STORY AT-A-GLANCE<\/h3>\n\n\n- DMSO is a remarkably safe chemical that protects cells from otherwise fatal stressors (e.g., freezing, burning, shockwaves, ischemia)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Since the heart, brain, and spinal cord are particularly vulnerable to injury, DMSO can produce miraculous results when those injuries happen<\/span><\/li>\n
- Despite decades of research, many serious shortcomings exist with how we treat strokes (including brain bleeds), heart attacks, and spinal cord injuries<\/span><\/li>\n
- As I will show here, had the FDA not sabotaged DMSO\u2019s adoption, in addition to countless lives being saved, millions could have been protected from a lifetime of disability or paralysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
If I were stranded on a desert island or knew the world was ending and I could only bring a few therapies with me, one of them, without a doubt, would be DMSO. This is because:<\/p>\n
\n- It effectively addresses acute injuries (e.g., sprains) and chronic musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., arthritis).<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s one of the most effective pain killers in existence.<\/li>\n
- It treats severe, often incurable illnesses and prevents long-term disability.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s one of the safest medically active substances available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yet, despite it taking the world by storm in the 1960s and thousands of studies being performed that corroborated its benefits, outside of it being a laboratory chemical or an alternative therapy some people use for joint pain, few are even aware of DMSO\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n
This was due to the FDA waging a multi-decade long war against DMSO (despite widespread outcry from Congress and the public).<\/p>\n
What Is DMSO?<\/h2>\n
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) exists throughout nature1<\/span><\/sup> and has two breakdown products within the body.<\/p>\n![\"what](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/what-is-dmso.jpg\")
<\/div>\nMost of it is oxidized to methylsulfonylmethane (MSM \u2014 a commonly used joint healing supplement), while a small amount is reduced to DMS and gives rise to DMSO\u2019s characteristic “side effect” a distinctive garlic or clam-like odor that is excreted through the mouth and skin for a few hours that some individuals have difficulty tolerating.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> Individuals with insufficient oxidation (who are in a state of reductive stress) are more likely to produce DMS. In turn, when this is addressed, their “DMSO odor” often disappears.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nDue to its unique chemistry, DMSO has two remarkable properties:<\/p>\n
\n- It acts as a near-universal solvent (e.g., it interacts with a vast range of biomolecules).2<\/span>,<\/sup>3<\/span><\/sup><\/li>\n
- It\u2019s able to pass through biological membranes without damaging them (something to my knowledge, nothing else can do).4<\/span><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Because of this, DMSO will rapidly enter the body (including the brain) regardless of its route of administration (e.g., within 5 minutes after going on the skin it can be found in the blood,5<\/span><\/sup> and within an hour it can be found within the bones6<\/span><\/sup>), but simultaneously does not accumulate within the body.7<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\nDMSO, in turn, has an almost endless number of uses as it can be applied in almost any manner. Almost any drug or substance can be combined with it and administered through the skin (e.g., steroids, NSAIDs, vitamin C, or hydrogen peroxide). In many cases, the effect of those drugs is enhanced, and simultaneously, their toxicity is reduced (although, in some cases, the toxicity increases).<\/p>\n
Cellular Protection<\/h2>\n
DMSO\u2019s ability to spread throughout the body (including into the brain) initially seems concerning \u2014 however rather than be toxic to cells, DMSO heals them and protects them from damage from many otherwise lethal stressors (e.g., heat, blood loss, radiation, sonic shockwaves).<\/p>\n
For example, since DMSO does not expand when it freezes and greatly lowers the freezing point of cells, it was a revolutionary substance for preserving frozen cells,8<\/span><\/sup> and likewise, many cases exist<\/a>of DMSO saving the fingers or toes that otherwise would have required amputation.<\/p>\nNote:<\/strong> Due to the intense scrutiny DMSO received, thousands of papers have been published on its biological effects (including numerous animal safety studies and one where humans were exposed to 3 to 30 times the typical dose for 90 days9<\/span><\/sup>) \u2014 all of which did not report any significant side effects from DMSO.<\/em><\/p>\nIn turn, those studies found the most common side effect (affecting 50% to 75% of users) is (reversible) irritation at the site when 70% DMSO is applied topically on the skin (which can be easily mitigated) and the most significant was an allergic reaction in approximately 1 out of every 2000 people (which can easily be screened for).<\/em><\/p>\n\nCirculatory Disorders<\/h2>\n
DMSO is remarkably effective in managing circulatory disorders, effectively protecting tissues and enhancing blood flow by removing excess fluid, improving circulation, and dissolving clots. Its benefits are particularly evident in conditions like Raynaud\u2019s syndrome, where it eliminated symptoms in 50% of patients,10<\/span><\/sup> and in diabetic circulatory issues, with studies showing over a 94% success11<\/span><\/sup> rate in treating diabetic ulcers.<\/p>\nDMSO also works wonders for varicose veins, often providing noticeable improvements within minutes by strengthening vessel walls and enhancing capillary circulation. In a study of 67 patients with varicose ulcers,12<\/span><\/sup> remarkable responses were documented, even in chronic cases. Additionally, DMSO has been shown to help many other circulatory disorders:13<\/span>,<\/sup>14<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n![\"dmso](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/dmso-condition.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"dmso](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/dmso-condition-1.jpg\")
<\/div>\nKey mechanisms behind DMSO\u2019s effectiveness include:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 <\/span>Heart function \u2014<\/strong> It can increase or decrease heart contractions without affecting rhythm, enhancing cardiac output and simultaneously dilates critical blood vessels.15<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\u2022 <\/span>Anticlotting properties \u2014<\/strong> DMSO prevents blood clot formation in the body, reduces clot promoting prostaglandins, and is a powerful platelet deaggregator.16<\/span>,<\/sup>17<\/span>,<\/sup>18<\/span><\/sup> Its ability to safely block platelet bonding, scavenge harmful radicals, and inhibit tissue factor expression makes DMSO a standout in circulatory health.19<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHeart Attacks<\/h2>\n![\"cardiac](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/dmso-cardiac-actions.jpg\")
<\/div>\nGiven all of these protective and circulatory enhancing properties, DMSO is an immensely promising treatment for heart attacks and heart attack recovery,20<\/span><\/sup> and this benefit has been demonstrated in numerous animal studies.21<\/span>,<\/sup>22<\/span><\/sup> Likewise, I and colleagues have had a few situations arise where DMSO was administered to someone having a heart attack and successfully treated it.<\/p>\nNote:<\/strong> We\u2019ve also had some success treating heart attacks by rapidly restoring someone\u2019s physiologic zeta potential<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nDMSO and Strokes<\/h2>\n
Roughly 3.1% of adult Americans have experienced a stroke23<\/span><\/sup> (a figure we expect to rise from the COVID-19 vaccines). Each year, this translates to about 800,000 people in the United States having a stroke, in 2022, 165,393 dying and between 20% to 40% of survivors experiencing long term disability.24<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\nBecause of the harm strokes pose to society, and the rate at which brain tissue deteriorates once its blood supply is lost, the medical system prioritizes treating strokes as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Strokes come in two main types: ischemic (caused by clots blocking blood flow) and hemorrhagic (due to ruptured blood vessels). The standard treatment for ischemic strokes is tPA,25<\/span><\/sup> a clot-busting drug. However, administering tPA can be deadly if the stroke is hemorrhagic, so patients must first wait for a CT scan before receiving it.<\/p>\nFurthermore, tPA is only effective within a limited time frame (up to 3 to 4.5 hours26<\/span><\/sup>), and only a small percentage of patients (1.8% to 8.5%) actually receive it. Among those who do, only 13%27<\/span><\/sup>see significant improvement. Additionally, tPA can cause serious bleeding complications28<\/span><\/sup> (e.g., 6.4% risk29<\/span><\/sup> of a symptomatic brain bleed) and can\u2019t eliminate larger clots.<\/p>\nIn short, strokes remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.30<\/span><\/sup> This highlights the need for a better treatment that can safely:<\/p>\n
- \n
- DMSO is a remarkably safe chemical that protects cells from otherwise fatal stressors (e.g., freezing, burning, shockwaves, ischemia)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Since the heart, brain, and spinal cord are particularly vulnerable to injury, DMSO can produce miraculous results when those injuries happen<\/span><\/li>\n
