Sometimes you just have to ignore the Food and Drug Administration’s approval and try a product that has a proven track record. Many effective remedies lack approval for various reasons, like politics and bias. One such substance is DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), a powerful but often ignored treatment that has helped millions of people in pain.
Odd Beginnings
DMSO has fantastic anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Initially, it was a commercial solvent used in the wood industry in the early 1950s. After doctors realized how fast and deeply it penetrates the skin, they started applying it as a medical treatment. DMSO was first used in the 1960s as a preservative for transporting organs and then as a healing agent.
Over the past several decades, more than 40,000 articles have appeared in scientific journals showing DMSO to have extremely versatile properties and countless health benefits. In fact, DMSO was the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) discovered after aspirin.
Too Good for the FDA?
Despite its early success, the FDA rejected approval for DMSO. This is mainly because of the FDA’s requirement that drugs have one specific function, focusing on symptoms rather than the root cause of health problems. DMSO goes beyond this constraint, being helpful for a wide array of issues such as pain, inflammation, sprains, arthritis, and many others.
In the United States, DMSO has FDA approval only for use as a preservative for organ transplants and a bladder disease called interstitial cystitis.
Quick Benefits
DMSO is one of the safest and most effective topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory products available. It stands out with its ability to be administered topically, orally, and intravenously.
Once applied topically, DMSO quickly absorbs into the skin and reaches deeper tissues and membranes. It’s a fantastic carrier of other substances, helping them absorb better. Sometimes, DMSO can be mixed with other pain and inflammation creams to reduce pain and inflammation more effectively.
While DMSO has antioxidant properties, it neutralizes free radicals around an injured area. It stabilizes and stops leakage from damaged cell membranes, effectively reducing inflammation. Lab studies suggest that DMSO reduces pain by blocking peripheral nerve C fibers.
The Power of Sulfur
DMSO is thought to be effective because it’s rich in sulfur, an element that plays a role in the formation of muscle, skin, hair, and nails. Sulfur is also critical for making collagen, which is essential for cartilage formation. Studies have shown that cartilage afflicted with degenerative arthritis has lower levels of sulfur. As a result, DMSO is often used for arthritis and joint pain relief, although it’s equally effective for muscle pain and spasms.
Forgoing FDA Approval
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sees a medicine as “low” if it works on only one or two health issues. If it treats multiple health concerns, it’s considered “high.” The FDA’s single-use directive misses the mark when it comes to approving safer and more powerful substances like DMSO.
Instead of isolating specific compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, we should embrace DMSO as a multifaceted treatment. DMSO is available online and can be an excellent alternative for those suffering from pain, inflammation, arthritis, or other related ailments. Give it a try, and remember, DMSO is safe and effective.
Further reading:
- Kolb, K.H., Jaenicke, G., Kramer, M., Schulze, P.E. Absorption, distribution, and elimination of labeled dimethyl sulfoxide in man and animals. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:85-95, 1967.
- Evans, M.S., Reid, K.H., Sharp, J.B. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) blocks conduction in peripheral nerve C fibers: A possible mechanism of analgesia. Neurosci Lett 150:145-148, 1993.
- Demos, C.H., Beckloff, G.L., Donin, M.N., Oliver, P.M. Dimethyl sulfoxide in musculoskeletal disorders. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:517-523, 1967.
- Lockie, L.M., Norcross, B. A clinical study on the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide in 103 patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and inflammation. Ann NY Acad Sci 141:599- 602, 1967.