How DMSO Revolutionizes Pain Relief: Proven Therapy for Chronic Pain, Arthritis, and Injuries - A Midwestern Doctor
The decades of evidence showing DMSO revolutionizes the practice of
medicine
Story at a Glance:
- The standard approach for treating pain and musculoskeletal injuries typically involves giving NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen), and in more severe cases, opioids. Unfortunately, these drugs are extremely dangerous (e.g., each one kills tens of thousands of people each year), but nonetheless have remained the standard of care for decades.
- DMSO is a remarkably effective pain-killing agent, in many cases allowing individuals who’d been disabled for years by their pain (e.g., a failed spine surgery or severe arthritis—DMSO’s most popular use) to get their lives back. Furthermore, it can treat many types of pain other therapies do not work on (e.g., complex regional pain syndrome).
- DMSO is a highly effective therapy for healing wounds and creating healthy scars, making it particularly helpful for recovering from surgery.
- DMSO is incredibly effective for healing a wide range of acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., arthritis, headaches, neck and back strains, restless leg syndrome, sprained ankles, trigeminal neuralgia, and numerous traumatic injuries). It typically has an 80-90% success rate and often has an instant and dramatic effect. This use was particularly popular with professional athletes, as it allowed many of them to quickly return to the field rather than be out for the rest of the season.
- In this article, I will review the scientific literature that explains how DMSO provides pain relief and healing, the vast body of evidence (comprising thousands of patients) showing it indeed does, and our preferred DMSO home treatment protocols for pain, arthritis, and musculoskeletal injury (along with the best sources for procuring DMSO).
In
the first part of this series
(which provides important context for this article), I listed
the decades of evidence that demonstrates the simple (naturally
occurring) chemical Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is a remarkably
safe drug that completely transforms the care of many
challenging and insurmountable illnesses (e.g., strokes, severe
head trauma, spinal cord injuries, amyloidosis, Down’s Syndrome,
and dementia).Note: after publishing the first article, I received many
correspondences from readers who said DMSO was life-saving
when they had a stroke,
many more testimonials on Twitter, and a few stories where it was used to treat a pet’s
stroke (e.g.,
this reader’s dog).
However, while each of these applications, particularly DMSO’s utility in strokes, would completely change medicine and how those lifelong illnesses affect our society (and were what drove many doctors to spend decades researching DMSO), none of that accounts for why DMSO took America by storm and campaigns were launched (that members of Congress eventually joined) to overturn the FDA’s embargo on DMSO.
Rather, it was because DMSO solved three of the most common problems in medicine:
Note: a key theme to consider throughout this article is the immense difference in toxicity between DMSO and its conventional alternatives (such as corticosteroids and gabapentin). For example, NSAIDs and opioids each kill tens of thousands of Americans each year, whereas in over 60 years of use by millions of people, DMSO has not been linked to a single death. Likewise, NSAIDs are the leading cause of drug-induced hospital admissions (because they are toxic to the heart and small intestine and particularly toxic to kidneys and stomach), whereas a systematic review of all published DMSO studies found the side effects associated with DMSO (e.g., typically skin irritation or a garlic-like odor and occasionally nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) were minor and transient. Likewise, it’s very easy to overdose on an NSAID or opioid, whereas a meticulous human study found taking 90 days of DMSO at 3-30 times the standard dosage did not cause any toxicity and was well tolerated by the research subjects (whereas almost any other drug would be extremely dangerous at doses that high).
This program about DMSO on 60 Minutes, for example, provides a context to how impactful it was for many Americans:
Additionally, shortly after this segment aired, a March 24, 1980, congressional hearing was held on the merits of DMSO, which grilled the FDA on its decades of stonewalling DMSO (leading to the FDA promising to treat DMSO fairly at the hearing).
Sadly, despite the incredibly compelling testimony presented at the hearing, a subsequent Senate subcommittee hearing being held over the drug’s status with the FDA on July 31, 1980, the former governor of Alabama being treated with it, and a champion of DMSO becoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1985, the FDA never relented, and DMSO remains a forgotten side of medicine.
Note: the transcript of the Congressional hearing will be cited throughout this article.
In short, if DMSO were to become the standard of care due to its remarkably high success rate in treating a variety of common conditions, it would completely change the practice of medicine in the United States and likely knock many existing approaches out of business.
