not been able to obtain from any other source. In general, the greater the chronicity of the disorder, the longer the treatment with DMSO must be employed in order to achieve palliation (Steinberg , 1967).

Common health problems for which people will apply topical DMSO at home include acute musculoskeletal injuries and inflammations. The earlier DMSO is used, the more dramatic the result. A 70% concentration of DMSO mixed with water in volumes ranging from 8 to 12 ml, applied on and around the injury in a wide area at least three times daily, will have a healing affect in 4 out ot 5 people.

Arthritis, Sprains, Strains

It provides rapid amelioriation of pain and increased mobility and reduction of inflammation when used topically. You can see a positive response within 5 to 20 minutes and usually lasting for 4 to 6 hours. (Steinberg, 1967).

“Applying DMSO where it hurt to a six-year-old wasted from rheumatoid arthritis, in a half hour the child could move her shoulder and turn her head for the first time in two years. Persuaded to try walking, she managed a few steps and then burst into tears. “Why are you crying?” Dr Jacob asked her. “Because it doesn’t hurt anymore”, she replied. (Haley, 2000)

“My brother has arthritis of the spine. He is in pain and bedridden more than half the time. When he is treated with DMSO, he is able to lead a normal, active life… Just one application of this cheap, safe DMSO changed my brother from a grimacing patient into an active, pain-free man in exactly 30 minutes!” (Haley, 2000)

June Jones, once quarterback and later coach of the Atlanta Falcons pro-football team, had a bursitis calcification in his right shoulder. His career almost didn’t happen as he could hardly lift his arm, let alone throw a football. But he was aware of DMSO and had used DMSO for sprains, like thousands of others. He received a shot of DMSO in the shoulder and after using DMSO for 30 days straight, the calcification disappeared. (Haley, 2000)

Stroke

Given soon after a stroke, DMSO can dissolve the clot that causes the stroke, restoring circulation and avoiding paralysis. Once DMSO gets into the body either daubed on the skin, given in I.V., or by mouth, it permeates the body and crosses the brain barrier, so even taken orally it can improve circulation. Ideally it should be I.V.

DMSO products

DMSO is available in various formats.

 

Even though DMSO 40% causes a prolongation of bleeding time, it is still indicated for use in treating embolic or hemorrhagic stroke. DMSO is superior to any other treatment for wounds to the brain where a great deal of bleeding is present (Morton, 1993).

One man who had a stroke at 7:30 AM refused to go to the hospital until after his wife had spoken with Dr. Stanley Jacob, which didn’t happen until 6:30 PM. Starting at 7 PM the day of the stroke, she gave him one ounce of 50% DMSO in a little orange juice every 15 minutes for two hours and then every half hour for two hours. The next day, her husband was better and soon returned to normal. A substance that can stop a stroke as it’s happening is something many might want in their home medicine chest .(Haley, 2000)

Angina, Heart Attacks, Injuries of the Brain and Spinal Chord

DMSO may help neutralize harmful effects on the heart and brain in medical disorders involving the head and spinal chord injury, stroke, memory dysfunction, and ischemic heart disease (Jacob, de la Torre, 2009). A 40% DMSO solution should be administered within four hours to be effective, within ninety minutes is best.

After I.V. administration of DMSO, there is an elevation in the amount of spinal cord blood flow to the region of trauma. One of the first things that happens after spinal cord trauma is that a reduction of oxygen and blood flow sets in, inasmuch as the blood vessels constrict or shut down… Without some treatment, the tissue swells. Eventually, this leads to paralysis. In a cerebral stroke, the animal will either become comatose or lethargic or die. With DMSO infusion immediately after injury (or stroke) all this is prevented. – Dr. Jack de Ia Torre, professor of physiology and neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico

Dr. Stanley Jacob has even given DMSO intravenously to people who were already paralyzed – paraplegics – and some regained use of limbs. One man, quadraplegic, recovered enough to go through college and then to work in a bank. (Haley, 2000)

Infections

When combined with antibiotics, DMSO will convert bacteria which are resistant to a given antibiotic to being sensitive to that same antibiotic and probably a 80 to 90 per cent solution of DMSO will be required in order to be clinically useful ( Pottz, Rampey, Benjamin,1967). DMSO has been used to transport antibiotics to hard-to-reach areas of the body with excellent results, such as the bone marrow and brain (Sanders, 1967).

DMSO can dissolve a virus protein coating, leaving the virus core unprotected with its nucleic acid exposed to the immune system. Applied topically, it alleviates the lesions that occur as a result of Herpes Zoster, shingles (Morton, 1993).
Placed into the nostrils or topically in the face, DMSO can open blocked sinuses within a few minutes and it has been used with sucess in patients with polyps (Marvin, 1967).

DMSO can clear up gum disease and reduce tooth decay and their pain by painting it on the involved areas.

