MSM – The Forgotten Nutrient

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 MSM – The Forgotten Nutrient- Mark Hathaway https://www.biosynergypro.com/

MSM (organic sulfur) is IMO the most powerful mineral supplement you could possibly take.

WHAT IS MSM?

MSM is an abbreviation of methylsulfonylmethane, an organic form of sulfur. The chemical formula of MSM is CH3SO2CH3. It is the form in which sulfur appears in nature in all living organisms, and in which it is biologically active. MSM is an odorless, white, crystalline powder that is highly soluble in hot water and in a wide range of organic solvents. Biologically active sulfur has incredible preventive and therapeutic properties. The medicinal properties of biological sulfur are profound, and they are also based on obvious principles. Because of these characteristics, the discovery of biological sulfur’s role in health, and the process that enabled its successful delivery in supplemental form, are generally considered among the biggest advances in orthomolecular medicine in the second half of this century.

WHAT CAN MSM DO FOR YOU?

Deficiencies in biological sulfur can result in the less optimal functioning of each cell, tissue, and organ in the body. Inorganic sulfur is poorly assimilated. Organic, biologically active sulfur is therefore extremely important for the health of every living organism. MSM is the natural source of biological sulfur to which we are adapted through our evolution. Use of MSM has the following benefits:

Chronic Pain

Perhaps the most remarkable discovery regarding MSM is that it is an effective pain killer. MSM works for many types of chronic pain. In March 1999, Stanley W. Jacob, M.D., and Ronald M. Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., published “The Miracle of MSM: The Natural Solution for Pain”. Their book was based on their experience as medical doctors and MSM researchers. Dr. Jacob is the head of the DMSO Pain Clinic in Portland, OR, and a Professor at the Oregon Health Sciences University, and Dr. Lawrence was the founder of the International Association for the Study of Pain and the American Association for the Study of Headaches. Combined, they have over 20 years of experience with fighting pain with MSM. They concluded that of more than 18,000 patients that suffered from chronic pain, about 70% experienced benefits from the use of MSM, finding that pain either diminished or disappeared altogether.

The types of pain which have been treated successfully with MSM include:

• Personal injury due to accidents, burns, etc.

• Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

• Fibromyalgia

• Lower back pains

• Headaches, migraines

• Muscle aches

• Bursitis

• Tennis elbows and other sports injuries

• Carpal Syndrome

• Sclerosis

• Whiplash

• RSI (Repititive Strain Injury)

• Scars due to burns, operations, accidents, etc.

The way MSM impacts pain is currently explained by the following mechanisms:

• MSM is a natural analgesic: it blocks the transfer of pain impulses through nerve fibers (C-fibers).

• MSM blocks inflammations and inflammatory processes. MSM enhances the activity of cortisol, a natural anti-inflammatory hormone produced by the body.

• MSM improves the permeability of cell membranes. This improves the uptake of nutrients and many vitamins and the elimination of waste products and excess cellular fluids.

• MSM dilates blood vessels, enhancing blood circulation. This, too, helps to eliminate waste products from the body, which speeds up healing.

• MSM is a muscle relaxant. This is an important and often overlooked benefit of MSM. Many chronic pains are aggravated by chronic muscle tension in the body.

• MSM aids the natural defense mechanisms in the body by regulating the prostaglandin metabolism and regulates the formation of antibodies and immune complexes.

MSM slows down and restores crosslinking in collagen. Crosslinking in collagen is a natural process in scar formation, causing hard and often painful scar tissue. This may lead to chronic pain, particularly in the case of burn scars, in which large surface areas may be affected. MSM heals scar tissue, making the skin more flexible. People who have treated burn scars with MSM ointment and seen their scars almost disappear, and have eliminated associated pains, form dramatic examples of MSM’s potency in this regard.

MSM AND HUMAN HEALTH

The natural level of MSM in the circulatory system of an adult human male is about 0.2 mg/kg. Normal adults excrete 4 to 11 mg MSM per day in their urine. Several studies suggest that the systemic concentration of MSM drops in mammals with increased age, possibly as a result of changing diet or body metabolism. Some research suggests that there is a minimum concentration of MSM that must be maintained in the body to preserve normal physiological function and the molecular structure of our musculoskeletal systems. Low concentrations of MSM in our bodies have been linked with unspecified complaints of fatigue, depression, high sensitivity to physical and psychological stress, and with a large number of degenerative diseases. MSM is an important source of sulfur, but also has unique properties related to its chemical structure and biological activities. To understand the preventive and therapeutic properties of MSM, a distinction needs to be made between the questions of “why humans need sulfur” and “why humans need MSM.”