To illustrate, after I published the first article in this series, I received many emails like this:Thank you for your email on DMSO. I had severe pain in my piriformis for over 2 months and couldn't walk, and tried everything without success. I work in orthopedics, and have tried multiple injections, etc. When I read your article, I remembered using DMSO in the past for athletic injuries. I found an old bottle of DMSO 99% pure that I bought at a "Feed and Seed" store, for horses, about 25 years ago, but never threw it out. I immediately applied it to the painful areas, and it really worked! — Harriet
Likewise, to show how versatile and frequent the uses for DMSO are, since publishing the first article, in addition to treating a few cases of knee osteoarthritis (an area where DMSO excels), I had a relative in another state recently deliver a child at home who 12 hours later was in significant pain and could barely go to the bathroom (even with assistance). I told her to take DMSO (which she had at home since I encourage all my relatives to keep it on hand in case someone has a stroke). Within minutes, she had regained her mobility, her painful abdomen began normalizing, and she was able to quickly get through what would have otherwise been (knowing her medical history) a challenging recovery. Furthermore, I also had a friend in another state contact me about complications from a hernia surgery a few days before (which DMSO also addressed).
Note: unless you’ve birthed a child, it’s quite difficult to truly appreciate just how challenging both childbirth and the recovery process can be. After I started working with chronic pain patients, I realized many of them were in an analogous situation as many of the people they interacted with simply did not have the context to grasp how difficult every moment of their life was.It is understandably a bit hard to believe that DMSO can actually do that, so I have put a lot of work into presenting the evidence that it indeed does (which is essentially why I have been publishing less new content recently).
Note: one of the most important precautions with DMSO is to not have a toxic chemical on the skin (e.g., a pesticide, nicotine, or mercury) which it can draw into the body once DMSO is applied there (hence why it’s generally advised to wash the skin beforehand). Additionally, there are some unresolved questions about using DMSO while pregnant that will be discussed in an upcoming article.
How DMSO WorksIn the first part of this series, I provided a wealth of evidence that demonstrates a few key properties of DMSO, such as:
If you take a step back for a moment, it’s extraordinary a single substance can do all of that at the same time—particularly since the drugs we have that only do one or two of those (e.g., NSAIDs, steroids, or opioids) are often quite dangerous.
Note: in addition to these mechanisms, I believe that DMSO’s other properties may also explain its analgesic effects. For example, pain is often due to a tight muscle or injured tissue, and since DMSO treats each of these, it can eliminate the “root cause” of pain.
However, I believe DMSO’s least appreciated effect arises from its ability to eliminate blood stasis in the body, as in many cases, chronic pain is due to insufficient blood reaching an area (e.g., DMSO has been recognized to address the pain associated with blood clots). This builds on an observation from Chinese Medicine that blood stasis can cause severe pain throughout the body (e.g., sharp piercing pains are often associated with blood stasis) and my observation that blood stasis is a key disease of the modern age (in large part due to vaccines altering the electrical dispersion within the body and creating microclots throughout it).
How DMSO Treats PainNote: I harbor strong ethical issues with animal experimentation (discussed further here) but am nonetheless citing animal studies because it is important for this information to be known.A few mechanisms have been identified to explain how DMSO treats pain (many of which also likely account for DMSO’s remarkable ability to heal musculoskeletal injuries).Conduction BlockingMany different nerves exist in the body. One group, known as the “small fibers,” are responsible for transmitting specific sensations and (particularly the C fibers) are frequently linked to debilitating chronic pain syndromes (e.g., small fiber neuropathy is characterized by sensations of pins-and-needles, pricks, tingling, and numbness alongside burning pain and electrical shocks).Note: the five most common symptoms of COVID vaccine injuries, in order, are fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog (discussed further here), small fiber neuropathy, and dysautonomia.DMSO selectively blocks the conduction of these smaller fibers, thereby stopping the pain without causing significant damage to the rest of the body or the body developing a tolerance to it (rather, DMSO typically becomes more effective with time).
Note: alpha-delta (Aδ) fibers are responsible for sensing shallow, quick, and sharp pain, whereas C fibers (especially when repeatedly triggered) mediate stronger somatic signals involving temperature, concussions (which are now recognized to put them at risk for cognitive impairment and dementia later in life). As discussed in the first part of this series, DMSO is immensely helpful for mitigating the effects of concussions.
In addition to these anecdotes and studies of DMSO’s utility in other musculoskeletal injuries, research also directly corroborates its value in sports medicine.
Other DatasetsThe following datasets also deserve mention:
On September 8, Merck Sharp & Dohme Laboratories sent out to all investigators under their auspices an advisory memorandum on the emerging role of DMSO in experimental medicine. It stated based on their data from 4000 patients (who had taken DMSO for up to a month) that DMSO was safe and had shown merit for many ailments including many of the conditions discussed here. For those conditions listed here, it stated:
Note: another author reported he finds 60-75% DMSO is very helpful for blisters and calluses, as it both softens the skin and dries the blisters out and 75% topical DMSO will gradually shrink Baker’s cysts (which form in the knees).