“I have some pharmaceutical grade DMSO and I pour about two teaspoons in a glass in the evening, put my 20 mg of doxycycline in it, add about 2 teaspoons of distilled water, and then swish it around in my mouth for about 2 or 3 minutes and then swallow it. So I guess it is about 50% solution. It’s really working on my mouth. That inflamed area of my jaw has calmed down about 70% in just a couple of days. Or more, actually. I expect it to be completely soothed by tomorrow after tonight’s dose of DMSO.” – Laura, Toulouse, France

Keloids, Scars, Burns, Bruises

A concentration of 50 to 80% put on two or three times a day will flatten a raised scar after several months. It is of considerable value in superficial burns (Goldman, 1967) and when applied quickly to an injury, it can eliminate any bruising.

“I have been applying it to my face for two weeks… I had a bout of acne in March, and this healed the damage pretty well but what amazed me is that my hyperpigmentation (melasma) has also faded very noticeably. In fact, it’s amazing!” – HG, United States

“I diluted a 50% solution and applied it topically to the inflamed lymph node. I applied it again this evening. I am totally amazed! There is a noticeable decrease in the size of the node, in just two applications! And it no longer feels matted. This node has been swollen for over 20 years!!! – Melissa Medlock, Coldwater, Michigan, USA

Podiatry

DMSO can be effective in the treatment of painful corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, and the inflammation of gouty big toes.

Varicose veins and thrombophlebitis

Topical DMSO can whiten telangiectasias, small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin. It can also decrease the size of varicosities in the legs and the inflammation that goes with it, along with a relief of their cramping discomfort (Marvin, 1967. Blumenthal, Fuchs, 1967).

Eye problems

One drop of a 25% DMSO solution (diluted in sterile physiologic or saline solution) once or twice per day is useful for eye problems, including cataracts or glaucoma.

“DMSO is amazing, I’ve also read various good results with using it in the eyes. Being the adventurous type myself, today I diluted DMSO down to 30% and put 2 drops in one of my eyes that has been having red spots around the iris. The red spots diminished drastically. The only side effect was a slight burning sensation, similar to those drops you get when one goes for a glaucoma test, without the side effect of dilated pupils.” – DZ, United States

Headaches

DMSO is highly effective in vascular headaches and in muscular tension which so often goes with headaches. It may be used on hairy areas such as the scalp and it also may be used near the eyes. A 90% solution is more effective (Ogden, 1967).

Mental Disorders

DMSO has been useful in the treatment of patients with the following diagnoses: (1) overexcited states (acute schizophrenic reactions, manic phase of the manic-depressive psychoses, alcoholic psychoses, symptomatic psychoses); (2) some symptoms of the chronic psychoses (autism, stereotypia, negativism, abnormal behavior or delusional states) ; (3) severe neuroses (anxiety reactions, obsessives)( Ramírez, Luza, 1967).

McGrady called special attention to an extraordinary paper presented by Dr. Eduardo Ramirez and Dr. Segisfredo Luza of the Ayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru. After extensive tests on animals and then on normal humans, Dr. Ramirez reported “injecting 50% or 80% DMSO intramuscularly into patients with acute and chronic schizophrenia” and that “of the 14 acute cases, every single one was discharged from the hospital within 45 days after the start of DMSO treatment… He said that 4 of the 11 chronic cases, one of whom has been ill for 14 years, were discharged eventually, and the other 7 improved a great deal and were given occupational therapy… He observed rapid decrease in agitation… recession of persecution feeling, a relatively sudden tendency to communicate and to stay clean.., the wane of obsessions, return to alertness, and a calmness where there had been restlessness and anxiety”. (Haley, 2000)

Genitourinary disorders

DMSO has been used in the treatment of a number of patients with various genitourinary disorders, including Peyronie’s disease, interstitial cystitis, acute epididymitis. Some have obtained dramatic and gratifying relief of symptoms (Persky, Steeart, 1967).

Miscellaneous

DMSO in conjunction with other treatments has shown to regress cancer in a very effective way (Ayre, 1967). Intravenous administration of DMSO markedly reduces pathological intestinal permeability while preserving the gut’s absorption capacities (Wang et al, 1996). Considering that gut permeability (‘leaky gut’) has a fundamental role in chronic degenerative diseases, this is of great clinical importance.

DMSO also has excellent results in the skin of people afflicted with scleroderma, results which have never been observed with any other method of therapy (Scherbel et al, 1967).

Mrs. Jean Puccio of Washington, DC testified at hearings of Senator Edward Kennedy’s sub-committee on health in 1980 on her recovery from scleroderma. Diagnosed in 1971, she was told that no medication would help, and that she would probably soon face a wheelchair and early death. By the time she found Dr. Jacob (through word of mouth), she told the Senators, “I was having difficulty breathing, walking, and eating”. The disease “thickens the tissue and makes your skin so tight you cannot move. It was difficult for me to drive, to turn the ignition in my car or turn my body”. Her dentist could not work on her for awhile because she could not open her mouth. “Now I can open my mouth like anybody”, she said. After her sensitized skin burned from topical application of DMSO, Dr. Jacob suggested taking it orally. “Within six months”, she testified, “my condition reversed almost immediately. I can do anything anybody else can do now” (Haley, 2000).

