Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) and Heart Disease

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is one of the safest medically active substances in existence and has been investigated for its potential effects on arterial plaque and atherosclerosis. Discovered in 1866, Russian scientist Alexander Saytzeff isolated DMSO. It was crystalline, odorless, non-toxic, and tasted like garlic when consumed.

DMSO has been shown to possess several biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive effects, and it has been proposed to be therapeutic in many disorders, such as gastrointestinal diseases, rheumatologic diseases, and for the treatment of several manifestations of amyloidosis.

Research indicates that DMSO protects against cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis, particularly in animal models. The effects of DMSO make it useful even in the treatment of medical disorders involving head and spinal cord injury, stroke, memory dysfunction, ischemic heart disease, and a wide range of other diseases.

Sulfur is an element of the earth and essential to life. DMSO is an intermediate product of the global Sulfur Cycle, which distributes bioavailable sulfur for all animal and plant life (Parcell, 2002). DMSO, or dimethyl sulfoxide, is a colorless liquid used as a powerful solvent. DMSO is a natural substance that is produced by trees and is obtained through the processing of wood pulp. Over the years, DMSO has been the subject of numerous studies, and many researchers have found that it has many potential health benefits.

Sulfur compounds are found in all body cells and are indispensable for life. They are needed for many chemical reactions involved in the detoxification of drugs and other harmful toxins, and they have potential clinical applications in the treatment of many conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, athletic injuries, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and AIDS (Parcell, 2002).

Among the sulfur compounds, DMSO probably has the most comprehensive range and the greatest number of therapeutic applications ever shown for any other single chemical. It has around 40 pharmacological properties that may be beneficial in preventing, relieving, or reversing numerous diseases (Morton, 1993). DMSO has excellent capabilities and untold therapeutic power and is one of a lineup of essential substances that qualify as capable of helping people cure incurable diseases.

DMSO also penetrates the skin and the blood-brain barrier
with ease, penetrating tissues and entering the bloodstream.

A study involving rabbits demonstrated that DMSO significantly inhibited the development of atherosclerotic lesions when administered alongside an atherogenic diet high in cholesterol. Specifically, lesions were reduced by about 50% at a lower dose of DMSO and were virtually absent at higher doses.