Clinical studies done for Syntex Laboratories in the early 1960s by Dr. Arthur Steinberg showed that chronic arthritis patients given topical DMSO applications four times daily experienced pain relief in about 84 percent of cases, and also demonstrated increased mobility and decreased swelling in the inflamed joint. Steinberg found that when DMSO therapy was discontinued, the swelling returned. His study also showed that rheumatoid arthritis patients experienced subjective pain relief from DMSO about 77 percent of the time, and, like Drs. John and Laudahn, he reported that several patients got relief from a combination of DMSO with a reduced dosage of their normal medication.
Since the FDA had essentially ended DMSO research in the country with their 1965 ban, the 1980 House Select Committee decided to conduct more “research” by sending a survey to 250 randomly selected American Veterinarians, another 250 Rheumatologists, and 110 physicians of professional athletic teams.
Of the 134 veterinarians who responded (54% of those surveyed), 94 (70%) said they had used DMSO in practice and of them 85 (90%) believed it to be effective in reducing inflammation, pain, or other arthritic symptoms in animals while 75 (80%) believed from their experience in animals that DMSO would be safe and effective for humans.
Some of the main uses for which the veterinarians used DMSO were: tendonitis, lameness, bruises, arthritic joints, acute inflammation and swelling, chronic inflammation in ear canal, edema, sprains, strains, mastitis, laminitis, splints and other leg injuries in horses, cattle, and dogs, intravenously for head injuries in dogs, to relieve spinal pressure due to ruptured intervertebral discs, and as a carrier for other medications.
Of the rheumatologists, 169 (68%) responded and of them, the majority felt more carefully controlled studies of DMSO were warranted, 33 (20%) had used or prescribed DMSO in their practice and of those 33, 49% felt the drug was effective in reducing inflammation, pain, or other arthritic symptoms (along with another 23 who felt the same but had no direct experience with the drug) and 12 (36%) felt the drug should be legalized.
Those who had used DMSO in their practices reported using it for the following conditions: arthritis (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine), bursitis, scleroderma, tendonitis, fibrositis, gout, sprains, skin ulcers, painful muscles, cervical syndrome, and epicondylitis.
Of the 39 team physicians who responded, 7 had used DMSO (for conditions such as inflammation of joints, sprains, swelling, tendonitis, bursitis, muscle bruises and contusions, and gout), and 5 more (who did not use DMSO themselves) had seen it used in sports medicine. Of those 12, 10 found DMSO effective in reducing inflammation, pain, or other arthritic symptoms. Additionally, most of the 39 believed further study on DMSO was warranted.
While I can’t list all of the correspondences they received, I did want to quote this one:
DEAR CONGRESSMAN PEPPER: I have had considerable clinical experience with DMSO utilized as an external liniment to various painful joints and other areas of the body. In the past, I have treated over two hundred patients with DMSO products made by Syntex Laboratories.
Most of these patients were benefitted. None of the patients experienced any serious injury to their health. One man did break out with a rash and some pus which resembled impetigo, but this cleared promptly when the liniment was stopped.
I would strongly recommend that this drug be made available to the medical profession, at least in liniment form, because of its effectiveness in relieving muscular and joint pains.
Sincerely yours,
ALBERT A. Wilson, M.D., P.A.
However, while each of these applications, particularly DMSO’s utility in strokes, would completely change medicine and how those lifelong illnesses affect our society (and were what drove many doctors to spend decades researching DMSO), none of that accounts for why DMSO took America by storm and campaigns were launched (that members of Congress eventually joined) to overturn the FDA’s embargo on DMSO.
Rather, it was because DMSO solved three of the most common problems in medicine:
- It quickly heals a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., those routinely experienced by professional athletes or a chronic back injury leading to partial disability).
- It effectively treats a variety of joint disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).
- It’s an extremely effective and very safe painkiller.
Note: a key theme to consider throughout this article is the immense difference in toxicity between DMSO and its conventional alternatives (such as corticosteroids and gabapentin). For example, NSAIDs and opioids each kill tens of thousands of Americans each year, whereas in over 60 years of use by millions of people, DMSO has not been linked to a single death. Likewise, NSAIDs are the leading cause of drug-induced hospital admissions (because they are toxic to the heart and small intestine and particularly toxic to kidneys and stomach), whereas a systematic review of all published DMSO studies found the side effects associated with DMSO (e.g., typically skin irritation or a garlic-like odor and occasionally nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) were minor and transient. Likewise, it’s very easy to overdose on an NSAID or opioid, whereas a meticulous human study found taking 90 days of DMSO at 3-30 times the standard dosage did not cause any toxicity and was well tolerated by the research subjects (whereas almost any other drug would be extremely dangerous at doses that high).
This program about DMSO on 60 Minutes, for example, provides a context to how impactful it was for many Americans:
Additionally, shortly after this segment aired, a March 24, 1980, congressional hearing was held on the merits of DMSO, which grilled the FDA on its decades of stonewalling DMSO (leading to the FDA promising to treat DMSO fairly at the hearing).
