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MSM : Health Conditions

Click on the links below to find out how MSM can help you cope with these health conditions.

• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Auto-Immune Disease
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Constipation
• Fibromyalgia
• Food Allergies
• Hair Growth
• Hay Fever
• Headaches
• Lupus
• Muscle Soreness
• Nail Health
• Pain & Inflammation
• Sinusitis
• Sports Injuries
• Temporamandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)

Allergies

An allergy refers to an adverse reaction to a substance that is normally harmless to most people. Allergic reactions can be triggered by a wide variety of substances, including food, chemicals and elements in the environment.

How it is Diagnosed
Common allergy symptoms include headaches, fatigue, sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy sinuses, mood and behavior changes, diarrhea, coughing, skin rashes, and muscular aches and pains.

How MSM can help
MSM can help alleviate allergy symptoms by blocking the receptivity of histamine in the sensitive tissues. This prevents the histamine from causing inflammation, swelling, and fluid build-up, thus relieving a person’s symptoms. Also MSM provides sulfur which aids in the production of antibodies that can combat against germs and allergens, and produces beneficial enzymes.

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Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, accounting for what the American Geriatrics Society reports as the number one chronic pain condition. A direct result of wear and tear on the joints in the body, the rate of degeneration in this condition varies depending on genetic predisposition, lifestyle, biochemical and hormonal changes, and profession.
Osteoarthritis affects the connecting bone surfaces in joints which are coated with a layer of cushioning tissue known as cartilage. When cartilage is intact, the soft and spongy tissue allows for locomotion and painless movement. Over time, this tissue becomes damaged from years of wear and tear. The result is a gradual degeneration of the cartilage, resulting in inflammation, stiffness, decreased function of the joint and increased pain.

How it is Diagnosed
Rheumatoid arthritis may be difficult to diagnose. Many other conditions can resemble it and its symptoms can develop insidiously. Blood tests and x-rays may show normal results for months after the onset of joint pain. Even after rheumatoid arthritis has been diagnosed, it is extremely important to determine whether the course of the disease is benign (type 1) or aggressive (type 2) in order to treat the problem appropriately.

How MSM can help
MSM cannot cure arthritis, but can be a relief from the everyday aches and pains. MSM can help by increasing the blood flow to the affected areas, helping to reduce pain by aiding in the healing process. MSM’s anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the swelling. MSM contains an analgesic that acts locally (in the area of the pain) and in the brain, slowing the neurological impulses that cause pain. MSM can be taken orally or used as a gel or lotion on the surface of the joint.

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Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the bronchial tubes, the passages that carry oxygen into the lungs and gaseous waste products out. The airways become inflamed and spasm, excessive amounts of clogging mucous develop, and muscles surrounding the airways become constricted. In acute asthmatic episodes, breathing becomes so labored and difficult that the condition becomes as life threatening as any killer disease.

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness, affecting about 10 percent of children. In total, about 15 million Americans suffer from asthma, 5,000 die from it each year, double thee rate of 20 years ago.

How MSM can help
Ronald Lawrence, M.D. comments that asthma is now recognized as primarily an inflammatory process. It often has allergic elements to it, but antihistamines can frequently make the asthma worse, and should be used with great caution. This is where MSM can be helpful, because MSM helps both the asthma and allergies. He has noted increases in forced expiration volume (FEV) of up to 70 percent in patients. FEV is a measurement of the bronchial output, which is the primary problem with asthmatics.

Asthmatics frequently have minor chronic dehydration. By drinking more water they can reduce the frequency of attacks. The condition may even be able to be controlled completely by drinking water.1 Lawrence, M.D. recommends drinking 8 ounces of water every waking hour.

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Auto-Immune Diseases

Study Reports
An animal study at the Oregon Health Sciences University’s Department of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases was conducted in 1986. The study involved mice prone to auto-immune proliferative diseases resembling leukemia and lymphoma in humans. The life span of these disease prone mice is 5½ months. They develop anemia, lupus-like kidney disease, and enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen and thymus.2

In the study, one group of mice was provided with DMSO or MSM in their daily drinking water while the control group was maintained on normal water. After 39 weeks, all of the nonsupplemented mice were dead. At 46 weeks, nearly 80 percent of the DMSO and MSM supplemented mice were still living. On average, DMSO and MSM nearly doubled the lifespan of the mice to 10 months. Researchers Jane Morton and Benjamin Siegel reported that the DMSO and MSM mice remained healthy and vigorous throughout their lives. The mice showed significant reduction of anemia and the typical enlargements of lymph nodes and spleen. There were no signs of toxicity even on high doses of MSM – the equivalent of 6 to 8 grams per 2.2 pounds of body weight daily. By comparison, an adult weighing 150 pounds may take 6 to 8 grams per day.2

The researchers Morton and Siegel reporting in Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine: “We have found DMSO and MSM to be virtually identical in their ability to diminish the severity of these disorders. . . [MSM] may be the biologically effective molecule in these reactions.” The precise mechanism for this protective role is yet unclear.