Hopefully, this brief overview of DMSO’s great capabilities has helped to illustrate how it is indeed, the cure of our times. I’m convinced of its therapeutic power, both by my own experience and that one of scores of people, not to mention the back-up of published scientific literature. Its uses and applications make it a very handy compound to have on your medical shelf. In pure form, the life of DMSO is indefinite, so it may be used for years.

 

Several books have been published on the benefits of DMSO.

 

Troubleshooting

The garlic-like body odor and taste in the mouth that some experience is attributable to a specific DMSO metabolite: dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a component of natural onion and garlic flavors (McKim, Strub, 2008). This can last for one or two days and in a small number of people, especially men, the odor can be very pungent. Drinking enough water will help diffuse the smell. Other side effects – such as stomach upset, headaches, dizziness, and sedation – are very likely related to detoxification reactions prompted by the DMSO.

Only purified and properly diluted DMSO should be used. When you dilute a pure DMSO solution, always do it in distilled water. When it is applied, the skin site as well as the applying hand should be thoroughly cleaned before application. This is of utmost importance as DMSO’s properties allow contaminants to be absorbed through the skin and transported into the bloodstream.
DMSO is known to be one of the least toxic substances in biology (Parcell, 2002), so any serious side effects should come from potential contaminants or the intake of concomintant drugs that DMSO will carry into the body. Worth repeating again, DMSO and any substance dissolved in it, will penetrate the skin, the blood-brain barrier, and other parts of the body very fast.

Remember also that DMSO increases the effects of drugs like blood thinners, steroids, heart medicines, sedatives, etc. In addition to that, acetone or acid contamination of DMSO can lead to serious medical consequences. Be aware of this problem when buying unreliable DMSO. A pure DMSO solution will turn solid (like ice) in the refigerator within 2 hours. If, when the frozen bottle is turned upside down, little rivulets of water flow through the ice, you probably possess the veterinary grade DMSO. This is a 90% concentration. Ten percent is distilled water (Morton, 1993).

Women are discouraged from using DMSO during pregnancy or breastfeeding, even though DMSO is used to preserve frozen human embryos. DMSO can interfere with liver function tests and give a false reading. That problem is easily solved by waiting a week after DMSO usage before taking the test.

Long-term use has been documented as safe. Eye damage, reported in laboratory animals, has not been confirmed. Side effects such as skin rash and itching after topical application, breaking up of blood elements after intravenous infusion, can be avoided in large part by employing more dilute solutions. Despite these side effects, DMSO is used as a preservative for blood elements and stem cells (McKim, Strub, 2008).

When DMSO is diluted with water, heat is released. The bottle will be warm to the touch. This is a temporary, harmless reaction.
Since DMSO causes dryness and scaling of the outer layer of the skin, skin diseases characterized by scaling (psoriasis) could be aggravated by the use of DMSO. But DMSO applied topically for only a few days has been useful in psoriasis. Prolonged use of DMSO for the treatment of psoriasis is not advised however, as it can worsen the psoriatic condition (Engel, 1967), only DMSO taken orally is suggested.

“I’m happy to say that taking DMSO in conjunction with implementing the detoxification suggestions that were given is starting to take care of many of my remaining psoriasis problems. A couple areas are still being stubborn, but I’ve noticed a lot of general improvement. Using DMSO topically also helped improve a patch of eczema that my wife has been bothered by for quite a while.” – Peter Norquest, Tucson, Arizona, United States

DMSO2, a derivative of DMSO, is better tolerated and doesn’t have the odor and irritation side effects. Despite this positive aspect, it hasn’t surpassed the effectiveness, fascination and popularity of DMSO. It is also known as methylsufonlmethane or MSM, an entire topic for another article by itself!

Sulfur is an element of the earth and it is essential to life, it as among the most prevalent elemenents in the human body. Allergic reactions to sulfur are not possible because sulfur has no protein component. When people are ‘allergic to sulfur’, what they really mean is that they are allergic or sensitive mainly to certain sulfur-containing drugs or proteins, most notably sulfa antibiotics (sulfonamides) or to sulfites (preservatives used in wines and some foods), or to foods with a high sulfur content (broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, onions, etc). Many individuals with allergies to sulfa drugs, sulfites, or high sulfur containing foods (like the author) do not experience problems taking DMSO, because apart from sulfur, DMSO bears no relation to these substances.

As always, proceed with caution, do your homework, and consult a health care provider in case of doubts.

