DMSO: Fast Effect Against Acute Pain

The rapid pain-relieving effect is a clear advantage of DMSO, especially in acute pain conditions, says Dr. Stanley Jacob. If the patient suffers from chronic pain, the treatment period can be extended to up to six weeks. However, DMSO is less of a drug. The agent should be understood more as a "therapeutic principle". As a new form of treatment, this "new principle within medicine" can usher in a new therapeutic approach, following the antibiotic and cortisone principle. During the treatment of seven patients, Edward E. Rosenbaum and Stanley W. Jacobs were able to observe how quickly DMSO works in reality. The patients from Portland, Oregon suffered from enormous pain in the shoulder joint caused by bursitis. At the beginning of the therapy, the patients were barely able to cope with their everyday lives. Based on an article in Der Spiegel, those affected expected a clear relief of pain after the first two weeks at the earliest. But these expectations were exceeded: Just a few minutes after the painful shoulder areas were rubbed with the test substance, astonishing results were observed. Doctors at the University of Oregon reported that the effect began after just 20 minutes. Within these few minutes, the pain of all seven patients disappeared almost completely. The mobility of the affected shoulder joint also improved enormously during this phase. A study of 213 patients conducted by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio in 1978 confirmed that a large proportion of those affected who suffered from inflammatory urogenital disorders reported clearly noticeable improvements in their pain after being treated with DMSO. DMSO is particularly characterized by its analgesic properties. According to laboratory studies, this pain suppression is caused by the nerve blockade of peripheral C fibers that transmit pain. The result is a considerable reduction in pain, even to the point of complete freedom from symptoms, which can last up to six hours. Less dangerous than aspirin At the end of the 1960s, Richard Charles Lebo led a long-term study in California, specifically at the State Prison Hospital, which ran from November 21, 1967 to February 20, 1968. This study was designed to provide information about general toxicity. The participants in the study rubbed an 80 percent DMSO gel onto their skin. This is a significantly higher dosage than with a typical DMSO gel. In summary, the results of the study concluded that DMSO was "very safe" in these cases. This view is shared by one of the co-discoverers of the pain-relieving effects of DMSO, Robert Herschler. He also describes the toxicity of the drug as "very low" and "safer than aspirin". Unrestricted approval for DMSO from the FDA has yet to be forthcoming. According to Herschler, the main reason for this is that the agency seems to be somewhat overwhelmed with regard to DMSO. The FDA has announced that it has "neither sufficient budget nor staff" to be able to deal with the clarification of the toxicity and effectiveness of DMSO. According to Herschler, however, it would not be possible to refuse approval. The FDA has around 100,000 patient reports that speak in favor of DMSO. In the professional world, DMSO has not attracted enough attention to undergo the "disciplined and controlled type of evaluation" necessary for the approval of all drugs, says J. Richard Crout, defending the FDA's apparent lack of interest. The pharmaceutical industry is less interested in the substance, which is easy to explain. For example, DMSO is effective against a wide range of ailments and could therefore compete with the company's own products. Another fact that speaks little for interest in DMSO from a marketing perspective is the fact that no patent can be obtained for the drug. The reason for this is that the drug is used in industry as well as pharmacologically. In addition, according to the relevant companies, there are plenty of other substances with a similar effect. Stanley Jacob was assisted in his studies by Terry Bristol, chairman of the Institute for Science, Engineering and Public Policy in Oregon, among others. Bristol, on the other hand, sees clear advantages in the use of DMSO. For example, the drug is comparatively less toxic. At the same time, significantly fewer side effects are known. DMSO is seven times safer than aspirin - this is what the therapeutic index shows. The side effects are also manageable. For example, skin irritation and a garlic-like smell have been observed. However, these side effects are very individual and usually disappear after several treatments. Inhaling DMSO vapors should also be avoided and intravenous administration can cause headaches. Clear toxicity and carcinogenic effects have not yet been proven.