The Wonders of MSM....

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic, sulfur-containing natural compound without any toxicity.

Sulfur makes up one quarter of the total body weight and is the third most abundant mineral in the human body. The proper acid alkaline balance of the body cannot be maintained without it. It is in every cell of the human body. Half of the sulfur in the body is in muscles, all connective tissue, skin and bones. Sulfur is critical for making joint cartilage and keratin of the skin and hair, and new research suggests that sulfur is almost as significant as Vitamin C because the human body must maintain a minimum level of sulfur for normal function.

The body uses up to an eighth of a teaspoon of sulfur daily to keep the cell membranes open and prevent the hardening of tissues. New cells in our bodies need an exorbitant supply of sulfur and sulfur is even in the hemoglobin of the blood. Sulfur is not stored in the body and any surplus is oxidized to sulfate and excreted in the urine or is stored as glutathione (an impt antioxidant)

Sulfur deficiency is linked to a host of degenerative diseases, such as: pain, joint trouble, fatigue, increased psychological and physical stress, and depression, as well as other conditions. Some children with autism have a low level of sulfate in their bodies due to poor absorption in the gut, excess loss in the urine, or poor recycling of sulfate by the kidney.
MSM in supplement form mimics the organic sulfur present in our bodies. MSM is also known as dimethyl sulfone which is the sulfur compound nutrient found throughout the diets of virtually all vertebrates. It is odorless in its purified chemical form and is a water-soluble, white crystalline solid. It belongs in the same chemical family as oxygen and is a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier that even binds and assists in the removal of heavy metals from the body.

When your body is injured, MSM promotes healthy circulation to the injured area so nutrients can rush in for repairs. MSM has an antiseptic and cleansing effect on the digestive tract while stimulating bile secretions, purifying the blood, improving hair condition, helping liver function while boosting metabolism, and is used to produce glutathione - all while working overtime to prevent the accumulation of toxic impurities.

MSM is also one really great supplement for repairing joint troubles, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis. MSM supplements can lower your pain levels by 50% or more, MSM supplements has the ability to reduce inflammation. Sulfur is vital to the creation and regeneration of the body's tissues.

Sulfur and Allergies:
Over 40 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from allergies. 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. These antibodies then attach themselves to special cells in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts where they eventually explode, releasing chemicals including histamine, a powerful compound that actually causes allergic symptoms. Once our immune system decides that a particular type of pollen is a hostile invader, it becomes sensitized to it and can react with allergy symptoms for years, and perhaps a lifetime.

Allergy drugs only suppress symptoms rather than treating the cause of the allergy and often result in uncomfortable side effects. Dust, pollen, mold or animal dander in the air results in sneezing, runny nose, tearing eyes, sore throat, ear infection, stomach cramps, itchy skin, hives, headaches, urinary frequency, stuffiness, fatigue, diarrhea, and possibly asthma. Allergy symptoms are your body's reaction to something foreign in your system. Symptoms are caused by an antibody called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, a protein that the body produces to fight the foreign substance. If your body is sulfur deficient, the cell walls become hard and stiff, hindering the flow of fluid through the cell walls.

Sulfur is found in raw milk (but not pasteurized milk), meat, eggs, cheese, fish, seeds, fruits, vegetables and grains. One of the best sources for sulfur is garlic and onions. Unfortunately, our processed food diets do not deliver adequate amounts of this nutrient. Processing, drying, cooking and preserving strips our foods of sulfur, making supplementation more important than ever. Supplemental MSM is a safe and natural way to reap the therapeutic benefits of sulfur. Studies show that MSM (sulfur) declines with age, so you would want to boost your msm dietary supplementation as you get older.

MSM is a dietary supplement that does not require a prescription. A daily dose of 1,500 - 6,000mg is common, and for some conditions, if you are taking too much, your stools becomes loose, so just back off the dosage. MSM can be introduced to the joint in three ways, orally (liquid or pill), topically (a gel applied directly onto the joint), or by physician injection. Most experts recommend a mix of oral and topical application for best results. Injection should only be performed by qualified medical personnel.

There have been several studies looking at the efficacy of MSM in the fight against joint pain including one recent double-blind trial that was published in a top-tier osteoarthritis journal. In addition, MSM has been the subject of dozens of animal and test-tube studies to determine its effects. Although more studies are needed, the best available evidence suggests that MSM does have a beneficial effect in reducing joint pain rather than simply suppressing symptoms associated w/ joint degeneration.

Published scientific studies have shown MSM to be safe for human and animal use. Even at large dosage levels, there are no known significant adverse effects or drug interactions. Notably, these studies were conducted on highly purified forms of MSM; consumers should determine if the MSM they use has been appropriately processed to remove microscopic toxins or impurities and try to get the one that’s produced here in the USA.

Veterinarians became interested in MSM dietary supplements and found that it worked on pets suffering from arthritis and lameness. When people saw the effect it had on their pets they began to buy MSM dietary supplements for themselves. Dr. Stanley Jacobs, M.D. Director of the DMSO Clinic and Professor of Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University, has conducted clinical studies on MSM dietary supplements and used it with his patients for over 20 years and has documented his findings in the book entitled "The Miracle of MSM". In the book Dr. Stanley Jacobs lists MSM's most significant actions to be: an analgesic (pain controller), MSM supplements aid in the relief of inflammation, MSM passes through cellular membranes of the body, including the skin, MSM does not dilate blood vessels but increases blood flow, MSM dietary supplements reduce muscle spasms, MSM alters the cross linking process in collagen, therefore reducing scar tissue, MSM has anti parasitic properties, and MSM has an immune normalizing effect, as observed in some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. One of the essential components in all life forms, sulfur is involved in amino acid production, connective tissue, skin, hair, nails, (in animals, hide and hooves), enzymes, hormones, and immunoglobulins. Dr. Jacobs lists the following as the most frequent applications of degenerative wear-and-tear arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, Chronic back pain, Chronic headaches, Muscle pain, Fibromyalgia, Tendonitis and bursitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, TMJ problems, Post-traumatic pain and inflammation, and Heartburn.