References

Ayre JE, LeGuerrier J. Some (regressive) effects of DMSO dexamethasone upon cervical cells in cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):414-22.
Blumenthal LS, Fuchs M. The clinical use of dimethyl sulfoxide on various headaches, musculoskeletal, and other general medical disorders. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):572-85.
Engel MF. Indications and contraindications for the use of DMSO in clinical dermatology. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):638-45.
Goldman J. A brief resume of clinical observations in the treatment of superficial burns, trigeminal neuralgia, acute bursitis, and acute musculo-skeletal trauma with dimethyl sulfoxide. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):653-4.
Gordon DM. Dimethyl sulfoxide in ophthalmology, with especial reference to possible toxic effects. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):392-401.
Haley Daniel. Politics in Healing. Potomac Valley Press, 2000.
Jacob SW, de la Torre JC. Pharmacology of dimethyl sulfoxide in cardiac and CNS damage. Pharmacol Rep. 2009 Mar-Apr;61(2):225-35.
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Pottz GE, Rampey JH, Benjamin F.Ann- The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on antibiotic sensitivity of a group of medically important microorganisms: preliminary report. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):261-72.
Ramírez E, Luza S. Dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment of mental patients. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):655-67.
Sams WM Jr. The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on nerve conduction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):242-7.
Sanders M. Discussion. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 141, Biological Actions of Dimethyl Sulfoxide pages 649 – 652, March 1967.
Scherbel AL, McCormack LJ, Layle JK. Further observations on the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide in patients with generalized scleroderma. (Progressive systemic sclerosis). Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1967 Mar 15;141(1):613-29.
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.
Tamblyn R, Berkson L, Dauphinee WD, Gayton D, Grad R, Huang A, Isaac L, McLeod P, Snell L. Unnecessary prescribing of NSAIDs and the management of NSAID-related gastropathy in medical practice. Ann Intern Med. 1997 Sep 15;127(6):429-38.
Walker Morton. DMSO Nature’s Healer. New York: Avery, 1993.
Wang XD, Wang Q, Andersson R, Ihse I. Alterations in intestinal function in acute pancreatitis in an experimental model. Br J Surg. 1996 Nov;83(11):1537-43.

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Comments

  1. michael  May 3, 2011

    I was interested in where i could get some of these treatments

    Michael
    248-595-8960

    reply
  2. William  June 11, 2011

    I have read about the anti-viral qualities of DMSO. Have you any opinion about using DMSO to treat herpes simplex (HSV2)? Thanks in advance.

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  June 12, 2011

      DMSO in herpes simplex has amazing results and they’re also very well documented. Definitely worth trying. Best.

      reply
      • William  July 23, 2011

        I just finished reading “Virucidal Properties of Dimethyl Sulfoxide” (Chan, Gadebusch, 1968). Have you any other suggested reading/studies regarding DMSO and HSV2? Thanks again in advance.

      • Gabriela Segura, MD  July 25, 2011

        Apologies William, it is the herpes zoster experience the one well documented. But in Nature’s Healer it is explained how mixing DMSO with vitamin C crystals appears to be quite an effective treatment for herpes simplex. The author interviewed Dr. Orville J. Davis who used to practice in San Diego, California. He said he had success giving 60,000 mg of vitamin C IV and painting the lesions with the DMSO-vitamin C solution. He said that the lesions must be kept wet. But there are no studies that can be tracked. This might be of interest though:

        GOLDMAN, L. & K. W. KITZMILLER. 1965. Topical 5-iodo-2’-deoxyuridine in
        dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A new treatment for herpes simplex. The
        Ohio State Med. J. 61: 532-533. 1965.

  3. beth odom  June 23, 2011

    i had severe allergic reaction to the h1n1. i have vision problems , right side of brain feels impacted, arthritis now, slow mentally, slurr words at times,burning in brain. Test come back normal, emg, mri, etc. I have had some chelation, immunolgy, but nothing has helped. Will this clear up what is on right side of brain that is through the barrier?

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  June 23, 2011

      Dear Beth,

      I would not try the DMSO orally, but instead get a good topical solution and try it in your arthritic joints and locally in your head. In your head, try a 50% purified solution and don’t get it mixed with anything that you might think can be toxic. But above else, I would eliminate gluten and all processed foods from your diet and I would try some 6 grams of vitamin C per day and some magnesium therapies.

      I hope you feel better.

      reply
  4. chris  June 30, 2011

    would you advise giving my dog dmso orally for arthritis. he is 14 1/2 years old and have liver and gaul bladder problems (a mass on his gaul bladder) he cant take prescription arthritis meds any longer, looking for something to help his arthrtis pain. thank you

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  June 30, 2011

      Yes indeed. The best is to use a 50% dilution or cream topically in his arthritic joints everyday and let him lick it if he wants. Then, twice a week, you can give him 1 cc of pure DMSO in his mouth with the aid of a syringe or a spoon. The dog will not like the taste, so the quicker the better. You can give him a goodie, like a piece of meat or some butter afterwards to remove the after taste. Make sure he has enough water available afterwards as well.

      reply
  5. maria  July 18, 2011

    Hi Gabriela
    I have a problem and need your opinion. I had silicone (biopolymers ) put on my lips 9 years ago. They are deformed, an surgeons tell me they can not take it out. I’m wondering if DMSO would be beneficial in dissolving it, and carrying it out of the body…..could this be too dangerous since it could carry the silicone to other parts of the body???? I have a vegan organic raw food diet, my body is clean.
    I would very much appreciate your help.
    Tks!!

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  July 18, 2011

      Dear Maria,

      DMSO might be helpful with the inflammation, but I’m unsure about its overall effect on the silicone in your body. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful. I highly recommend “The Vegetarian Myth” by Leirre Keith, it’s really a must read.

