The evidence behind DMSO's utility for a myriad of challenging diseases

Story at a Glance:

•The therapeutic actions of DMSO make it well suited to treat challenging conditions throughout the body, including many of the internal organs.

•In this article, we will examine how DMSO protects organs from injury (e.g., poisoning or blood loss) and some of the specific diseases DMSO has been proven to treat.

•These include: heart attacks, liver cirrhosis, gallstones, ARDS, lung damage from inhaling smoke, pulmonary fibrosis, pancreatitis, diabetes, nephritis, kidney stones, polycystic kidney disease, cystitis, epididymitis, genital pain, prostatitis, urethral syndrome, enlarged prostates, tubal infertility, endometrial inflammation, and fibrosis.

•This article will review DMSO treatment protocols for those conditions (along with non-DMSO approaches we utilize for them) and provide general DMSO information for those looking to use DMSO for their own health.

Note: when this article was emailed out, the research in the section “Kidney Function” was accidentally replaced with another part. This has been fixed.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a remarkably safe compound that can treat a variety of challenging conditions. Since DMSO is remarkably effective for treating chronic pain, arthritis, and injuries like sprains or burns (discussed further here), it quickly spread across America as a miracle drug. Thousands of studies were conducted to confirm its value, and before long, hundreds of thousands of people considered it to be the most important therapeutic ever discovered.

Unfortunately, due to various negative political factors, the FDA went from embracing DMSO to going to war against it, and eventually, the pharmaceutical industry reluctantly followed suit. Sadder still, the FDA refused to relent even once:

•DMSO was shown to effectively treat strokes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and many circulatory disorders (discussed here).

•DMSO was shown to cure a variety of “incurable” autoimmune and connective tissue disorders (discussed here).

•DMSO was shown to treat a variety of challenging (and often incurable) eye, ear, sinus, and dental conditions such as tinnitus and blindness (discussed here).

Since publishing those articles, I’ve received roughly a thousand reports from people of the remarkable effects DMSO has had on them (which can be read here), which while unbelievable, are almost identical to what people experienced in the 1960s before the FDA erased DMSO from the public’s memory.

Likewise, I’ve received almost as many questions (which is why I am trying to make these articles as thorough as possible). One of the most common questions I’ve received is if DMSO can help with various disorders of the internal organs. After realizing I did not have enough data to answer some of them within my drafts for this series, I spent a few weeks going through search engines combining each permutation of DMSO (e.g., dimethylsulfoxide) and each organ or the common diseases of them so I could identify the pertinent studies to share here. Despite my best efforts, I likely missed some, so if you are aware of any that should be added, please send them my way.

As you review these studies, you will notice a few patterns.

First, many were animal studies (something that always makes me sad), which used research protocols existing at the time to induce common diseases and then see if DMSO could prevent them. For example, cutting off the blood supply to tissues in the body will injure them, particularly when the blood flow comes back, so this can be modeled by clamping an artery that feeds the organ (typically for around an hour) and then unclamping it, creating what is known as an ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Second, DMSO has many benefits for other parts of the body (e.g., reducing autoimmunity, increasing blood circulation, and healing injured tissues). One disease process (which I haven’t discussed for over a year) is particularly important to understand since, like poor circulation, it underlies many illnesses:

There are a few key points about this model:

•Typically, more potent stressors make it progress faster (e.g., strokes rapidly kill brain cells). In contrast, weaker and more chronic stressors make it progress slower (e.g., I previously discussed how the cell danger response underlies many “inexplicable” chronic diseases).

•The further down this progression a tissue is, the harder it is to reverse (but with the correct therapy it can almost always be done).

•Many regenerative therapies essentially work by getting “shocked” cells to come back to life and start working again, which in many cases is critical for overall health since those tissues not working can disrupt the entire body.

•DMSO can reverse this process (discussed further in the first part of this series), but it is typically more helpful for the rapidly progressing instances coming from a significant stressor (e.g., a stroke or a severe injury or ingesting a poison). This in turn, explains why DMSO can sometimes give motor function back to people who were paralyzed by strokes years ago, but it is dramatically more effective if given shortly after a stroke, traumatic head impact or spinal cord injury, and likewise why individuals on DMSO suddenly “notice” things in their body that had stopped working come back.

•For slower and more chronic versions of this process which have already progressed, one typically needs a systemic regenerative therapy (discussed further here).