- Despite decades of research, many serious shortcomings exist with how we treat strokes (including brain bleeds), heart attacks, and spinal cord injuries<\/span><\/li>\n
- As I will show here, had the FDA not sabotaged DMSO\u2019s adoption, in addition to countless lives being saved, millions could have been protected from a lifetime of disability or paralysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nIf I were stranded on a desert island or knew the world was ending and I could only bring a few therapies with me, one of them, without a doubt, would be DMSO. This is because:<\/p>\n
- \n
- It effectively addresses acute injuries (e.g., sprains) and chronic musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., arthritis).<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s one of the most effective pain killers in existence.<\/li>\n
- It treats severe, often incurable illnesses and prevents long-term disability.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s one of the safest medically active substances available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yet, despite it taking the world by storm in the 1960s and thousands of studies being performed that corroborated its benefits, outside of it being a laboratory chemical or an alternative therapy some people use for joint pain, few are even aware of DMSO\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n
This was due to the FDA waging a multi-decade long war against DMSO (despite widespread outcry from Congress and the public).<\/p>\n
What Is DMSO?<\/h2>\n
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) exists throughout nature1<\/span><\/sup> and has two breakdown products within the body.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nMost of it is oxidized to methylsulfonylmethane (MSM \u2014 a commonly used joint healing supplement), while a small amount is reduced to DMS and gives rise to DMSO\u2019s characteristic “side effect” a distinctive garlic or clam-like odor that is excreted through the mouth and skin for a few hours that some individuals have difficulty tolerating.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> Individuals with insufficient oxidation (who are in a state of reductive stress) are more likely to produce DMS. In turn, when this is addressed, their “DMSO odor” often disappears.<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/div>\nDue to its unique chemistry, DMSO has two remarkable properties:<\/p>\n
- \n
- It acts as a near-universal solvent (e.g., it interacts with a vast range of biomolecules).2<\/span>,<\/sup>3<\/span><\/sup><\/li>\n
- It\u2019s able to pass through biological membranes without damaging them (something to my knowledge, nothing else can do).4<\/span><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Because of this, DMSO will rapidly enter the body (including the brain) regardless of its route of administration (e.g., within 5 minutes after going on the skin it can be found in the blood,5<\/span><\/sup> and within an hour it can be found within the bones6<\/span><\/sup>), but simultaneously does not accumulate within the body.7<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n
DMSO, in turn, has an almost endless number of uses as it can be applied in almost any manner. Almost any drug or substance can be combined with it and administered through the skin (e.g., steroids, NSAIDs, vitamin C, or hydrogen peroxide). In many cases, the effect of those drugs is enhanced, and simultaneously, their toxicity is reduced (although, in some cases, the toxicity increases).<\/p>\n
Cellular Protection<\/h2>\n
DMSO\u2019s ability to spread throughout the body (including into the brain) initially seems concerning \u2014 however rather than be toxic to cells, DMSO heals them and protects them from damage from many otherwise lethal stressors (e.g., heat, blood loss, radiation, sonic shockwaves).<\/p>\n
For example, since DMSO does not expand when it freezes and greatly lowers the freezing point of cells, it was a revolutionary substance for preserving frozen cells,8<\/span><\/sup> and likewise, many cases exist<\/a>of DMSO saving the fingers or toes that otherwise would have required amputation.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> Due to the intense scrutiny DMSO received, thousands of papers have been published on its biological effects (including numerous animal safety studies and one where humans were exposed to 3 to 30 times the typical dose for 90 days9<\/span><\/sup>) \u2014 all of which did not report any significant side effects from DMSO.<\/em><\/p>\n
In turn, those studies found the most common side effect (affecting 50% to 75% of users) is (reversible) irritation at the site when 70% DMSO is applied topically on the skin (which can be easily mitigated) and the most significant was an allergic reaction in approximately 1 out of every 2000 people (which can easily be screened for).<\/em><\/p>\n