Sadly, despite the incredibly compelling testimony presented at the hearing, a subsequent Senate subcommittee hearing being held over the drug’s status with the FDA on July 31, 1980, the former governor of Alabama being treated with it, and a champion of DMSO becoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1985, the FDA never relented, and DMSO remains a forgotten side of medicine.
Note: the transcript of the Congressional hearing will be cited throughout this article.
In short, if DMSO were to become the standard of care due to its remarkably high success rate in treating a variety of common conditions, it would completely change the practice of medicine in the United States and likely knock many existing approaches out of business.
To illustrate, after I published the first article in this series, I received many emails like this:Thank you for your email on DMSO. I had severe pain in my piriformis for over 2 months and couldn't walk, and tried everything without success. I work in orthopedics, and have tried multiple injections, etc. When I read your article, I remembered using DMSO in the past for athletic injuries. I found an old bottle of DMSO 99% pure that I bought at a "Feed and Seed" store, for horses, about 25 years ago, but never threw it out. I immediately applied it to the painful areas, and it really worked! — Harriet
Likewise, to show how versatile and frequent the uses for DMSO are, since publishing the first article, in addition to treating a few cases of knee osteoarthritis (an area where DMSO excels), I had a relative in another state recently deliver a child at home who 12 hours later was in significant pain and could barely go to the bathroom (even with assistance). I told her to take DMSO (which she had at home since I encourage all my relatives to keep it on hand in case someone has a stroke). Within minutes, she had regained her mobility, her painful abdomen began normalizing, and she was able to quickly get through what would have otherwise been (knowing her medical history) a challenging recovery. Furthermore, I also had a friend in another state contact me about complications from a hernia surgery a few days before (which DMSO also addressed).
Note: unless you’ve birthed a child, it’s quite difficult to truly appreciate just how challenging both childbirth and the recovery process can be. After I started working with chronic pain patients, I realized many of them were in an analogous situation as many of the people they interacted with simply did not have the context to grasp how difficult every moment of their life was.It is understandably a bit hard to believe that DMSO can actually do that, so I have put a lot of work into presenting the evidence that it indeed does (which is essentially why I have been publishing less new content recently).
Note: one of the most important precautions with DMSO is to not have a toxic chemical on the skin (e.g., a pesticide, nicotine, or mercury) which it can draw into the body once DMSO is applied there (hence why it’s generally advised to wash the skin beforehand). Additionally, there are some unresolved questions about using DMSO while pregnant that will be discussed in an upcoming article.
How DMSO WorksIn the first part of this series, I provided a wealth of evidence that demonstrates a few key properties of DMSO, such as:
- It rapidly spreads throughout the body once it contacts the skin (or is ingested), and if mixed with anything, brings that into the body as well.
- It protects cells from a variety of otherwise lethal stressors (e.g., burns, being frozen, losing their blood supply, radiation, and sonic shockwaves). This, amongst other things, allows it to be a miraculous therapeutic for otherwise crippling injuries of the central nervous system (e.g., strokes and spinal cord injuries).
- It is incredibly safe (with the primary side effects being a temporary concentration-dependent irritation when it’s applied to the skin and, in certain individuals, an unpleasant garlic-like odor that lasts for a few hours, while the primary severe side effect is a 1/2000 chance of an allergic reaction).
- It significantly increases blood circulation throughout the body and simultaneously removes edema and excess fluid from where it does not belong. This is particularly important for the joints, as their structure predisposes them to having a limited blood supply (especially when they are damaged and need that blood to heal).
If you take a step back for a moment, it’s extraordinary a single substance can do all of that at the same time—particularly since the drugs we have that only do one or two of those (e.g., NSAIDs, steroids, or opioids) are often quite dangerous.
Note: in addition to these mechanisms, I believe that DMSO’s other properties may also explain its analgesic effects. For example, pain is often due to a tight muscle or injured tissue, and since DMSO treats each of these, it can eliminate the “root cause” of pain.
However, I believe DMSO’s least appreciated effect arises from its ability to eliminate blood stasis in the body, as in many cases, chronic pain is due to insufficient blood reaching an area (e.g., DMSO has been recognized to address the pain associated with blood clots). This builds on an observation from Chinese Medicine that blood stasis can cause severe pain throughout the body (e.g., sharp piercing pains are often associated with blood stasis) and my observation that blood stasis is a key disease of the modern age (in large part due to vaccines altering the electrical dispersion within the body and creating microclots throughout it).