Let’s now look at what DMSO does for each organ.

Heart

Most of the studies discussing DMSO’s interactions with the heart regard its ability to protect it from permanent ischemia-reperfusion injuries (e.g., heart attacks):

•In a 2012 study, rat hearts had their blood supply cut off for 30 minutes and then were reperfused for 120 minutes. DMSO being given beforehand was found to reduce the resulting tissue necrosis (death) significantly and left ventricular dysfunction, particularly if it was given for a few days beforehand, rather than just immediately preceding the blood supply being cut off. Similar results were reported in 2010 and in 1981 when a heart attack was simulated. Additionally, a 1987 study found that DMSO increased the heart’s cardiac output during a heart attack (and how much blood was able to get to the brain).

•A rabbit study found that if hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was given concurrently with DMSO immediately after cutting off the blood supply to the heart, the damage the heart experienced was further reduced, presumably due to H₂O₂ providing oxygen to the heart tissue.

•When ischemic hearts are reperfused with a calcium ion containing solution, significant damage occurs. A rat study found that if DMSO was given in conjunction with the calcium solution, that damage was significantly reduced. A related rat study found DMSO prevented ischemia-reperfusion injuries from causing severe contractures in heart cells and the formation of contraction bands, and that this seemed to be linked to DMSO reducing the oxygen induced creatine kinase release from cells.

•One mechanism to explain the damage that occurs in heart cells after a shock or stressful conditions (e.g., heart failure) is that the t-tubules within the heart cells will seal and remodel. In one study, 1% DMSO (but not 10% DMSO) was found to prevent this from occurring and this process was hence hypothesized to at least in part explain DMSO’s ability to protect heart cells from significant stressors.

Additionally:

•In patients who survive heart attacks (and are brought back to life) they frequently have a variety of complications. In one study of 42 severely ill patients who had septic complications of postresuscitation disease, IV DMSO was an effective therapy, even in cases where sepsis came from antibiotic resistant bacteria.

•Isoproterenol can cause heart damage similar to that seen after a heart attack. Giving rats DMSO after giving the isoproterenol was found to reduce the resulting myocardial fiber necrosis, prevent ventricular aneurysms and cardiac rupture, and result in a smaller residual area of myocardial fibrosis.

•A key component of regenerative medicine is using stem cells (which have the potential to differentiate into many different cells) to replace damaged tissues (particularly those within critical organs). DMSO (especially with another medication) was shown to cause stem cells to differentiate into heart cells.

•When heart cells were exposed to low concentrations of DMSO (less than 0.5%), their respiratory control ratio and cellular viability relative to the control cells were enhanced (whereas at 3.7%, DMSO became harmful to them).

•DMSO was found to prevent heart damage caused by dietary copper deficiency.

•DMSO can also increase or decrease the force of heart contractions (e.g., a 70 mM DMSO concentration or less has a positive inotropic effect, while a higher one can do the opposite or create a mild hyperpolarization that prolongs the action potential) in a manner independent of beta-adrenergic receptors, and does not alter cardiac rhythm.

Intestines and Stomach

Most of the research I know that has been done in the gastrointestinal tract was for using DMSO to heal irritation, inflammation, and bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract (with the only exception I know of being a study that showed DMSO increased the stomach’s sensitivity to vagal stimulation).

For example, in a previous article, I mentioned that my colleagues use DMSO for irritable bowel syndrome and cited a 1968 patent that stated DMSO had helped a significant number of people with acute or chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, enterocolitis, and mucomembranous colitis). The other gastrointestinal studies are as follows:

•A double-blind, randomized study evaluated patients with recurrent attacks of proctosigmoidal ulcerative colitis that were not being prevented by their prophylactic medical regimen, three different combinations of standard therapies, or a standard therapy with DMSO (46) or allopurinol (45). After two weeks, 51% recovered from a standard regimen (sulfasalazine or prednisolone), while 84% of those using DMSO or allopurinol recovered. Over the next year, those treatments were continued and it was observed that the standard treatment (sulfasalazine) had a 25% relapse rate, whereas that rate was only 5% of those taking DMSO or allopurinol.

•A study evaluated hospitalized patients with pelvic fractures or hypovolemic shock who were at risk for a stress induced gastric ulcer. Of the 58 controls, 22% developed one, whereas of the 57 receiving DMSO, only 4% did (along with 3% of 62 who received allopurinol). Additionally, none of those receiving DMSO deteriorated or required emergency surgery, whereas 8 controls and 1 allopurinol recipient did (of whom 3 then died).