WHY DOES THE HUMAN BODY NEED SULFUR?

Following calcium and phosphorus, sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in the body. A grown man of average height and weight has approximately 140 grams of sulfur distributed through their system. Nearly half of all sulfur is contained in muscular tissue, skin, and bones.

NATURAL SOURCES OF MSM

MSM is the natural form in which sulfur makes a cyclical journey from the food chain into the earth and back again, known as the earth’s “sulfur cycle”.. Algae and several forms of plankton are capable of absorbing massive amounts of inorganic sulfur from seawater, and of converting this into a simple, organically-bound form. When these algae and planktonic organisms die, enzymatic processes result in the breakdown of the organic molecules into DMS, or Dimethylsulfide. This compound is volatile and poorly soluble in water. It collects in the stratosphere, where it is oxidized under the influence of ultraviolet light into DMSO (Dimethylsulfoxide), and further converted into MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). DMSO and MSM are highly soluble in water, and therefore concentrate easily in atmospheric water vapor, returning to earth in the form of rain. Plant roots rapidly collect and concentrate these sulfur sources. Laboratory research has shown, that a one ppm mixture of radioactively labeled DMSO and MSM, can concentrate a hundredfold in plant roots within hours.

Because of this process, rainwater contains a lot of MSM. It is also abundantly found in fresh fruit and vegetables in amounts generally ranging from 1 to 4 mg/kg. Raw milk from cows that graze in pastures contains 2 to 5 mg/kg MSM. Due to the volatile nature of MSM, it is rapidly lost when consumables are heated during food preparation or pasteurization. Pasteurized milk, therefore, contains less than 0.25 mg/kg MSM, roughly the same amount found in milk from cows fed dried, artificial food. MSM is also lost when vegetables and fruit are frozen for a lengthy period of time, or when they are irradiated. Due to the realities of the modern food industry, in which a great portion of everything consumed is either heated, irradiated, or frozen for a period of time, most people in post-industrial societies suffer from a chronic shortage of MSM.

Protein Structure

When plants absorb MSM from rainwater, they convert it into sulfur-containing the amino acids methionine and cysteine. Taurine and cystine, the other two known sulfur amino acids, are synthesized from cysteine. The body manufactures about 80% of the amino acids it needs, and these are classified as nonessential. The remaining 20%, called essential amino acids, must be obtained from food. Methionine and cysteine are considered two of them. There are approximately 28 known amino acids. Each type of protein is made up of a unique collection of amino acids in a specific combination. Two molecules of cysteine can oxidize and bond together through sulfur (-S-S-) bonds. These sulfur bonds are the key factors that hold proteins in shape, and determine the form, properties, and biological activities of proteins.

Preferred Dietary Source of Sulfur

Previous scientific consensus held that in humans, the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine are the most important sources of sulfur. However, since the discovery of the earth’s sulfur cycle, this theory is increasingly brought into question. Several hundred million years ago, algae in the oceans started producing simple organic sulfur compounds, which led to the formation of MSM. This biologically active sulfur was probably the most important source of sulfur for all subsequently developing life forms. This gives credence to the hypothesis that higher forms of life most likely are genetically preprogrammed to use MSM as a primary source of sulfur. This theory is further enhanced by the discovery that MSM can be ingested by all organisms investigated so far in almost unlimited quantities without causing any toxic effects. The same cannot be said about the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine en cysteine, which can be consumed in small quantities but can cause undesired toxic responses in larger doses. Experiments using MSM containing radiolabeled sulfur (35S) have shown that following ingestion, MSM releases its sulfur to form collagen and keratin, the basic ingredients of hair and nails, as well as the essential amino acids methionine and cysteine, along with serum proteins. It appears abundantly clear that the importance of MSM as a source of sulfur has been grossly underestimated. The reason for this is likely in large part due to the realities of the modern food industry, which, as earlier explained, causes the loss of the majority of naturally present MSM. It is therefore for good reason that MSM is referred to as “The Forgotten Nutrient”.