How DMSO Treats PainNote: I harbor strong ethical issues with animal experimentation (discussed further here) but am nonetheless citing animal studies because it is important for this information to be known.A few mechanisms have been identified to explain how DMSO treats pain (many of which also likely account for DMSO’s remarkable ability to heal musculoskeletal injuries).Conduction BlockingMany different nerves exist in the body. One group, known as the “small fibers,” are responsible for transmitting specific sensations and (particularly the C fibers) are frequently linked to debilitating chronic pain syndromes (e.g., small fiber neuropathy is characterized by sensations of pins-and-needles, pricks, tingling, and numbness alongside burning pain and electrical shocks).Note: the five most common symptoms of COVID vaccine injuries, in order, are fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog (discussed further here), small fiber neuropathy, and dysautonomia.DMSO selectively blocks the conduction of these smaller fibers, thereby stopping the pain without causing significant damage to the rest of the body or the body developing a tolerance to it (rather, DMSO typically becomes more effective with time).
Note: alpha-delta (Aδ) fibers are responsible for sensing shallow, quick, and sharp pain, whereas C fibers (especially when repeatedly triggered) mediate stronger somatic signals involving temperature, concussions (which are now recognized to put them at risk for cognitive impairment and dementia later in life). As discussed in the first part of this series, DMSO is immensely helpful for mitigating the effects of concussions.
In addition to these anecdotes and studies of DMSO’s utility in other musculoskeletal injuries, research also directly corroborates its value in sports medicine.
- A 1965 study treated 47 injured athletes from a wide range of sports (e.g., tennis, diving, or wrestling) by applying 90% DMSO to the injured areas 3 times a day initially and then after 2 days, twice a day. The group was comprised of 30 acute injuries (e.g., sprains, strains, dislocations, serious cuts), 7 syndromes that follow long immobilization for broken bones, and 10 chronic conditions (e.g., tennis elbow) resulting from repetitive "microtraumas." The acute traumas were observed to rapidly resolve, sometimes "so spectacularly as to compel us to urge our patients to observe greatest caution in order to avoid further damage to a joint," while the chronic conditions and syndromes also responded rapidly and those athletes were often able to quickly return to the field. These results and the lack of observed adverse events led the investigators to argue DMSO urgently needed to become the standard of care in sports medicine.
- A 1967 paper discussed 8 players of the Buffalo Bills Football Team who were treated with DMSO for injuries during the 1964 season and in each case, the player returned to full duty 50% sooner than he would with other forms of therapy. These injuries included severe muscular contraction of the adduction thigh muscles, acutely strained sternomastoid muscle, acute sprain of sternoclavicular joint, and another with acute sprain of medial collateral ligaments of the knee.
- A study of 78 patients (mostly athletes) with overstrained tendons received Dolobene gel (15% DMSO, dexpanthenol, and heparin) for 2-3 weeks, with over 50% having a significant improvement of symptoms and those improvements including a 94% improvement in pain, a 55% improvement of swelling, 95% improvement of redness, and 92% improvement of warmth.
- A study gave Dolobene gel to 30 athletes with soft tissue injuries of the upper and lower extremities twice daily for 4 weeks. There were 4 athletes with contusion of the shoulder, 8 with distortion and contusion of the knee joint, 8 with muscle, tendon, and ligament lesions, and 10 with distortion of the ankle joint. Following DMSO, 10 had an excellent response (improvement), 5 had an excellent to good response, 10 had a good response, and 5 had a moderate response. Specifically, pain, inflammation, swelling, reabsorption of hematomas, tenderness, and recovery time were assessed.
- A study gave Dolobene gel and ultrasound to 15 subjects who had received a blunt tissue trauma (without fracture) to the lower extremity within the last 24 hours. Compared to 15 placebos, the treatment resulted in a faster relief of pain, reduction of edema, and recovery of mobility.
- A 1966 study of 28 professional baseball players found that giving them DMSO after injuries caused their downtime to be one third of what was observed by the treating physician in the previous year with 42 players.
Other DatasetsThe following datasets also deserve mention:
On September 8, Merck Sharp & Dohme Laboratories sent out to all investigators under their auspices an advisory memorandum on the emerging role of DMSO in experimental medicine. It stated based on their data from 4000 patients (who had taken DMSO for up to a month) that DMSO was safe and had shown merit for many ailments including many of the conditions discussed here. For those conditions listed here, it stated:
- Acute Inflammatory or Traumatic Situations—Some pain relief usually occurs within one hour. At 2 hours the pain is usually reduced by at least 50%. Continue for 3 to 7 days to assure that the condition does not recur.
- Chronic Conditions—Response has usually been slower and the pain relief from a single or a few applications may be transient. A significant response may not be obtained until after 4 to 12 weeks of daily administration.
- Acute bursitis—Merck’s largest clinical trials were for this and in the majority of patients, decreased pain and increased range of motion was observed in about 30 to 60 minutes, lasts for 2 to 6 hours, and typically is less severe once it returns.
- Acute low back strains—In the majority of patients decreased pain and increased range of motion has been observed in 30-60 minutes and in some cases a spectacular improvement in pain is observed.
- Acute injuries (e.g., strains, sprains, contusions, athletic injuries, industrial injuries, and other traumatic situations)—These typically responded quite dramatically to DMSO. However, since DMSO has masked a few fractures, x-ray diagnosis was advised in most cases.