•A study randomized 302 consecutive patients with previous symptomatic duodenal ulceration that was shown to have healed, and who were smokers and social drinkers, to receive four different treatments. Of the 220 available for evaluation, 65% who received a placebo had a recurrence of the ulcer, 30% of those who received cimetidine, 12% of those who received allopurinol, and 13% of those who received oral DMSO.

•A randomized double-blind study of 363 consecutive patients whose duodenal ulcers that did not heal despite 3 months of treatment with cimetidine (and who were cigarette smokers or social drinkers), were given either cimetidine twice a day alone or with DMSO or allopurinol. In 315 patients who were evaluable for analysis, at 8 weeks, 60% of those who had cimetidine recovered, whereas 100% of those who received DMSO or allopurinol recovered. Additionally, the one year relapse rate was 29% for cimetidine alone, 8% for those who took allopurinol, and 7% in those who took DMSO.
Note: this study also discussed the use of DMSO to treat peptic and duodenal ulcers.

•A randomized double-blind study took 238 patients with symptomatic acute duodenal ulceration who were smokers and social drinkers were randomized to receive for 8 weeks cimetidine or 8 weeks of a half dose of cimetidine plus oral DMSO (400mg two times a day) or allopurinol. After 8 weeks, 69 of the 87 (79%) who only received cimetidine recovered, whereas all of the 85 who received DMSO and 84 who received allopurinol did. Additionally, 67% of those who received cimetidine over the next year relapsed, compared to 6% of those who took DMSO and 5% of those who took allopurinol.

•A randomized study took 101 patients presenting with hematemesis (coughing up blood) due to erosive gastritis (a fairly dangerous condition). It gave them either saline or oral allopurinol and DMSO orally every 6 hours for 5 days. Of the 50 controls and 48 who were treated (along with 2 who left because they could not tolerate the treatment), 29% of the controls and 8% of who were treated had further episodes of hematemesis (with three of the controls requiring subsequent surgery—one of whom died). Of those who remained stable, a subsequent endoscopy showed evidence of hemorrhagic inflammation in 44% of controls and 9% of those who received DMSO and allopurinol.

Note: the six previously listed studies were conducted in Iraq between 1990-1994. What many don’t know is that prior to the harsh economic sanctions on Iraq and subsequent bombing campaigns, the country was regionally recognized for its robust medical system (which then collapsed), a situation almost identical to what happened to Libya’s healthcare system after NATO toppled its government. 

•Another author reported on a doctor who had 5 patients with recurrent duodenal ulcers and were social drinkers he gave DMSO to. They were examined once a month for a year, and all 5 had no recurrence of ulcer symptoms (along with having better health than expected and excellent attendance at work). He also highlighted the case of a 55 year old woman with severe digestive tract issues (e.g., internal bleeding leading to her being anemic with a hemoglobin of 5.0), weakness, fainting and shortness of breath. After receiving an emergent blood transfusion and being diagnosed with angiodysplasia in her GI tract, she was started on IV iron (which is not pleasant and did not help her causing her to progress to being terminal). She was then started on injected DMSO and B-12, recovered, and over the six years of follow-up, did not require any subsequent blood transfusions.

Note: this type of chronic internal bleeding is quite challenging to treat (e.g., the only other approach I know of that consistently helps here is a Chinese herbal formula).

•Cutting off the blood supply to the small intestine will rapidly cause the tissue there to die and often rupture (leading to fatal peritonitis). In rats, giving IV DMSO to rats after 30-60 minutes of the intestinal blood supply being cut off, resulted in 28 out of 29 not developing gangrene, and within 24 hours, there was no evidence of ischemic damage to the intestines.

Liver and Gallbladder

Many different facets of DMSO’s interactions with the liver, gallbladder, and biliary system have also been researched:

Liver Injury

•A rabbit study, found that DMSO reduced ischemia-reperfusion injuries to the liver that resulted from clamping its artery.

•A rabbit study found DMSO reduced the injury to the liver that resulted from clamping its portal vein.

•In rats, drinking 2 mL/kg of DMSO daily for 4 weeks was seen to prevent dimethylnitrosamine induced liver damage without any major side effects. Specifically, it prevented body and liver weight loss and the induction of hepatic fibrosis and the expression of mRNA for type-1 collagen in the liver. Additionally, DMSO was also found to inhibit LPS induced TNF-alpha and nitric oxide production (e.g., TNF-alpha mRNA levels were reduced).