      Best!

      reply
  6. Barbara Pierce  August 21, 2011

    I have Fibromyalgia, Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, EBV, Mycoplasma pn., Chlamydia pn., chronic Candida overgrowth, Mycoplasma Fermentens, XMRV, also been diagnosed with CF and CFID. How would you suggest I use DMSO to help restore some of my health, if it can. I know the Lyme community talks about it. If I.V. how do I find a dr for this treatment? If on the skin, where is the best place(s). Orally? Thanks

    reply
  7. Barbara  August 21, 2011

    My husband has severe, painfull osteoarthritis. He has Lyme, Bartonella, EBV, Mycoplasma pn, Chladydia pn., and maybe Mycoplasma Fermentens, and not sure what else. We understand that some of these may cause o.a. His R. knee is 80-90% gone, L. knee is 50% gone, elbows, shoulders, neck, degenerating, fingers starting to swell. When we apply it for pain does it have any regenerating abilities to the cartiledge and/or surrounding tendons and ligaments? Does it have the ability to kill any of the bacteria of the infections he has? Any other way of taking it to help? Thank you

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  August 21, 2011

      Using it topically will have an anti-inflammatory effect and it will also have a systemic effect. The DMSO can be used orally, although I don’t encourage this route because I’ve seen “detox” reactions. If the oral route is used, I would use a teaspoon with plenty of water only once a week. He can get very dizzy as well.

      A combination of several antibiotic protocols plus DMSO will have a synergistic effect against the pathogens. You could contact jacoblab.com to see where you can find a practitioner who uses DMSO therapies.

      A gluten free diet will be also very helpful, eliminating all vegetable oils and processed foods from the diet. Ideally it should be a diet with less than 100g of carbs per day and rich in good fats (coconut oil, lard, butter). It creates an “inhospitable” medium for the microorganisms.

      Best

      reply
  8. trista evans  October 30, 2011

    What would you recommend for my grandma that has gangrene? will she become sick from the dextoxing properties? im just wondering because she is in the nursing home and my aunt is a nurse, she will be giving her the dmso without anyone knowing about it, so if she gets sick i dont want the nurses suspecting anything. I take 1/4tsp of 99.99% dmso ever once in a while just because, and I feel great but im pretty healthy and I dont take any synethic medicine. I haven’t been sick feeling at all after consuming.

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  October 31, 2011

      Hi Trista,

      I would try with a topical cream first. The one with aloe vera rose scented is very soothing and gentle, and it works pretty well. Search for “DMSO Cream with Aloe Vera Rose Scented”. It will only help and it might counteract the side effects of prescription drugs.

      reply
  9. Malena  November 8, 2011

    Hi
    My grandson is 6 years old with autism, doesnt speak, can you tell me if DMSO can help him with his autism. If yes, please can you advice on how to administrate him with it.

    Thank you in advance.
    Malena.

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  November 8, 2011

      Dear Malena,

      You can try using the rose cream DMSO topical version (search for “DMSO Cream with Aloe Vera Rose Scented”) on your grandson as a source of sulfur for detoxification, but what is really going to make the difference in him is a change on diet. I highly recommend “Primal Body, Primal Mind” by Nora Gedgaudas. A diet free of dairy products and gluten (all grains and their products) is essential in autism.

      reply
  10. Ellen  December 20, 2011

    I was in an auto accident and my car flipped over twice. I have a broken neck and some pretty bad nerve damage. How should I use DMSO? I’m always in a neck brace so it’s difficult to apply it to the neck. If I put it somewhere else in my body can my bloodstream deliver an adequate amount to the injury site? Thanks for this informative website!

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  December 21, 2011

      Ideally it should be applied directly to your neck, but you can apply it to surrounding areas and it will still be of help. You’ll taste it in your mouth almost immediately, that is how quickly it gets through your system. If your skin gets too irritated, you can try using a cream version. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

      reply
      • steve mills  January 6, 2013

        will dmso help with a spinal cord injury? had the ijury in 1983. thank you

      • Gabriela Segura, MD  January 6, 2013

        DMSO has had miraculous results when used immediately after the injury. You can see these results in this video:

        DMSO Dr. Stanley W. Jacob Part_1
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0i7jARfKeI

        DMSO Dr. Stanley W. Jacob Part_2
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfh4x2vxbA

        The reason it helps has to do with preventing injury and edema in the spinal chord immediately after the trauma which damages neural components. As for now, I would try the topical cream version to see if it helps with symptoms such as pain or spastic tremors.

  11. Tony  December 21, 2011

    Dear Gabriela, Just wondered if anyone could give advice on how to use topical DMSO to deliver Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C. See youtube video at this address http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndc0b4zZ0Lg This guy talks about how using dmso and lypo spheric vitamin c cured his problems. He doesn’t state exactly what it cured and how he used the dmso to deliver the lypo spheric vitamin C. From the information given I suspect it was for cancer. I have a degenerative disc since the butcher operated on me 1994. Discectomy L5/S1, I’m in a great deal of pain and will try anything. I live in the UK and have just purchased topical dmso from phhealth. The lypo spheric vitamin C is an oral 1000 mg vitamin gel liquid which you take from a 5.7ml sachet. Utilizing liposomal encapsulation technology it is delivered via smart lyposomal nano spheres. The lyposomal nano spheres are 300 nanometers in diameter. Bit too technical for me but does that mean the molecules would be small enough to pass through the skin mixed with dmso? Hell maybe I’m looking at this the wrong way. Maybe I’m better off taking the vitamin c orally and rubbing the dmso into my back will increase the effect of the vitamin c. Does anyone have any thoughts on the subject? Thanks Tony, Feltham, Middlesex, United Kingdom.