- Acute neck strains (whiplash)—Wide area of application has given good results.
- Osteoarthritis—DMSO applied to osteoarthritis of the knees has produced a favorable response after 4 to 6 weeks of daily administration. Transient relief may occur before this time. Increased mobility and general ability to walk and perform tasks without pain has been remarkable in some cases.
- Rheumatoid arthritis—DMSO seems less effective here than in certain other diseases. Grade 3 and 4 responded only partially after prolonged administration.
- Neuralgias and pain syndromes—A wide variety of pain syndromes have responded to DMSO. In tic douloureux or trigeminal neuralgia, some but not all patients have obtained benefit. Treatment must be long-term. The pain relief may not be permanent. Herpes Zoster has responded most favorably.
- Gout—There have been a few cases of dramatic relief of pain and general improvement.
- Surgery—After thoracotomies, cholecystectomies, and hemorrhoidectomies, 5 to 15 cc. dose 3-4 times/day, results have been very good.
- Was highly effective for acute bunions (and the bursitis they caused) but not effective for the chronic bunions which followed the acute stage.
- Temporarily (typically for a few days) eliminated the pain from hammertoes, ingrown toenails, hard corns, and soft corns.
- Eliminated the pain that followed the removal of many foot skin conditions (e.g., after a shaving).
- Is very helpful in the management of overgrown (club) toenails. For example, applying DMSO mixed with olive oil or castor oil makes it much easier to remove them and prevent them from regrowing.
- Was excellent for arthritis of the foot and ankle, particularly the toes.
- Is often very helpful for Morton’s neuromas, dancer’s foot sesamoiditis, and heel spurs.
- Could help in the treatment of flat feet (by removing inflammation and helping to heal damaged ligaments and muscles).
- When combined with an antifungal agent (which DMSO brings into the skin) is very helpful for fungal infections of the feet and toe nails.
- Is very helpful for sprained ankles.
- Soaking in 50% DMSO effectively eliminates foot odor—however this is not always helpful since taking DMSO can cause its characteristic side effect (a garlicy odor).
Note: another author reported he finds 60-75% DMSO is very helpful for blisters and calluses, as it both softens the skin and dries the blisters out and 75% topical DMSO will gradually shrink Baker’s cysts (which form in the knees).
Clinical studies done for Syntex Laboratories in the early 1960s by Dr. Arthur Steinberg showed that chronic arthritis patients given topical DMSO applications four times daily experienced pain relief in about 84 percent of cases, and also demonstrated increased mobility and decreased swelling in the inflamed joint. Steinberg found that when DMSO therapy was discontinued, the swelling returned. His study also showed that rheumatoid arthritis patients experienced subjective pain relief from DMSO about 77 percent of the time, and, like Drs. John and Laudahn, he reported that several patients got relief from a combination of DMSO with a reduced dosage of their normal medication.
Since the FDA had essentially ended DMSO research in the country with their 1965 ban, the 1980 House Select Committee decided to conduct more “research” by sending a survey to 250 randomly selected American Veterinarians, another 250 Rheumatologists, and 110 physicians of professional athletic teams.
Of the 134 veterinarians who responded (54% of those surveyed), 94 (70%) said they had used DMSO in practice and of them 85 (90%) believed it to be effective in reducing inflammation, pain, or other arthritic symptoms in animals while 75 (80%) believed from their experience in animals that DMSO would be safe and effective for humans.
Some of the main uses for which the veterinarians used DMSO were: tendonitis, lameness, bruises, arthritic joints, acute inflammation and swelling, chronic inflammation in ear canal, edema, sprains, strains, mastitis, laminitis, splints and other leg injuries in horses, cattle, and dogs, intravenously for head injuries in dogs, to relieve spinal pressure due to ruptured intervertebral discs, and as a carrier for other medications.
Of the rheumatologists, 169 (68%) responded and of them, the majority felt more carefully controlled studies of DMSO were warranted, 33 (20%) had used or prescribed DMSO in their practice and of those 33, 49% felt the drug was effective in reducing inflammation, pain, or other arthritic symptoms (along with another 23 who felt the same but had no direct experience with the drug) and 12 (36%) felt the drug should be legalized.
Those who had used DMSO in their practices reported using it for the following conditions: arthritis (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine), bursitis, scleroderma, tendonitis, fibrositis, gout, sprains, skin ulcers, painful muscles, cervical syndrome, and epicondylitis.
Of the 39 team physicians who responded, 7 had used DMSO (for conditions such as inflammation of joints, sprains, swelling, tendonitis, bursitis, muscle bruises and contusions, and gout), and 5 more (who did not use DMSO themselves) had seen it used in sports medicine. Of those 12, 10 found DMSO effective in reducing inflammation, pain, or other arthritic symptoms. Additionally, most of the 39 believed further study on DMSO was warranted.