•A rat study found DMSO inhibited liver necrosis and oxidative stress triggered by injecting D-Galactosamine and restored liver vitamin C levels.

•A rabbit study found that DMSO and tocopherol prevented the liver damage caused by injecting carbon tetrachloride.

•A Brazilian study found that DMSO reduced the oxidative stress that followed part of the liver being surgically removed.

•A study found giving DMSO to rats 10 hours after they were exposed to halothane (an inhaled anesthetic that was phased out of the richer nations due to its toxicity profile), chloroform, or bromobenzene and was found to prevent liver damage these toxicants typically cause. Additionally, they also found DMSO prevented chloroform’s kidney toxicity (renal tubular necrosis) and that none of these benefits resulted when DMSO’s metabolite dimethyl sulfide was given instead. A followup study instead gave DMSO 24 hours later found DMSO reduced the resulting liver damage 4-fold (which without treatment within 48 hours would have occupied 40-50% of the liver) and ALT levels 8-16 fold.

Liver Failure

•This author reported on a study with 12 patients who had terminal liver cirrhosis who agreed to stop drinking all alcohol for the duration of the program were put on daily oral DMSO and aloe vera. Of the 8 who chose to continue the program for 6 months, all had improved health, significantly reduced vomiting, and improved liver function tests, and rather than all being dead within one year as expected, they were in better condition than they had been at the start of the study.
Note: if using DMSO for cirrhosis, it is critical to stop consuming alcohol, as DMSO can slow the metabolism of alcohol.

Gallstones and Jaundice:

•A rat study created obstructive jaundice by ligating (cutting off) the common bile ducts and found that DMSO mitigated the pathologic effects of this (e.g., it normalized laboratory values).

•A Japanese study found that injecting 90% DMSO mixed with 5% hexametaphosphate into the biliary tract effectively dissolved gallstones within the liver and was safe for the patients.

•One study injected DMSO directly into the biliary tree of mice (as sludging of bile in this region can lead to challenging gallstones). That study found that 50% DMSO caused no irritation, but 65% did (e.g., liver enzymes were elevated and necrosis, inflammation and fibrosis were observed). However, the irritation caused by 65% was transient and the rest of the bowel was not affected. Given that direct injections of 50% DMSO caused no issues and typically much lower concentrations of DMSO will contact the bile tract, this suggests DMSO is safe to administer to the biliary tract.
Note: the purpose of this study was to determine if they were harmless agents which could be used to develop treatments for biliary disease (something which can often be quite challenging to deal with).

IV DMSO saved my gallbladder and reduced my inflammation to almost nothing in 2013. Soon after, my alt GI doc no longer had access to it. She was getting it from Switzerland at the time.

Lungs

DMSO protects the lungs from injuries, treats acute respiratory diseases (e.g., acute stenosing laryngotracheobronchitis in children), and also helps with a few challenging conditions.

Lung Injuries

•DMSO was found to prevent ischemia-reperfusion injuries to the lungs.

•In rats, DMSO was found to prevent lung injury from hemorrhagic shock (significant blood loss) and transfusing lost fluids back into the circulation.

•Giving DMSO before alloxan (a toxin) was found to prevent the inflammation, cellular damage, and edema alloxan causes in the lungs.
Note: this study also found DMSO prevents acute pulmonary edema.

•DMSO was found to prevent the oxygen deprivation and inability to exchange gasses through the lungs which results from an Ehrlichia ruminantium infection (which is typically fatal).

•In rats, DMSO was found to prevent the significant inflammation and tissue injury which follows a significant traumatic impact to the lung.

•After sheep experienced a lung injury from inhaling smoke, nebulized DMSO (with heparin) was found to reduce the damage to their lungs significantly.

Note: as I have shown in this section, studies exist that show that nebulizing DMSO can be quite beneficial to the lungs. In contrast, a rabbit study found that inhaling 25-50 ml/hr of DMSO for an hour each day for 8 weeks caused pathologic changes in the liver and lungs. While this was a high dose, nebulizing DMSO has nonetheless been advised against in the DMSO field (which I believe was due to that rabbit study). The best conclusion I can draw from these conflicting data points is that DMSO should only be used for acute injuries in the lungs but not chronically nebulized.