In a follow-up study with laboratory rodents using the same model, DMSO and MSM were again found to extend life span as well as reduce the severity of anemia and kidney damage and lessen the degree of spleen enlargement. In the second study, some of the animals were started on DMSO and MSM when they were seven months old and their underlying terminal disease process was well under way. Even under these circumstances, their lives were extended substantially.3

Morton and Siegel found a significant reduction in certain antibodies that react with DNA and cause kidney damage. “Although we are not sure about the mechanism of action, DMSO and MSM may act by decreasing inflammatory responses and the production of autoantibodies and immune complexes,” they concluded, recommending further studies.3

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most widely reported repetitive strain injury (RSI) that occurs in the workplace. RSIs affect the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and back of workers who do the same repetitive motions for many months or years. The eight bones in the wrist – the carpals – form a tunnel-like passage filled with tendons that control finger movement and the median nerve that carries nerve impulses to and from the hand. Repetitive flexing and extension of the wrist may cause an inflammation of the protective sheaths surrounding the nerve, which produces symptoms.

Conventional treatment includes wrist braces, anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and steroid injections. Failing these, surgery is offered.

How MSM can help
Jacob M.D. and Lawrence M.D. believe that oral and topical MSM can be as good as any conservative approach to treatment. Approximately 70 percent or more of the individuals who take MSM regularly report significant reduction of pain. This improvement may come quickly or may not become significantly noticeable for a couple of months, depending on the severity of the condition, and whether the person continues with the motions which cause the aggravation.4

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Constipation

How MSM can help
The use of sulfur in large doses as a laxative dates back to antiquity. Sulfur and molasses, a folk remedy from yesteryear, was given for a laxative effect. The sulfur in MSM may provide that same benefit.

As a dietary supplement, Jacob M.D. and Lawrence M.D. say that MSM produces a general “tonic” effect in the bowels and normalizes bowel function, particularly for older people. At various nursing homes, the nurses have reported to Jacob and Lawrence that MSM works well for constipation, even for individuals not responding to Metamucil or stool softeners.4

A few elderly patients have obtained relief from constipation with very small doses of MSM, as little as 100 milligrams. In many cases more may be needed – between 500 mg and 5 grams per day.

One of the characteristics of MSM (a side effect) is that if you take too much of it, you can develop an increased stool frequency. For individuals with constipation, the result, however is not diarrhea, but a normalcy of bowel movements. Jacob and Lawrence recommend use of MSM as an aid to bowel normalcy by itself or in conjunction with whatever else you may be doing.4

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Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is the term for a common rheumatic disease previously referred to as soft tissue rheumatism, fibrosis, or nonarticular rheumatism. According to the Arthritis Foundation, fibromyalgia is the second leading arthritis-related condition in the United States. Unlike common degenerative arthritis, which involves the joints, fibromyalgia attacks the soft tissue (muscles, tendons and ligaments).

How it is Diagnosed
Symptoms of this condition include persistent burning, soreness, pain and stiffness all over, flu-like feelings, headaches, irritable bowel, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression. While the severity of the symptoms varies on a case-by-case basis, most patients experience discomfort on a daily basis, and some pain is always present. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but possibilities include a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection, physical trauma, poor diet, steroids, birth control pills, antibiotics, food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, and chemical sensitivities.

How MSM can help
MSM can help Fibromyalgia by increasing the blood flow to the areas of the disease, helping to reduce pain by aiding in the healing process. MSM’s anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the swelling, thereby reducing pain.