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  December 21, 2011

      Hi Tony,

      If you trust the product, you can mix it with DMSO and apply topically. If it is gel-like, it will be easy to mix with the DMSO for local application in the area. Then take the Vitamin C orally as well.

      DMSO works pretty well topically for pain and inflammation, but you might be benefit a lot on dietary changes to calm down inflammation as well. Best book so far is “Primal Body, Primal Mind” by Nora Gedgaudas. Cheers.

      reply
      • Tony  December 21, 2011

        Dear Gabriela, many thanks for your message. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I will check out Primal Body, Primal Mind. Kind regards Tony

  12. Ann  December 30, 2011

    Dear Gabriela,
    What do you think about using DMSO and MSM for hair loss/regrowth? I am considering using this based on seeing results on this website
    http://www.msmhair.com/msm-hair-regrowth-and-baldness/msm-hair-re-grow-your-hair-lost-from-mpb/

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  December 30, 2011

      Hi Ann,

      I think both ingredients are great and even if it doesn’t help for hair loss, at least it would have helped as anti-oxidants.

      reply
  13. Renee Ingalsbe  January 29, 2012

    I am profoundly deaf with Ushers Syndrome associated with Retinitis Pigmentosa. I’ve just discovered DMSO 4 nights ago! Have converted to natural 6 years ago after reading Kevin Trudeau’s book that changed my life. I’ve tried to heal my vision with H202 orally, but that didn’t improve anything. Would dmso work for me? And how do I put it in my eyes? If I buy the pure dmso, how do I dilute it myself (how much dmso and how much water or other solution). How often?

    And my 10 years old daughter have ADHD. Will using DMSO be helpful? I’ve read that prolonged use of it topically is disencouraged.

    Many Thanks

    reply
  14. Lucia Acosta  March 13, 2012

    Hello Dr. Segura,

    I have Fibromyalgia, tendonitis and bursitis in shoulder, one leg shorter than the other (1/4 inch) and pelvic adhesions. I just had my adhesions operated on. I have chronic pain all throughout the major muscles in my body and hip/neck/shoulder joints. I try to do small yoga stretches, eat organic with lots of teas, herbs and supplements for antiflamation, muscles etc. I am not able to drive due to pain and do not enjoy taking narcotics, but I take them daily. I would like to know how to use DMSO for body pain and digestive problems. I have been seeing a GI for years but do not have a diagnosis other than IBS and I am not even able to tolerate alcohol or dairy. How do I get access to solution for an IV? Can I bathe in DMSO diluted in my bath? Please let me know.

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  March 14, 2012

      Dear Lucia,

      “Primal Body, Primal Mind” by Nora Gedgaudas is a book that synthesizes dietary information that has helped scores of people. A primal diet will helps people achieve a more physiological state. Arthritic, digestive and autoimmune problems are often worsened or rooted in sensitivities that comes from the plant kingdom: night shade family (potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines), anti-nutrients in grains, etc. I prefer topical DMSO because it is the safest and works very well and for those who have skin irritations, the DMSO rose cream works the best and most soothing way.

      reply
  15. Kurt Miller  March 22, 2012

    Dear Dr. Segura,

    My wife wanted me to find out about using DMSO as a protection from dental x-rays. I have seen quite a bit written about this but have seen no dosage instructions. Would you be able to help? She is about 5′ 6″ and 147 lbs.

    Sincerely,
    Kurt Miller

    reply
  16. peggy  March 23, 2012

    hi gabriela. briefly: my dog was diagnosed with type1 diabetes 2 years ago. he has been in emergency (& phenomenally expensive) hospital twice with very high blood glucose and ketones and near death.

    after all this i was informed by vet two weeks ago that it is because he is not using the insulin we have been giving him subcutaneously.

    i know that dmso has been used at least experimentally with insulin in diabetes. my question is: do you know if the standard form of liquid insulin can be mixed with dmso for either transdermal or subcutaneous application? we have almost nothing to lose at this point. my dog cannot withstand many more of the emergency situations. i have no vet who is willing to even talk about dmso as a delivery system.

    please. i love my dog. i would greatly appreciate any help you might be able to give.

    thank you –
    peggy and skyler

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  March 24, 2012

      Dear Peggy,
      I can’t tell you what to do through this means, unfortunately. I can report on what I’ve researched which will be helpful for you: DMSO has been reported to enhance the effect of insulin, both in dogs and in humans. In humans, TOPICAL use of DMSO lowered the requirements of insulin in certain cases. The mixture of insulin and DMSO increased the effect of insulin when it was used intravenously in dogs. Intramuscular, oral or topical are some of the ways DMSO has been used.

