MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) - "Dietary Sulfur"

What is MSM and what is it used for?

MSM is the bioactive, organic form of sulfur in all living organisms and a potent antioxidant / anti-inflammatory agent. MSM has the same health benefits as DMSO. While MSM is an important source of organic sulfur, it also has other unique properties.

Sulfur – Healing Mineral

It is used against painful inflammatory conditions, such as:

Degenerative arthritis (commonly called osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis related to a gradual breakdown of protective cartilage covering joints)
Chronic back pain
Chronic headache
Muscle pain
Fibromyalgia
Tendinitis and bursitis

Where is MSM found?

In many plants. Fruits and vegetables can contain MSM in health-beneficial amounts when the top soil is rich with nutrients. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many commercial operations today. MSM is composed of the amino acids – methionine, cysteine and cystine which can be found in cellular proteins of all living organisms.

Found in many foods: Fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, fish, grains. it is destroyed by heat and cooking.

Its extracted form is a white, odorless crystalline substance. Highly soluble in hot water and other organic solvents

MSM can be taken orally or applied topically

Oral supplementation

MSM is available as a powder, capsules, crystals, flakes, and/or tablets;

To avoid the bitter taste of bulk MSM. Take a large spoonful of the bulk MSM and place it on the tip of your tongue. Now quickly consume a large amount of liquid. Juices will mask any small taste, especially Cranberry Juice. When placed on the tip of your tongue, MSM is tasteless. It is when it dissolves that the taste is very bitter. Consuming MSM in this manner will allow nearly all of the MSM to dissolve in your stomach, far away from your taste buds.

One heaping teaspoon of MSM powder is about 5 grams

Oral Dosage. Most people will take between 5 and 25 grams per day, depending on whether they are in a prevention mode or a treatment mode. For brain cancer, however, a typical dose is 40 grams / day for a 200 pound person.
Toxic dose. Is over 100 grams/day for a 200 pound person.
A single oral dose of MSM is not usually effective. MSM is administered in spaced dosages, either periodically throughout the day for several successive days, until anticipated benefits occur E.g. 2 – 21 days or longer. Ingested MSM accumulates in the body tissues and fluids to reach an effective level.
Start slowly with 5g /day for a week and build up in successive weeks. Sulfur is a detoxifier, and our body’s cells need to release waste substances slowly enough into the bloodstream for your kidneys and liver to handle them without poisoning you.It helps if you drink lots of water to help flush the toxins out of your body.

E.g. For arthritis, back or muscle pain -begin with 1 tsp/day of powdered MSM. If you do not experience a dramatic reduction in pain within two days, continue to increase the dosage up to 4 heaping teaspoons / day (20 grams)

First time users should take MSM with meals to help prevent heartburn

For topical application

As lotion and gel. Applied externally, MSM also penetrates through the skin (or scalp), but not as effectively as DMSO. It is suitable for improving the health of the area where it is absorbed. Mixing MSM with DMSO, takes advantage of DMSO’s ability as a penetrating carrier.

MSM for arthritis

MSM is used against both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. A 2011, 12-week study (n=49) showed positive results against osteoarthritis pain relief and flexibility. Results against rheumatoid arthritis are less proven but still show promise.

MSM combined with glucosamine is better for arthritis pain. Doctors found that when their patients combined MSM with 1500 mg of glucosamine that it provided more pain relief than either the MSM or glucosamine alone.