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Food Allergies

Food allergies are more difficult to diagnose, as they often cause delayed reactions, taking from three hours to three days to be evident. Symptoms vary from gastrointestinal tract disturbances, hives, and headaches, to behavioral changes. Environment illness expert Doris Rapp, M.D. author of “Is This Your Child’s World?” reports that “repeated scientific studies have indicated that as many as 66 percent of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) actually have an unrecognized food allergy causing their symptoms.”5

How MSM can help
MSM doesn’t cure food allergies. However, patients of Jacob M.D. and Lawrence, M.D. say that in many instances MSM gives them tolerance to a food they could not otherwise eat. All that’s needed apparently is to take MSM prior to, or during a meal that contains the forbidden food. Trent Nichols, M.D., a gastroenterologist, and medical director of the Center for Nutrition and Digestive Disorders in Hanover, Pennsylvania reports that he has found MSM helpful against food allergies, including his own. During 1997 and 1998, about 40 of Nichols’ patients report that they have benefited from MSM.4

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Hair Growth

Proper dietary intake is essential for healthy hair and nails. Hair and nails are made up of protein (keratin) that contains high levels of sulfur. To increase the health and strength of hair and nails, eat plenty of sulfur-rich supplements.

How MSM can help
MSM can help hair and nails to grow stronger and healthier due to sulfur content, which naturally aids in beauty. Cysteine and cystin, two amino acids that add strength to hair and nails both require sulfur as building blocks.

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Hay Fever

Hay fever is an allergy related to pollen in the air. Also referred to as “seasonal allergic rhinitis” or “pollinosis,” symptoms and their severity depend on the individual. Common symptoms include sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, swelling eyes, and itching nose, eyes, mouth and ears. Asthma can also accompany hay fever, resulting in labored breathing and subsequent difficulty carrying out routine tasks.

How MSM can help
MSM can ease hay fever symptoms by blocking the receptivity of histamine in the sensitive tissues. This prevents the histamine from producing inflammation, swelling, and fluid build-up, thus relieving the symptoms of hay fever. Additionally, MSM is one-third sulfur, a substance which aids in the production of antibodies that can combat the germs and allergens, and produces beneficial enzymes.

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Headaches

Headaches are the most common causes of patient dissatisfaction in the nation, according to a 1994 survey conducted by Consumer Reports magazine. The majority of headaches are related to combinations of muscle spasms at the back of the neck and changes in blood vessels feeding into the head. Tension is often a contributing factor for headaches as well, generated from emotional stress, fatigue, misalignments of the cervical spine, premenstrual pain, nutritional deficiencies, eye disorders and medication.

Headaches are often exacerbated by the very medications intended to get rid of them, a phenomenon known as “analgesic rebound.” These medications, including aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, are often taken in excess to ward off potential headaches, resulting in a physical ‘dependency’ to the drug and subsequent ‘withdrawal’ headaches when the medications exit the system.

How MSM can help
MSM can help headaches by reducing the amount of muscle spasms that occur in the area behind the neck. When taken daily, it can increase the size of the blood vessels allowing for more blood flow to reduce inflammation and tension, which can cause headaches. Also used as a cream, MSM can help take away symptoms after the headache has started.

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Lupus

Systemic lupus is a destructive disease. It typically damages kidneys, and many people with the condition require kidney transplants.

How MSM can help
Jacob M.D. and Lawrence M.D. report that MSM can provide major relief for lupus. It can be used in conjunction with the standard cortisone treatment, or alone. By itself it improves joint, skin, and vascular symptoms. Patients taking MSM experience results at least as good as from taking cortisone, but without the side effects associated with the drug. MSM doesn’t cure lupus any more than cortisone does, but they report that it can be an effective treatment due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating actions. These reports are a result of treating several dozen lupus patients with MSM.4
See also autoimmune diseases.

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Muscle Soreness

The pounding and trauma associated with activities and sports are notorious for damaging the body and inflicting pain. When the body works a muscle too hard, it damages and often outright destroys many of its fibers. Major muscles, receiving the majority of the stress, generally suffer the most damage. The painful consequence of all-out-effort (the way you might feel the day after a tough workout at the gym) is called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Repeated trauma to muscle tissue can accumulate over time, resulting in strength-and-motion-limiting adhesions and scar tissue.

How MSM can help
MSM can help muscle soreness by dilating the blood vessels to increase the supply of blood into the area of soreness. It works to increase the blood flow and reduce muscle spasm. By increasing the blood supply, it will also reduce inflammation. The analgesic has a painkilling effect that acts locally (in the area of the pain) and in the brain, slowing the neurological impulses that cause pain. MSM can be taken orally or used as a gel or lotion on the surface of the sore muscle.

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Nail Health

Proper dietary intake is essential for healthy hair and nails. Hair and nails are made up of protein (keratin) that contains high levels of sulfur. To increase the health and strength of hair and nails, eat plenty of sulfur-rich supplements.

How MSM can help
MSM can help hair and nails to grow stronger and healthier due to sulfur content, which naturally aids in beauty. Cysteine and cystin, two amino acids that add strength to hair and nails both require sulfur as building blocks.