Synergetic Effect

MSM is considered a potentiator of most vitamins and other nutrients, such as vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, all B- vitamins, vitamins A, D, and E, amino acids, selenium, calcium, magnesium en many others. MSM improves the cellular uptake of these nutrients and prolongs their lives. The body can better utilize the nutrients, and taking dietary supplements is more efficient. Additionally, fewer dietary supplements need to be taken.

Cancer

Several experiments have shown that oral administration of MSM can protect rats against the onset of cancer. In one study, rats specially bred to be susceptible to breast cancer when given certain carcinogenic compounds were fed a diet containing MSM for a period of eight days. The control group did not receive MSM. Following this preliminary period, all rats were given oral doses of cancer-causing agents. There was no statistical difference in the number of tumours developing in the two groups. However, the MSM diet rats developed their first tumours some 100 days later than the control rats, and these tumours became cancerous some 130 days later than those in the control group. Considering a two-year average life expectancy of rats, 100 days is the equivalent of about ten years in human life.

In another experiment, rats received MSM as 1% solution in their drinking water throughout the duration of the study. The control group received only tap water. One week after the start of the dietary regimen, all rats were injected with dimethylhydrazine, a chemical that induces colon cancer. Over the nine months that the experiment was conducted, the number of bowel tumours occurring in the rats was statistically the same for the two groups. However, the time of appearance of the first bowel tumours was considerably longer in the MSM-treated rats. The researchers concluded that MSM significantly lengthens the time of tumour onset compared to the controls.

Parasites

One of the most amazing discoveries on MSM is its anti-parasitic action against Giardia, Trichomonas, roundworms, nematodes, Enterobius, and other intestinal worms. Animal studies include laboratory mice determined to have pinworms (Enterobius) by fecal cast examination. They were given commercial food and drinking water, both containing 2% MSM by weight. After 17 days, fecal examination indicated the feces were free of worms and eggs. The blood level of MSM in one animal examined exceeded 30 ppm or mg/kg. Human studies include a man with confirmed Giardia lamblia, apparently contacted from contaminated water in a primitive area. He was given 500 mg MSM three times a day for 14 days. By the eighth day, he was free of symptoms, and two stool specimens collected one week later were free of the organism. In another study, Trichomonas vaginalis was successfully treated by an oral dosage of 1 gram MSM a day, and a daily topical application of 5% aqueous MSM for one week.

The major antiparasitic property of MSM stems from its ability to bind to the mucosa and present a natural blocking interface between hosts and parasites. It’s as though MSM puts down a coating on the mucosa, which parasites find impenetrable and can’t cling to. Unable to stick, the parasites are simply flushed out of the body. In vitro research has shown the antiparasitic, antifungal, and antibacterial action of MSM concentrations. MSM concentrations of 1 mg/mL and less demonstrated no significant inhibition of Giardia lamblia. However, at 20 mg/mL concentrations, it was strongly inhibitory, and concentrations above 40 mg/mL promptly killed the organism. According to Dr. Herschler, one can safely administer up to 1-2 grams of MSM per kilogram of body weight on a daily basis. One, therefore, builds a safely tolerated blood level of up to 4000 ppm (mg/kg), a level highly toxic to many infective organisms yet harmless to the host.

A growing number of natural physicians are expressing concerns about parasites. It is becoming increasingly clear that they can be a continuous source of poisoning which can spread throughout the body and affect the immune system. It is an intriguing thought that MSM may be nature’s original means of protecting us against parasites.

Antioxidant

MSM is a strong antioxidant, capable of binding and inactivating free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules and atoms with unpaired electrons, which, by force of nature, attract electrons from their surrounding environment. Free radicals are not all harmful; actually, life without free radicals is impossible. They are needed for cellular energy production. The liver produces free radicals during the breakdown of harmful substances, and the body’s immune system uses free radicals to kill viruses and bacteria. The body houses antioxidants that bind and deactivate free radicals. The normal production of free radicals in a healthy human is therefore harmless. However, the overproduction of free radicals can be very harmful. They can begin a chain reaction that can eventually cause great harm to cell membranes and chromosomes. The overproduction of free radicals is caused by physical and mental stress, malnutrition, air pollution, heavy metals and organic contaminants in drinking water and food, radiation, and cigarette smoke. In such cases, the body needs extra antioxidants from food. MSM is such an antioxidant.