      I can tell you that I used DMSO in my veteran dog (we have 8 dogs). I used intramuscular the first time (a 20% dilution), then orally with a syringe (1cc-2cc of pure DMSO) directly into his mouth. Since the taste is so awful, I would make sure to give him butter or something yummy right afterwards. Then I would make sure he has plenty of water available since oral DMSO can be very dehydrating. Then I noticed that topical solution also worked like a charm for his arthritic problem, which started after he recovered from a life threatening tick disease. The topical DMSO has also a systemic effect and it avoids the intramuscular injection, which my dog didn’t like at all even though he improved a lot right afterwards. My dog will always lick the topical DMSO which is also good and easier on both of us.

      reply
      • peggy  March 25, 2012

        dear gabriela –

        thank you for responding. i appreciate that you cannot prescribe or advise here.

        yes. the report on your research is very helpful – and i am happy and encouraged to have it.

        i have never administered an iv or intramuscular injection. only subcutaneous. but it would seem that since insulin can be delivered by any of those three routes, the insulin/dmso could just as well be too (subcutaneously). i am wondering if you know any reason why that would not be so.

        not asking for advice here, but also wondering which method you would choose for your diabetic dog – subcutaneous mixture, transdermal mixture (not sure if dmso would carry insulin through the skin), or oral or transdermal dmso given separately from the insulin.

        just curious.

        thanks again, gabriela, not only for your help here, but for all your wonderful and informative articles.

        and i am happy that your dog recovered from the tick disease.

        kindest regards,
        peggy

  17. Gabriela Segura, MD  March 25, 2012

    Topical DMSO did enhanced insulin applied separately by other means (i.e. subcutaneously). This could be an anecdotal thing since studies like this where never repeated or followed up. People had reported to me how they used topical DMSO in their dogs for several reasons and how they seemed better afterwards.

    Best regards.

    reply
    • peggy  March 28, 2012

      thank you again, gabriela. i have already started with this method and i am feeling certain that it will do the trick.

      very kindest regards,
      peggy
      and skyler

      reply
  18. Michael  March 28, 2012

    Dear Gabriela,

    I ordered DMSO at Jacob lab.
    When he reached home, the solution was cloudy, the liquid appeared to have solidified (the bottle was distorted). Now he is back “normal”, and clear liquid.
    Do you think I can use it?

    Kindest regards
    Michael

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  March 28, 2012

      It solidifies when it is pure. However, if you have doubts, don’t hesitate to contact the lab in order to guarantee the safety of your product.

      reply
  19. Gabriela Segura, MD  April 14, 2012

    Hello Mike. There is some concerning information from some research made on the 60s about uses of DMSO in dermatological conditions. It is found at volume 141 Issue Biological Actions of Dimethyl Sulfoxide , Pages 1 – 671 (March 1967), Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences).

    The article says that topical DMSO causes dryness and scaling of the epidermis, so they thought that scaling in psoriasis would be aggravated by the use of DMSO. Here are their results:

    “All 18 patients with psoriasis showed either no improvement, or a worsened condition, due to continuous application of DMSO in the concentrations used, although itching was lessened.

    The patients with scleroderma were greatly improved to the point where the skin became supple and ulcers healed.

    Other types of dermatoses, including traumatic and burn keloids, hypertrophic scars, atopic eczema and lichen arpyloidosis, improved in varying degrees.”

    They used DMSO in concentrations of 40-80%, applied with cotton-tipped applicators or by immersion two to three times daily. This is the detailed part about the results in psoriasis FWIW:

    “Almost all of the psoriatic patients exhibited marked improvement at the end of the first week, but after the period of from ten days to two weeks, we no longer treated psoriatics with DMSO, as the results were disastrous. One patient required hospitalization of an exfoliative erythroderma, and most of the others exhibited a sudden generalized psoriasis of the guttate type. Posttreatment biopsies of psoriatic lesions showed marked accentuation of the histologic features of psoriasis.”

    There is also some information of DMSO as means to carry other substances through the skin, which then cleared out psoriasis lesions. But this is anecdotal reports, probably involving less than a week treatments. A friend of mine has psoriasis and he used DMSO orally (which bypasses its side effects on the skin) a few times. But a change on his diet and supplementing with enough fish oils is what made the difference in the end. If you are interested in tackling your psoriasis with a healthy diet, see “Primal Body, Primal Mind” by Nora Gedgaudas. It is highly recommended.

    reply
  20. Rick Urban  April 20, 2012

    I’ve used 99% DMSO with about 10% aloe over the years on cuts & burns & cramped leg
    muscles during the night but can I use it to treat gum disease? My dentist wants me to use iodine tincture on those tiny dental bottle brushes between each tooth. Would DMSO work better & could I combine it with iodine or just use it by itself? Oh, I buy my DMSO 99% cheap from a farm supply store. Is that fine ?

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  April 20, 2012

      I have used DMSO for gum problems, but I would not combine iodine with DMSO unless both substances come from reputable sources. Iodine sold in pharmacies usually have other ingredients that you don’t want to mix with DMSO. Pure potassium iodide sold in health stores might be a different story though. When possible, I try to use topical DMSO from a reputable source.