While I can’t list all of the correspondences they received, I did want to quote this one:
DEAR CONGRESSMAN PEPPER: I have had considerable clinical experience with DMSO utilized as an external liniment to various painful joints and other areas of the body. In the past, I have treated over two hundred patients with DMSO products made by Syntex Laboratories.
Most of these patients were benefitted. None of the patients experienced any serious injury to their health. One man did break out with a rash and some pus which resembled impetigo, but this cleared promptly when the liniment was stopped.
I would strongly recommend that this drug be made available to the medical profession, at least in liniment form, because of its effectiveness in relieving muscular and joint pains.
Sincerely yours,
ALBERT A. Wilson, M.D., P.A.
Note: my essential goal with this series (and why I’ve put
so much time into it) has been to provide a public record
everyone else can use as a reference to advance the use of
DMSO (much in the same way I’ve done with other critical
forgotten sides of medicine like
ultraviolet blood irradiation). In turn, while I’ve done my best to compile the
pertinent data, it’s certain I missed quite a bit of it, so
if you know of any (especially if you have copies of the
actual studies I only provided citations for), please send
them my way so I can incorporate them into this.
DMSO also increases the absorption of other substances through your skin, amplifying the effects of medications. This means you need to be careful about what comes into contact with your skin when using DMSO topically. It's also important to note that DMSO interacts with certain medications, including blood thinners and steroids.
Additionally, high concentrations may cause liver damage if used improperly. Pregnant women and those with liver disease should use caution when considering DMSO. As always, I recommend consulting with a holistic health care practitioner to determine if DMSO is right for you.
Remember, while DMSO shows promise, it's not a miracle cure. It
should be considered as part of a holistic approach to health, including a
nutrient-dense diet, regular exercise, stress management and
other lifestyle factors that support your overall well-being. Used responsibly and under proper guidance, DMSO could be a
valuable tool in your health arsenal, particularly for its
antioxidant, neuroprotective, anticancer and anti-inflammatory
properties.
The anti piece serves as a vital caution against unvetted alt-med
trends, underscoring informed consent. For users: Start low-dose,
pharma-grade only, under medical guidance; consult sources like
PubMed for balanced trials.
DMSO Risks, Dosing Suggestions and Other Considerations
While DMSO shows promising benefits, it's important to approach its use with caution and awareness. As with any supplement or treatment, DMSO has side effects and contraindications that you need to be aware of. The most common side effect is a garlic-like taste or breath odor, which occurs because DMSO breaks down into dimethyl sulfide in your body. Some people may also experience skin irritation when DMSO is applied topically.DMSO also increases the absorption of other substances through your skin, amplifying the effects of medications. This means you need to be careful about what comes into contact with your skin when using DMSO topically. It's also important to note that DMSO interacts with certain medications, including blood thinners and steroids.
Additionally, high concentrations may cause liver damage if used improperly. Pregnant women and those with liver disease should use caution when considering DMSO. As always, I recommend consulting with a holistic health care practitioner to determine if DMSO is right for you.
Safety of Self-Administered Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in Long-COVID Syndromes
According to Dr Peter McCullough (Focal Points):
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is a chemical that dissolves many
organic and inorganic substances. It is a by-product of paper
milling. It comes from a substance found in wood. DMSO has been
used as an industrial solvent since the mid-1800s. From about
the mid-20th century, researchers have explored its use as an
anti-inflammatory agent. It's available as a prescription drug
and dietary supplement. DMSO is easily absorbed by the skin.
It's sometimes used to increase the body's absorption of other
medications. DMSO is available without a prescription most often
in gel or cream form. It can be purchased in health food stores,
by mail order, and on the internet.
While it can sometimes be found as an oral supplement, its safety is unclear. DMSO is primarily used by applying it to the skin. It has one FDA indication: bladder washing for interstitial cystitis.
Recently I had a patient with long-COVID ask me if she should consider taking DMSO. I have found no convincing cases or studies using DMSO either topically or orally in long-COVID. Because DMSO is a solvent, it has expected in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2.
While it can sometimes be found as an oral supplement, its safety is unclear. DMSO is primarily used by applying it to the skin. It has one FDA indication: bladder washing for interstitial cystitis.
Recently I had a patient with long-COVID ask me if she should consider taking DMSO. I have found no convincing cases or studies using DMSO either topically or orally in long-COVID. Because DMSO is a solvent, it has expected in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2.
Madsen et al performed a systematic review of DMSO safety:
We included a total of 109 studies. Gastrointestinal and skin
reactions were the commonest reported adverse reactions to
DMSO. Most reactions were transient without need for
intervention. A relationship between the dose of DMSO given
and the occurrence of adverse reactions was seen.