As a major sulfur donor, MSM is essential for the proper functioning of the body’s anti-oxidation system. When neutralizing free radicals, the body uses a variety of antioxidant enzymes that contain sulfuric amino acids. These derive their structure and biological activity from sulfur bonds (S-S). MSM provides the sulfur for the amino sulfur acids methionine, cysteine, and taurine, which are considered powerful antioxidants. When split off, the thiol (-SH) groups of these amino acids are capable of neutralizing free radicals. Sulfur is also necessary for the formation of what is considered the most powerful nutritional antioxidant, glutathione. And as stated before, MSM potentiates the effect of well-known nutritional antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, selenium, and others. MSM itself also appears to act as an antioxidant. The mucosa contains a carbon-sulfur bond-cleaving enzyme, termed C-S lyase. Studies suggest that when bound to the mucosa, cleavage of MSM provides an electron-deficient group CH3SO2 which can neutralize free radicals.

Autoimmune Diseases

MSM very effectively fights inflammations resulting from autoimmune reactions (in which the body’s immune system turns on itself). For example, people who suffer from arthritis often benefit greatly from MSM. Several studies have shown that the supplementation of MSM significantly reduces joint degeneration and inflammation. In one study, 24 people with symptomatic osteoarthritis were treated with either a regular (NSAID) drug or with 3 grams of MSM daily. After one month, both groups noted equal improvements in pain and stiffness. In another experiment, mice with a predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis-like joint lesions were studied. Researchers found that two-month-old mice who were given water containing a 3% solution of MSM for a period of three months suffered no degeneration of articular cartilage. In the control group of mice receiving only tap water, 50% of the animals were found to have focal degeneration of articular cartilage. Nearly all (95%) of the control animals had an inflammatory reaction in the synovial tissues, compared to a less severe inflammatory reaction in 50% of the MSM group. The beneficial effect of MSM is due in part to its ability to improve cell permeability, allowing harmful substances (lactic acid, toxins) to flow out while permitting nutrients to flow in, thereby preventing a pressure build-up in cells that causes inflammation in the joints.

Mice prone to the development of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Disease (ALD) were fed, beginning at the age of one month, a diet that included a 3% solution of MSM as drinking water. The mean life span of the control group was 5.5 months, whereas the mean life span of the MSM group was extended to more than 10 months of age. The MSM group showed decreased anti-nuclear antibody responses and significant diminution of lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and anemia development, thus suggesting that MSM provided significant protection against the development of the autoimmune disease ALD. Other experiments were conducted on mice bred for their propensity to acquire the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). These experiments showed MSM to have a protective effect both before and after the onset of the disease. Mice that were maintained on a diet including 3% MSM in their drinking water from the age of one month suffered lower death and liver damage rates than control groups drinking only tap water. After seven months, 30% of the control group had died, while all the MSM mice were still alive. Also, when mice seven months old and already showing signs of advanced lupus were fed the MSM diet, 62% of the animals were still alive after nine months, compared to 14% for the control group that received only tap water.

Neurological Diseases

The brain is extremely sensitive to the effects of toxic materials such as heavy metals and organic compounds. Many of these compounds tend to accumulate in nerve cells where they can cause severe oxidative damage. Neurological disturbances may be the result. MSM is one of the few antioxidants which can easily pass the blood-brain barrier. It prevents and repairs oxidative damage and restores cell membrane elasticity and permeability. This allows the nerve cells to start excreting waste products.

The powerful action of MSM is illustrated in the following example. An older woman suffered from poisoning caused by exposure to aluminum. This heavy metal had accumulated in her brain and caused severe neurological damage. The woman had been confined to her bed for six years, unable to communicate with her surroundings. All this time she had not spoken a word. Medical doctors could no longer help her and had given up on her. She was completely dependent on her husband who took complete care of her needs. A natural health care practitioner advised two teaspoons of MSM (about 15 grams) daily. The MSM passed the blood-brain barrier, and restored the permeability of the brain cell membranes, allowing her brain cells to purge the heavy metal poisons. Two weeks later, the orthomolecular physician prescribed a warm bath to help her eliminate the released poisons through the skin. After twenty minutes in this bath, the woman suddenly smiled and said “Gee, I feel much better now.” These were the first words she had spoken in years. Several months later, the woman was capable of leading a normal life again.

Metabolism

Enzymes are proteins that control all-important life functions. For example, they regulate all metabolic processes in our bodies. Sulfur bridges are responsible for the spatial structure of enzymes. Without sulfur bridges, enzymes would lack biological activity due to deviations in their spatial structure. Shortages in sulfur cause reduced production of biologically active enzymes, which results in a reduction of many metabolic processes. Sulfur is important for cellular energy production in which glucose is metabolized under the release of energy.

Most important, sulfur plays a role in the electron transport system, as part of iron/sulfur proteins in mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell. Furthermore, sulfur participates in the vitamin B Thiamine (B1) en Biotin. These vitamins are essential for converting carbohydrates into energy, by burning glucose. Insulin is a hormone excreted by the pancreas, and mainly functions to regulate the blood sugar level. Insulin, therefore, plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism. Each insulin molecule consists of two amino acid chains, connected to one another by sulfur bridges. These sulfur bridges are very important for the proper functioning of insulin. Without these bridges, the hormone loses its biological activity.

Protection of the Mucosa

Additional experiments with MSM containing radiolabeled sulfur demonstrated that after ingestion, MSM is bound to the mucosa. Apparently, MSM is binding to receptor sites at the mucous membrane surface in the intestinal and urogenital tracts and the respiratory system. By doing so, it presents a blocking interface between host and environment. There are many health-benefiting implications to such natural interactions. Allergens and parasites cannot bind to the mucosa, toxins are oxidized, and free radicals are eliminated.

Lung Dysfunction

MSM allows the body to more effectively take up oxygen more. In the first place, it improves the elasticity of the lung cells and the permeability of long cell membranes, allowing more air to be breathed and oxygen to pass through the membranes into the bloodstream. Secondly, MSM prevents and corrects the clotting of red blood cells, allowing the blood to absorb more oxygen. Moreover, by improving the cell membrane permeability, cells throughout the body can take up more oxygen from the blood, and hence produce more energy. People suffering from lung dysfunctions may benefit greatly from treatment with MSM. In one study, seven human subjects with a respiratory deficiency were given MSM in amounts ranging from 250 – 1.500 mg/day. Five had emphysema, and two had lung tumors with additional functional impairment due to pleural fluid accumulation. Both were on radiation chemotherapy prior to including MSM in their diet, but without apparent benefit. Before and during the test period, the five subjects with emphysema walked a measured distance compatible with their physical capabilities. Within four weeks of beginning the ingestion of MSM, all emphysema sufferers had at least doubled their ‘comfortable’ walking distance. The two subjects with lung tumors were assessed by attending physicians and nurses as more alert and with a better attitude than before the test. Most strikingly, however, the lung fluid had disappeared during the first months of the test period.

Allergies

MSM alleviates the symptoms of a large number of allergies, including food allergies, contact allergies, inhalation allergies, and others. The major anti-allergic characteristic of MSM is caused by its ability to bind to the mucosa and present a natural blocking interface between hosts and allergens. Besides, MSM alleviates allergies through detoxification and elimination of free radicals and improvement of cell permeability. A direct correlation between the concentration of MSM used and resistance to allergens has been established. Several authors have noted that MSM works as a histamine inhibitor at least as well as traditional antihistamines, without the negative side effects.

Stress

Many people using MSM have reported feeling better and stronger and capable of increased endurance. During a test with 14 persons using MSM for periods from seven months to over one year, none of them became ill. One stress study involved two groups of 25 goldfish, which were removed from a large aquarium and placed in two identical, small aquariums. One group was fed ordinary goldfish food, and the other group received the same food with 2% by weight of MSM added. Movement confinement, temperature changes, and marginal oxygenation stressed the fish in both aquariums equally. After five days, only one fish of the MSM group had died, against 11 (almost 50%) of the control group.

It is a common practice in intensive cattle breeding to add antibiotics to animal feed in order to promote growth and prevent the outbreak of stress-related diseases. Animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs contain residues of antibiotics, which pass into the consumer. The abundant usage of antibiotics is largely responsible for the creation of resistant bacteria strains. Well-known examples are the “hospital bacterium” MRSA (meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and the VRE’s (vancomycin-resistant enterococci). Today, the increasing resistance of bacteria is considered one of the major threats to human health. It is an intriguing thought that adding MSM to animal feed might reduce stress and improve animal health to a level where the usage of antibiotics can be strongly reduced.

Skin

Sulfur is called nature’s “beauty mineral” because it keeps skin smooth and youthful and hair glossy. Sulfur is necessary for the production of collagen and keratin, proteins necessary for the health and maintenance of skin, nails, and hair. Several experiments have shown that several dermatological disorders, including those that are allergy-related, respond favorably to a diet supplemented by MSM. Oral dosages of MSM have been shown to be effective against acne, Rosaceae, and dry, scaly, or itching skin. When used topically in the form of an ointment or lotion, MSM is helpful in treating skin disorders including acne, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, dandruff, scabies, diaper rash, and certain fungal infections. Scars resulting from operations and from burns also respond well to topical application. New scars can heal so perfectly that they are almost invisible. Old scars, too, can improve markedly.

Muscle Soreness and Cramps

Especially in combination with vitamin C, MSM has demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce or eliminate the incidence of muscle soreness, leg, and back cramps. MSM is particularly successful with geriatric patients who have such cramps during the night or after long periods of inactivity. Many people with stiff muscles and joints have reported a marked improvement after using MSM for some time. Several cases have been reported of people who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, who have been cured by using MSM. An elderly woman was slated to have an operation performed on both wrists. On the advice of the author, she started using MSM. A month later her symptoms had all but disappeared, and the operation was no longer necessary.

Athletes who compete vigorously can learn from trainers of million-dollar racehorses. For many years and with great success, trainers administered MSM to their prize horses before a race to prevent muscle soreness, and afterward to lessen the risk of cramping and improve physical recovery. The physical fatigue syndrome following intense athletic activity in competitive sports, which usually persist for 8-10 days in athletes, was gone in 2-3 days in individuals who had ingested 1-2 gram MSM per day for the preceding six months.

DETOXIFICATION SYMPTOMS

In practice, most people who use MSM notice very little at the onset or may experience slight detoxification symptoms. These symptoms may include mild forms of diarrhea, skin rash, headache, and fatigue. After one week, these symptoms usually disappear. Fewer than 20% of users of MSM may feel moderately sick in the first few days of using MSM. Generally, the stronger the symptoms are, the more toxins had been stored in the body, and the more MSM was needed for its purification. If more moderate symptoms of detoxification are experienced, it may be advisable to reduce the dosage of MSM and gradually rebuild it once the symptoms disappear.

FOR WHOM IS MSM INTENDED?

MSM is intended for everyone who appreciates good health. Sports enthusiasts and athletes can use it to improve their performance and speed up recovery after workouts. People with degenerative diseases can use it to drastically improve their health and quality of life.

MSM is not a cure-all for solving every health problem. It is a food supplement that people in pre-modern societies received through their diets. Most people today, however, suffer from chronic MSM deficiencies, due to its inability to endure the realities of the modern food and drink industry. MSM gives the body the tools it needs to better cure itself and maintain its vitality. MSM cannot do this by itself. The basis for good health is maintaining healthy living conditions, including a healthy and balanced diet, good lifestyle choices, and exercise.

HOW SAFE IS MSM?

MSM is similar in toxicity to water. When MSM was administered to human volunteers, no toxic effects were observed at intake levels of 1 gram per kg of body weight per day for 30 days. Intravenous injections of 0.5 grams per kg body weight daily for five days a week produced no measurable toxicity in human subjects. The lethal dose (LD50) of MSM for mice is more than 20 g/kg body weight; this means that the average lethal dose of MSM for humans is more than one and a half kilograms; about six times the lethal dose of table salt. MSM has been widely tested as a food ingredient without any reports of allergic reactions. An unpublished Oregon Health Sciences University study of the long-term toxicity of MSM over a period of six months showed no toxic effects. More than 12,000 patients were treated with MSM at levels above two grams daily, without toxicity.

DOSAGES AND USAGE

The optimal dosage depends on the nature and intensity of the complaints. In most cases, it is sufficient to take an initial dose of 1/4 teaspoon twice daily. Children ten and under should take 1/8th teaspoon daily. People with serious ailments have been shown to benefit from higher dosages, up to four 2 teaspoons three times daily. Such a high dosage may be advised to fight parasital infections. Case studies have been reported in which patients did not show noticeable improvement until they received a daily dosage of 30-40 grams.

People using MSM should make all changes to their dosage gradually. They should not increase their dose as long as detoxification symptoms persist. Although uncommon, these symptoms may include nausea and headaches. MSM is best taken with a glass of water one-half hour prior to eating. As it tends to stimulate energy levels, it is generally advisable not to take it prior to bed.

A large glass of water with MSM (organic sulfur) and some squeezed lemon juice is an absolute gift for your body and liver first thing in the morning. Don’t eat anything for at least 30 minutes after.