      You might want to check out Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora Gedgaudas. I’ve seen gum problems disappear with a paleo diet in myself and others. Nothing like going to the root of the problem.

      reply
  21. Philip  May 7, 2012

    Hello Doctor:

    Is there any information on how to make the DMSO-glutathione eye drops at home? (for cataracts)

    Thank you.

    reply
  22. Philip  May 8, 2012

    Thanks for the info, Doctor. After my due diligence, I’m confident that DMSO is safe for use in the etes.

    Best Regards,

    Phil

    reply
  23. Maria  May 17, 2012

    Gabriella i have the liquid dmso 99.9 % purity liquid n ive heard that it helps if you have herpes what is the best recommandation you can give to in the use of this liquid? And i also breakout with pimples alot what should i do for that?

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  May 18, 2012

      Dear Maria,

      I personally will use a topical cream, but when liquid is used, people will usually diluted it in half a concentration of distilled or filtered water, or physiological solution. Depending on the area, 70% concentration can be used as reported on the article. If the area is sensitive or poorly irrigated by blood, more diluted concentrations need to be considered.

      reply
      • maria  May 18, 2012

        ok so water from a brita jug is ok to mix it with and drink it?

      • Gabriela Segura, MD  May 18, 2012

        You have to be very careful with DMSO, don’t mix it with anything you distrust. I personally only mix it up with physiological solution or distilled water, but I prefer DMSO cream because it burns much less.

      • Maria  May 18, 2012

        The water is filtered so do you think that would be ok and they didnt have a cream where i looked it up at?

      • Gabriela Segura, MD  May 18, 2012

        If you know it is filtered and safe to be mixed up with your DMSO then it is okay.

  24. Sarah  April 4, 2013

    Is there any infomation about using DMSO for candida, intestinal parasites, or Demodex Mites.

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  April 5, 2013

      For candida, a low carb diet plus nystatin is the way most people go. Intestinal parasites are also best addressed by anti-parasites whether alternative or not. I haven’t come across with DMSO as the preferred therapy for those issues, no.

      reply
      • Brig  April 11, 2013

        Dear Dr. Segura,
        several weeks ago I received a bottle of CelluLife Capstone Activating Spray which helped me with arthritis and restless foot pain relieve almost instantly. I am suspicious that they use DMSO in this liquid. Since the product is not affordable to me, I purchased 99.9% pure DMSO, hoping I can delude it and spray it onto my hands and feet, or back when it hurts and I am in agony. The listed ingredients in the CelluLife are:Essences of Calcium Chloride, Trace Minerals, Milk Thistle, Red Beet, Musk Thistle, Schisandra, Dandelion, Yellow Duck, Silver Ion Solution in a base of Clear Water, formulated through a proprietary process.
        Kindly advise if I can use DMSO the same way, just spraying it onto the pained area (even over clothing). It is advices to spray the affected area 3 to 4 times a day.
        I appreciate you and hope to learn more soon.
        Thank you and have an absolutely awesome day
        Brig

      • Gabriela Segura, MD  April 12, 2013

        Yes, DMSO has been typically used for arthritis. I would use a lower concentration of DMSO though. It can be applied with a sterile gauze or in spray in legs, for instance a 50% or 70% dilution in sterile water or physiological solution. Keep in mind that DMSO may irritate the skin. For restless leg syndrome, you might want to check this article:

        https://www.health-matrix.net/2011/01/04/magnesium-the-spark-of-life/

      • Brig  April 12, 2013

        Thank you kindly for your suggestions. I am certainly grateful for the opportunity to communicate with a “real” doctor.
        Any chance that DMSO can help lowering my cholesterol? I eat healthy, walk 5 miles per day at least 5 days a week, take my supplements, no medications at all, and it seem that my cholesterol levels are still very high.
        Wishing you an absolutely awesome weekend
        Brig

      • Gabriela Segura, MD  April 13, 2013

        For that, you might want to read “Primal Body, Primal Mind” by Nora Gedgaudas. A highly recommended reading! People’s cholesterol levels, or at least the unhealthiest components, have gone up with so called modern dietary recommendations. Our caveman ancestors and tribal communities eating a diet based on animal fats and protein had it better. But you need to read the details before making any dietary changes.

        You can also ask in your next blood work for iron, transferrin, and ferritin. If they are high, keeping in mind that normal ranges set by labs are now considered to be already unsafe, you might want to check “Exposing the Hidden Dangers of Iron: What Every Medical Professional Should Know About the Impact of Iron on the Disease Process” by E.D. Weinberg. For a short synthesis see:

        Iron overload – the missed diagnosis
        http://www.sott.net/article/260752-Iron-overload-the-missed-diagnosis

        Best!

  25. Gwendolyn J.  April 14, 2013

    Hi my husband has keloids on his ears and chest that was once removed but came back. Do you think DMSO Gel will help rid it for good??

    reply
    • Gabriela Segura, MD  April 14, 2013

      It could help and you’ll need a lot of patience and persistence. Sometimes, when you put DMSO to growths like warts, the whole thing comes off in block. So it all depends on the size, characteristics, etc. I think for keloids it is only a help, I don’t think it will get rid of it, no. But I could be wrong.

      reply

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