\nCirculatory Disorders<\/h2>\n
DMSO is remarkably effective in managing circulatory disorders, effectively protecting tissues and enhancing blood flow by removing excess fluid, improving circulation, and dissolving clots. Its benefits are particularly evident in conditions like Raynaud\u2019s syndrome, where it eliminated symptoms in 50% of patients,10<\/span><\/sup> and in diabetic circulatory issues, with studies showing over a 94% success11<\/span><\/sup> rate in treating diabetic ulcers.<\/p>\n
DMSO also works wonders for varicose veins, often providing noticeable improvements within minutes by strengthening vessel walls and enhancing capillary circulation. In a study of 67 patients with varicose ulcers,12<\/span><\/sup> remarkable responses were documented, even in chronic cases. Additionally, DMSO has been shown to help many other circulatory disorders:13<\/span>,<\/sup>14<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nKey mechanisms behind DMSO\u2019s effectiveness include:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 <\/span>Heart function \u2014<\/strong> It can increase or decrease heart contractions without affecting rhythm, enhancing cardiac output and simultaneously dilates critical blood vessels.15<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n
\u2022 <\/span>Anticlotting properties \u2014<\/strong> DMSO prevents blood clot formation in the body, reduces clot promoting prostaglandins, and is a powerful platelet deaggregator.16<\/span>,<\/sup>17<\/span>,<\/sup>18<\/span><\/sup> Its ability to safely block platelet bonding, scavenge harmful radicals, and inhibit tissue factor expression makes DMSO a standout in circulatory health.19<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\nHeart Attacks<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nGiven all of these protective and circulatory enhancing properties, DMSO is an immensely promising treatment for heart attacks and heart attack recovery,20<\/span><\/sup> and this benefit has been demonstrated in numerous animal studies.21<\/span>,<\/sup>22<\/span><\/sup> Likewise, I and colleagues have had a few situations arise where DMSO was administered to someone having a heart attack and successfully treated it.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> We\u2019ve also had some success treating heart attacks by rapidly restoring someone\u2019s physiologic zeta potential<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
DMSO and Strokes<\/h2>\n
Roughly 3.1% of adult Americans have experienced a stroke23<\/span><\/sup> (a figure we expect to rise from the COVID-19 vaccines). Each year, this translates to about 800,000 people in the United States having a stroke, in 2022, 165,393 dying and between 20% to 40% of survivors experiencing long term disability.24<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n
Because of the harm strokes pose to society, and the rate at which brain tissue deteriorates once its blood supply is lost, the medical system prioritizes treating strokes as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Strokes come in two main types: ischemic (caused by clots blocking blood flow) and hemorrhagic (due to ruptured blood vessels). The standard treatment for ischemic strokes is tPA,25<\/span><\/sup> a clot-busting drug. However, administering tPA can be deadly if the stroke is hemorrhagic, so patients must first wait for a CT scan before receiving it.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, tPA is only effective within a limited time frame (up to 3 to 4.5 hours26<\/span><\/sup>), and only a small percentage of patients (1.8% to 8.5%) actually receive it. Among those who do, only 13%27<\/span><\/sup>see significant improvement. Additionally, tPA can cause serious bleeding complications28<\/span><\/sup> (e.g., 6.4% risk29<\/span><\/sup> of a symptomatic brain bleed) and can\u2019t eliminate larger clots.<\/p>\n
In short, strokes remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.30<\/span><\/sup> This highlights the need for a better treatment that can safely:<\/p>\n
- It\u2019s able to pass through biological membranes without damaging them (something to my knowledge, nothing else can do).4<\/span><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- It acts as a near-universal solvent (e.g., it interacts with a vast range of biomolecules).2<\/span>,<\/sup>3<\/span><\/sup><\/li>\n
- Since the heart, brain, and spinal cord are particularly vulnerable to injury, DMSO can produce miraculous results when those injuries happen<\/span><\/li>\n
![\"dmso](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/dmso-stroke.png\")
<\/div>\n![\"dmso](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/dmso-eeg.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"dmso](\"https:\/\/media.mercola.com\/ImageServer\/public\/2024\/September\/dmso-pathologic-event.png\")
<\/div>\n