Synopses & Reviews
Chapter One Why All the Fuss Over MSM?Perhaps you've heard about MSM from a magazine article, or seen it featured on a television show. Or maybe you've heard about MSMthrough a friend or coworker who's had experience with it -- someone whose arthritis vanished, or who was able to stop taking aspirin or Tylenol after years of steady pill-popping. Perhaps you've even heard about other conditions that responded to this mysterious new substance: diabetes, skin problems, even chronic infections. You're intrigued by the idea of using a nutritional substance, instead of a drug, to foster yourhealth. You'd rather build a healthy body from the inside out than mask the pain and symptoms of bodily malfunctioning with pharmaceuticals.You've probably heard that up to 80 percent of the costs of managed health care in America can be traced to chronic conditions -- and you know there must be a better way.So you've picked up this book looking for answers about MSM. What is it, exactly? What do we know about how it works in the body? Can we believe the stories we've heard about such far-reaching health benefits? And can we really be sure that it's both safe and effective?What is MSM?MSM is the short name for methylsulfonylmethane, a complicated-sounding chemical that's really a fairly simple thing. It's a watersoluble compound that's found in all living things on Earth: plants, animals, fish, even algae. MSM is an organic form of sulfur, the element most of us last heard about in high school chemistry class. Like the mineral sulfur, MSM is a nutrient -- a specific type of dietary sulfur that our bodies require in our diet to perform their essential functions. It's not a drug. Instead, it functions aspart of a complex symphony of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that work together to facilitate virtually every bodily process you can imagine, from circulation to digestion, infection-fighting to wound healing.Is MSM like sulfa or sulfites?Because MSM is a form of sulfur, you might mistake it for one of several other compounds with similar names, yet very different characteristics. For example, when you think of sulfur, you might also think of sulfa, or more specifically, sulfa drugs, which are also known as sulfonamides. Sulfa drugs, such as erythromycin and sulfacytine, are powerful antibacterial- pharmaceuticals used to treat systemic infections. Sulfites, which are a class of food preservatives with no nutritive value, are found under various names, such as sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, and potassium bisulfite. Neither sulfa drugs nor sulfites, has much to do with MSM.Where does MSM come from?MSM is one of the three types of sulfur compounds that make up the majority (85 percent) of the sulfur found in all living things. The other two are DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) and DMS (dimethylsulfide). The lives of these closely related compounds begin deep in the ocean, where a microscopic plant called Emiliana huxleyii grows and releases sulfur compounds called dimethylsulfonium salts. These salts transform into DMS, which then rises to the ocean's surface and enters the Earth's atmosphere. When DMS meets ozone and ultraviolet light in the upper atmosphere, it is converted into DMSO and MSM.How does MSM get from the upper atmosphere to me? As clouds move over the land, DMSO and MSM are attracted to them and dissolve. The DMSO and MSM mix with the moisture in the clouds and returnto the Earth in rain droplets. Both compounds are absorbed by the plants through their roots, and the plants then concentrate the DMSO and MSM until they are up to 100 times their original strength. Over time, MSM becomes the primary bioavailable sulfur in the plants, which are then eaten by both animals and humans.Sulfur is beneficial only if it is made accessible, or bioavailable, to the body. Eating the elemental mineral sulfur won't provide any health benefits. Instead, you must consume a form of sulfur that your body can assimilate. Plants take elemental sulfur from the soil and rainwater and convert it into one of several amino acids, which are then passed along to the animals, including humans, that eat them. These amino acids contain a bioavailable version of the mineral that can foster health in both the humans and animals that make plants a part of their diet.And MSM is the form of sulfur my body needs?Yes. MSM is a bioavailable form of sulfur that is found naturally in vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, as well as in animal protein foods such as milk, meat, poultry, and eggs. But MSM is a delicate structure and can be destroyed readily during food processing and cooking. MSM is found most reliably in foods that are completely unprocessed and uncooked, which means that most people aren't getting enough -- unless they eat uncooked meat and eggs, unpasteurized milk, and unwashed produce; or their diet consists of all organic foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy products, and legumes. (In addition, overuse of agricultural soils has depleted their natural sulfur levels, meaning the crops that are grown and the animals that feed on them are not getting a sufficientamount of sulfur.)How can I get enough MSM?This is how supplemental MSM can help. Sold as a colorless, flavorless, and odorless white powder, packaged in capsules, crystals, or liquid, or blended into topical creams, gels, lotions, or a spray, MSM provides the body with the sulfur it needs, in a form it can use. When taken as directed, MSM is safe -- no significant ill effects have been reported, and scientists know that as a water-soluable micronutrient, MSM will simply be eliminated from the body if it's not needed.
Synopsis
MSM is a water-soluble compound found in all living things, a nutrient our bodies requires but often lacks because it is lost during food processing and cooking. It has recently been demonstrated that this natural mineral, essential to good health, can greatly reduce the pain of arthritis and other chronically painful conditions when given as a dietary supplement. Continuing research and reports from patients and physicians also indicate that MSM is effective in treating allergies, heartburn, constipation, and skin disorders. Many people report softer, smoother skin and increased energy as well. This comprehensive guide gives the essential answers you need in considering this natural pain remedy: How does MSM relieve pain?...How safe is MSM and can it be used in combination with other pain remedies? How is MSM used to treat arthritis? What other types of pain can be treated with MSM? Are there any side effects to MSM? How much pain relief can I expect from MSM?...How can I use MSM for allergies and other health problems? Where can I get MSM? And much more!
Plus: Pros And Cons Of Natural, Over-The-Counter, And Prescription Pain Remedies
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-200) and index.
About the Author
Deborah Mitchell is a medical writer and journalist specializing in natural medicine and nutrition topics. Her articles have appeared in professional journals as well as national consumer magazines. She has authored or co-authored nine books about various health topics, including The Natural Health Guide to Headache Relief, The Dictionary of Natural Healing, Natural Aphrodisiacs, and The Broccoli Sprouts Break-through. Ms. Mitchell lives and works in Tucson, Arizona.