WHAT
IS MSM
Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, is a safe and natural
assimilate derived from the Southern Louisiana Pine.
MSM is organic sulfur - the kind your body can
absorb and use. Sulfur is the fourth most plentiful
mineral in the body, and it is found in every cell
of every animal and plant. Sulfur is found in food;
it is most abundant in eggs and red peppers but can
also be found in significant quantities in grains,
legumes, animal proteins, onions, garlic, asparagus,
cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. HOWEVER,
most of the volatile MSM is lost in washing,
cooking, or steaming. Modern food processing,
packaging and preparation has robbed our food of the
sulfur we need.
At
the Oregon Health and Sciences University, Dr.
Stanley Jacob discovered that heating dimethyl
sulfoxide (DMSO), caused it to crystallize,
isolating 99.9% of the beneficial compound MSM. MSM
is a pure, natural, stable, white, odorless
crystalline powder without the unpleasant taste or
odor of DMSO. It does not produce intestinal gas or
body odor that may occur with other forms of sulfur.
MSM is not a drug or medicine, and is unrelated to
sulfa drugs, to which some people have an allergy.
MSM
is used as a dietary supplement to provide our
bodies with needed sulfur.
The following discussion will focus on the role of
sulfur in our health.
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is the inflammation of joints,
characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling, and a
restricted range of movement. All joints are similar
in that they are comprised of two (or more)
adjoining movable bones, whose adjacent surfaces are
covered with a layer of cartilage and are surrounded
by a fluid-filled capsule encasing ligaments. More
than 55 million Americans suffer from
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and related
conditions.
One
of the most significant applications of organic
sulfur is its ability to alleviate pain associated
with systemic inflammatory disorders, such as
arthritis. People with arthritis report substantial
and long-lasting relief while supplementing MSM in
their diet in daily amounts ranging from 100 to
5,000mg. This is admittedly a very large range, but
individual results vary dramatically. The beneficial
effect is due in part to the ability of MSM to
sustain cell flow-through, allowing harmful
substances to flow out while permitting nutrients to
flow in, thereby preventing pressure buildup in
cells which causes inflammation in the joints and
elsewhere, and translates to pain.
MUSCLE SORENESS AND CRAMPS
The
nerves which sense pain are mainly located in the
soft tissue of our bodies such as the muscles. Many
types of pain can be attributed to pressure
differential involving the cells that make up
tissue. When outside pressure drops, cells swell and
become inflamed. Nerves register the inflammation,
and we experience pain symptoms. Often what's
contributing to the pain is rigid fibrous tissue
cells which lack flexibility and permeability.
Use
of MSM has been shown to restore flexibility to the
protein layer of cell walls, allowing fluids to pass
through the tissue more easily. This softens the
tissue and helps to equalize pressure thereby
reducing if not completely eliminating the cause of
the pain. MSM, by equalizing cell pressure, treats
the cause of inflammation, unlike an aspirin which
treats the symptom by dulling our perception of
pain.
MSM
has demonstrated the remarkable ability to reduce
the incidence of or eliminate entirely muscle
soreness, and leg and back cramps, particularly in
geriatric patients who have such cramps during the
night or after long periods of inactivity, and in
athletes after periods of high physical stress.
Marathon runners and other athletes who compete or
exercise vigorously can learn from trainers of
million-dollar racehorses. These trainers will
administer MSM to their prize horses both before a
race to prevent muscle soreness and afterward to
lessen the risk of cramping. Post-athletic fatigue
syndrome, which generally follows intense athletic
activity and usually persists for eight to ten days,
was gone in two to three days in individuals who had
taken 1-2 grams (1,000 to 2,000 mg) of MSM per day
in split dosages for the preceding six months.
ALLERGIES
Over
40 million people are affected by allergies with
reactions ranging from somewhat bothersome to
potentially fatal. An allergic response occurs when
the body's immune system reacts to otherwise
harmless substances, we call allergens. Your body
produces antibodies to fight the allergens. Once our
immune system decides that a particular type of
pollen, for example, is a hostile invader, it
becomes "sensitized" to it, and reacts by producing
antibodies that give us allergy symptoms. This can
last for years, and perhaps a lifetime.
Dr.
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., recommends allergy
sufferers begin taking at least 6,000mg of MSM per
day for three weeks and reduce to 3,000mg per day
thereafter. Additionally, he recommends people drink
more water and increase their intake of Vitamin C to
lower histamine levels. Allergy sufferers who use
MSM swear by it.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
*
Tests indicate that MSM may present a blocking
interface between parasites and host (YOU!) by
competing for binding, or receptor, sites at the
mucous membrane surfaces. One study demonstrated
MSM's effectiveness in knocking out Giardia.
*Added flexibility and permeability to the
gastrointestinal tract can result in reduced
diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and hyperacidity.
*
Individuals who experience an allergic response to
certain foods (food allergies -- for example, milk,
citrus, wheat, cereals, shrimp) have reported an
improved, or complete, tolerance to these
substances. MSM coats the mucous membranes,
occupying the binding sites that the food allergens
would otherwise occupy. This facilitates normal
digestion and allows the body to extract the maximum
nutritional value from foods.
* MSM
has been shown to reduce cataracts by allowing
proper levels of fluids to flow through optical
tissues, removing harmful particles.
* MSM
strengthens hair and nails, and aids in wound
healing.
MSM
USAGE
Results vary. According to Dr. Earl L. Mindell,
R.Ph., Ph.D., "Due to its positive wide-spectrum
effect, particularly in maintaining healthy cell
formation, dietary nutritional supplementation of
MSM is recommended at a daily rate of 2,000 to
6,000mg. The optimum effective dosage would depend
on body size, age, the MSM blood level prior to
administration, and the nature and severity of the
condition you are treating. This means you can
experiment with different doses to find out what
works best for you." Sometimes, it takes up to 3
weeks for effects to be noticed.
MSM
SIDE EFFECTS
MSM
has been used as a dietary supplement for over 40
years with no reports of intolerance or allergic
reactions. Its toxicity profile is similar to that
of water! Your body flushes excess MSM after about a
12-hour period. It uses what is needed and the rest
is discarded.
SUGGESTED USE
*
Take one - four teaspoons daily. (1 tsp = approx.
5000 mg) Our MSM is HPLC tested. It is Certified
99.452% pure. The rest is moisture.
*
Information on this site is for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to act as a substitute for
medical advice provided by a qualified health care
provider nor is the preceding information intended
to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration.