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 information 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.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.