DMSO stands for dimethyl sulfoxide. It is a sulfur compound with amazing medicinal properties. It is produced naturally during wood processing. DMSO has been approved for medical use in Germany since 1978. In this article I will briefly explain what effects you can expect from DMSO and what the side effects are: Can DMSO really improve symptoms? Or do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages?
DMSO viewed at the molecular level
To answer these questions, we need to go to the atomic level: If you take a closer look at the structure of the DMSO molecule, you will see that it has the same basic structure as water! Every child knows that there is no life without water. Our body consists largely of water molecules, which take on many transport and metabolic tasks at the cellular level. The fact that the whole thing works so smoothly is due to the special properties of water molecules: water molecules form hydrogen bonds. These in turn influence the flow properties of the water. This is called polarity. The principle behind DMSO is similar to that of water molecules, but the polarity is more than double!
What happens when DMSO enters the body? It forces its way between the water molecules. The result: the hydrogen bonds break and the water molecules stay with the DMSO molecules, which have a greater attraction than the water molecules. This changes the viscosity of the entire body fluid. Due to its high polarity, DMSO can even transport fat-soluble substances, which water alone often cannot do. This effect is used to heal chronic diseases.
What is DMSO supposed to help with?
DMSO is recommended for rubbing into the skin in cases of chronic inflammation of all kinds, pain, painful itching and sports injuries.
DMSO is particularly well-known, for example, as a cream for applying to arthritis, which often manifests itself in painful and swollen knee joints and is accompanied by restricted mobility. In such cases, those affected are usually prescribed painkillers, the so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these can damage the stomach. Many patients prefer to use pain-relieving ointments containing diclofenac or DMSO instead - or as a supplement to them.
DMSO is even said to help with certain skin conditions and burns because it can soothe the skin. It has the unique ability to quickly penetrate the skin and spread throughout the body. This means it can also be used as a carrier for other medications (such as cortisone) to transport them to their destination in the body.
The "side effects"
I have deliberately put the word "side effects" in quotation marks. The side effects of DMSO described in the literature or by patients are actually mostly proof of its effectiveness! The most commonly described side effects are the following:
-> Some patients reported reddening of the skin. This is actually a desired effect of DMSO, as it shows that the small blood vessels in the skin expand. Anyone who is prone to reddening of the skin can rub their skin with a fatty, nourishing cream after an hour.
-> The third side effect that occurs in some patients is short-term dizziness and vertigo associated with mild headaches and tiredness. Again, this is due to the vasodilating effect.
-> Finally, there are DMSO users who report increased salivation. The reason is that the body is beginning to heal. DMSO stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, a part of the autonomic nervous system, to increase activity. This increases the activity of our salivary glands. It may be a little unpleasant at first, but it is a good sign and subsides after a while.
This is what you need to consider when taking it
As with all medicines, overdosing should of course be avoided. Otherwise, allergic reactions or stomach cramps and vomiting can occur. Secondly, it should be noted that interactions with other medicines administered at the same time have been documented. DMSO can increase their effect. However, this does not have to be a negative thing, quite the opposite - you can use this principle and adjust the dosage of other medicines accordingly. This is often done with painkillers, antibiotics or cortisone. So it's a good thing for the patient. Unfortunately, not all medicines have been researched, so the benefit of this "side effect" has probably not yet been fully realized.
Reports suggest that interactions are more likely to occur with high doses. Anyone who is unsure about the effect of DMSO on other medications should start with a small amount of DMSO and wait to see how their body reacts. Brown-eyed people seem to tolerate DMSO better than fair-skinned people. As long as DMSO is dosed correctly, no significant side effects are to be expected.
My conclusion
DMSO is a natural medicine that has been known for over half a century and has helped many patients to improve their quality of life. It is considered to be seven times as safe as aspirin! To what extent this is really true is debatable. One thing has become clear over the years, however: the side effects of DMSO are limited. There are skin reactions here and there, but these are actually just an indication that the medication is being used. No serious side effects have been identified to date. In fact, the drug has proven itself in many areas, be it in the field of beauty or in the field of health. The healing liquid is just as popular with doctors and alternative practitioners as it is with patients and will certainly become even more important in the future. Further studies would need to be carried out in order to research both positive and undesirable effects in more detail.
Here is a book tip for anyone who would like to learn more about the subject - "The DMSO Handbook: Hidden Healing Knowledge from Nature", now in its seventh edition. The author is Dr. Hartmut Fischer, a natural scientist and alternative practitioner. He has been using the substance successfully in his private life and in his practice for a long time. In the DMSO Handbook you will learn everything you need to know about DMSO, in a way that even laypeople can understand. It contains case studies, dosage instructions and many other suggestions on this exciting topic.