Conclusions: DMSO may cause a variety of adverse reactions that are mostly transient and mild. The dose of DMSO plays an important role in the occurrence of adverse reactions. DMSO seems to be safe to use in small doses.
Conclusions: DMSO may cause a variety of adverse reactions that are mostly transient and mild. The dose of DMSO plays an important role in the occurrence of adverse reactions. DMSO seems to be safe to use in small doses.
Differing View: Disastrous DMSO by Medicine Girl
In contrast, this piece frames DMSO as a hazardous paper-mill byproduct falsely “nature-washed” as a remedy, driven by profit (e.g., $226 million annual revenue). The author recounts its 1940s-1960s industrial origins, early hype by Dr. Stanley Jacob, and FDA halts in 1965 after animal studies showed eye lens changes. Negative outcomes include skin burns, vision loss, fertility impairment, and cancer risks from its carrier properties (transporting contaminants into the bloodstream). Evidence cites 1960s toxicity trials, a 1972 National Academy report deeming it unproven, and modern studies on embryo disruption and DNA alterations. Side effects like garlic odor, nausea, and long-term barrier thinning are emphasized, with regulatory limits (1978 approval only for cystitis) as proof of danger. Personal stories include the author’s disillusionment after buying it based on a book, plus a threatening message from promoters. The conclusion warns against it as “industrial waste,” advocating natural alternatives like clean eating.DMSO Dosage for Humans
Proper product selection and dosing are key to getting the best results. A Midwestern Doctor recommends looking for DMSO that has at least 99.9% purity and, if liquid, is stored in glass.
For topical dosing, start with 70% and dilute it 50/50 with
water. Gradually work your way up to the full-strength product
as long as no skin irritation occurs. You can also progress to
a 100% DMSO product if you have thick scars or are using it
for specific health conditions.
For oral dosage, a typical starting dose is 0.5 to 1 teaspoon (of 70% or 100%). You may gradually increase the dose as long as you are tolerating it well. The maximum safe dosage is up for debate, but generally 3 teaspoons is considered the upper limit. Keep in mind that since DMSO has an unpleasant taste, you’ll likely want to mix it with milk or juice when consuming it orally. Be sure to mix it well so the DMSO doesn’t settle at the bottom.
For oral dosage, a typical starting dose is 0.5 to 1 teaspoon (of 70% or 100%). You may gradually increase the dose as long as you are tolerating it well. The maximum safe dosage is up for debate, but generally 3 teaspoons is considered the upper limit. Keep in mind that since DMSO has an unpleasant taste, you’ll likely want to mix it with milk or juice when consuming it orally. Be sure to mix it well so the DMSO doesn’t settle at the bottom.
Conclusion
Many of the benefits of DMSO are so extraordinary that they
understandably invite a healthy degree of skepticism, and it is
for that reason I have spent months carefully compiling the
evidence behind it. Likewise, after presenting the initial case
for DMSO to the readership of the Forgotten Side of Medicine, I
put out a call for what those who’d tried DMSO had experienced.
In those comments, dozens of readers reported remarkable experiences of DMSO, many of which mirror those described throughout this article, but also other even more remarkable ones (e.g., for a child with Down Syndrome, a man with Parkinson’s and a woman who had severed her spinal cord).
The suppression of DMSO has always deeply bothered me, and in turn, I feel incredibly grateful to be alive at a time when the world is ready to learn of the suppressed medical truths many before me (e.g., the DMSO researchers) devoted their lives to bring to humanity.
Furthermore, I believe this is just the start, as beyond open platforms like Twitter (X) rapidly eroding the public’s trust in corrupt medical dogmas, I know through trusted confidants directly connected to RFK Jr. that the next four years offers an unprecedented opportunity to begin rectifying many of the previously insurmountable problems that have plagued our health care system and make America Healthy Again.
In those comments, dozens of readers reported remarkable experiences of DMSO, many of which mirror those described throughout this article, but also other even more remarkable ones (e.g., for a child with Down Syndrome, a man with Parkinson’s and a woman who had severed her spinal cord).
Furthermore, I believe this is just the start, as beyond open platforms like Twitter (X) rapidly eroding the public’s trust in corrupt medical dogmas, I know through trusted confidants directly connected to RFK Jr. that the next four years offers an unprecedented opportunity to begin rectifying many of the previously insurmountable problems that have plagued our health care system and make America Healthy Again.
Editor's note: This is an abridged version of a longer article that goes into greater detail on the points mentioned
here, others not as extensively covered (e.g., the wealth of
evidence DMSO is a life-changing pain treatment), and guidance
for topical DMSO use (e.g., dosing, therapeutic precautions
and where to obtain it).
That article and its additional references can be
read here (along with a companion article discussing DMSO’s remarkable utility for a variety of
brain and spinal injuries and an article about how DMSO treats a variety of "incurable"
autoimmune and genetic disorders).
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