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Pain & Inflammation

Pain and inflammation are common indicators of a physical problem. Pain is a “warning flag” that lets you know something is wrong, and inflammation occurs to protect the body from something it is trying to heal.

How MSM can help
MSM can help by acting as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It will work to increase the blood supply and reduce muscle spasm. By increasing the blood supply, it will reduce inflammation. The analgesic acts locally (in the area of the pain) and in the brain, slowing the neurological impulses that cause pain. MSM can be taken orally, or used as a gel or lotion on the surface of the joint.

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Scar Tissue

Scar tissue is tissue that has been damaged and healed with a discoloration or enlargement of the skin. Scar tissue occurs when the damaged area heals in a cross-linking pattern, which enlarges the area. Scar tissue can be stiff and have a decreased elasticity. Scar tissue can be a result of burns, cuts or scrapes. Internal scarring is formed from asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema.

How MSM can help
MSM can help by making the cross-linking process less irregular, minimizing the area of the scar and reducing the amount of pain. MSM can be taken orally before and after a surgical procedure, and can also be applied as a gel or lotion after the incision closes up. MSM can help internal scars caused by asthma, bronchitis and emphysema soften, aiding in the breathing process.

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Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the tiny cavities close to your nose and eyes. Normally, air passes in and out of these spaces and is cleaned and filtered in the process. However, colds and allergies can cause swelling inside the cavities, resulting in infections and inflammation. Typical symptoms are headache, pressure around the face and eyes, thick mucus, and a persistent cold. Sinus infections can last for many weeks and become a recurring problem.

How MSM can help
Often MSM brings relief with a week or two, sometimes even faster. Jacob M.D. and Lawrence M.D. recommend that their patients take the supplement orally on a daily basis, but also administer it directly into your nose.4
In addition to oral dosage, they recommend that patients mix pure MSM crystals or empty MSM capsules into warm water. They use about a level teaspoon per ounce of water. Use a spray bottle or dropper and apply three or four times into each nostril several times a day. The solution may cause a slight burning sensation. Most people say that after a day or two they get accustomed to it and then have no problem.4

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Sports Injuries

The pounding and trauma associated with activities and sports are notorious for damaging the body and inflicting pain. When the body works a muscle too hard, it damages and often outright destroys many of its fibers. Major muscles, receiving the majority of the stress, generally suffer the most damage. The painful consequence of all-out-effort (the way you might feel the day after a tough workout at the gym) is called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Repeated trauma to muscle tissue can accumulate over time, resulting in strength-and-motion-limiting adhesions and scar tissue.

How MSM can help
MSM is widely used by athletes, bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts to reduce the pain, soreness, and inflammation associated with injuries, strained, or cramped muscles, and over-extended joints. Aches and pains in the knees, shoulders or other joints are often greatly reduced, and delayed-onset muscle soreness is diminished, if not eliminated completely.

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Temporamandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)

TMJ syndrome involves symptoms that can range from a dull ache in front of the ears to devastating pain and dysfunction throughout the body, says the Jaw Joints & Allied Musculo-Skeletal Disorders Foundation of Boston. Clicking and grating the joints, inability to open or close the mouth freely, and difficulty in chewing and swallowing are often evident. This may affect up to 30 percent of the population according to the American Dental Association.

How MSM can help
Jacob M.D. and Lawrence M.D. say that MSM can work well for TMJ problems. Use it orally as a daily supplement and apply the gel or lotion to the affected joint. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, softens scar tissue, increases blood supply, and reduces muscle spasm.4

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References:

1. Batmanghelidj, F. M.D., Your Body’s Many Cries for Water. Global Health Solutions, Inc. Falls Church, VA
2. Morton, Jane I, and Benjamin V. Siegel; Effects of oral dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl sulfone (MSM) on murine autoimmune lympoprolific disease By Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1986, 183:227-30.
3. Morton, Jane I, and R.D. Moore. Lupus nephritis and deaths are diminished in B/W mice drinking 3% water solutions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl sulfone (MSM). Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 1986, 40 (3):322.
4. Jacob, Stanley W. M.D., Lawrence, Ronald M. M.D., Ph.D., Zucker, Martin. The Miracle of MSM; The Natural Solution for Pain. New York: Berkley Books, 1999.
5. Rapp, Doris. Is this Your Child’s World? New York: Bantam Books, 1996.

Non-footnoted items are published with the exclusive permission of Carolwood Corporation.

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