DMSO viewed at the molecular level
To answer these questions, we need to go to the atomic level: If you take a closer look at the structure of the DMSO molecule, you will see that it has the same basic structure as water! Every child knows that there is no life without water. Our body consists largely of water molecules, which take on many transport and metabolic tasks at the cellular level. The fact that the whole thing works so smoothly is due to the special properties of water molecules: water molecules form hydrogen bonds. These in turn influence the flow properties of the water. This is called polarity. The principle behind DMSO is similar to that of water molecules, but the polarity is more than double!
What happens when DMSO enters the body? It forces its way between the water molecules. The result: the hydrogen bonds break and the water molecules stay with the DMSO molecules, which have a greater attraction than the water molecules. This changes the viscosity of the entire body fluid. Due to its high polarity, DMSO can even transport fat-soluble substances, which water alone often cannot do. This effect is used to heal chronic diseases.
What is DMSO supposed to help with?
DMSO is recommended for rubbing into the skin in cases of chronic inflammation of all kinds, pain, painful itching and sports injuries.
DMSO is particularly well-known, for example, as a cream for applying to arthritis, which often manifests itself in painful and swollen knee joints and is accompanied by restricted mobility. In such cases, those affected are usually prescribed painkillers, the so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these can damage the stomach. Many patients prefer to use pain-relieving ointments containing diclofenac or DMSO instead - or as a supplement to them.
DMSO is even said to help with certain skin conditions and burns because it can soothe the skin. It has the unique ability to quickly penetrate the skin and spread throughout the body. This means it can also be used as a carrier for other medications (such as cortisone) to transport them to their destination in the body.
The "side effects"
I have deliberately put the word "side effects" in quotation marks. The side effects of DMSO described in the literature or by patients are actually mostly proof of its effectiveness! The most commonly described side effects are the following:
-> Some patients reported reddening of the skin. This is actually a desired effect of DMSO, as it shows that the small blood vessels in the skin expand. Anyone who is prone to reddening of the skin can rub their skin with a fatty, nourishing cream after an hour.
-> The third side effect that occurs in some patients is short-term dizziness and vertigo associated with mild headaches and tiredness. Again, this is due to the vasodilating effect.
-> Finally, there are DMSO users who report increased salivation. The reason is that the body is beginning to heal. DMSO stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, a part of the autonomic nervous system, to increase activity. This increases the activity of our salivary glands. It may be a little unpleasant at first, but it is a good sign and subsides after a while.
This is what you need to consider when taking it
As with all medicines, overdosing should of course be avoided. Otherwise, allergic reactions or stomach cramps and vomiting can occur. Secondly, it should be noted that interactions with other medicines administered at the same time have been documented. DMSO can increase their effect. However, this does not have to be a negative thing, quite the opposite - you can use this principle and adjust the dosage of other medicines accordingly. This is often done with painkillers, antibiotics or cortisone. So it's a good thing for the patient. Unfortunately, not all medicines have been researched, so the benefit of this "side effect" has probably not yet been fully realized.
Reports suggest that interactions are more likely to occur with high doses. Anyone who is unsure about the effect of DMSO on other medications should start with a small amount of DMSO and wait to see how their body reacts. Brown-eyed people seem to tolerate DMSO better than fair-skinned people. As long as DMSO is dosed correctly, no significant side effects are to be expected.
My conclusion
DMSO is a natural medicine that has been known for over half a century and has helped many patients to improve their quality of life. It is considered to be seven times as safe as aspirin! To what extent this is really true is debatable. One thing has become clear over the years, however: the side effects of DMSO are limited. There are skin reactions here and there, but these are actually just an indication that the medication is being used. No serious side effects have been identified to date. In fact, the drug has proven itself in many areas, be it in the field of beauty or in the field of health. The healing liquid is just as popular with doctors and alternative practitioners as it is with patients and will certainly become even more important in the future. Further studies would need to be carried out in order to research both positive and undesirable effects in more detail.
Here is a book tip for anyone who would like to learn more about the subject - "The DMSO Handbook: Hidden Healing Knowledge from Nature", now in its seventh edition. The author is Dr. Hartmut Fischer, a natural scientist and alternative practitioner. He has been using the substance successfully in his private life and in his practice for a long time. In the DMSO Handbook you will learn everything you need to know about DMSO, in a way that even laypeople can understand. It contains case studies, dosage instructions and many other suggestions on this exciting topic.
