HAs anyone used DMSO for sore muscles

[farrellcollie]

Has anyone here used DMSO or a balm with it in it (for example - I know that wintercrest balm uses it) for sore muscles? I am wondering if it is more safe/effective than say icy hot or tiger balm. Thanks

[makbike]

I'm not sure if there is a human version of DMSO but when using the veterinarian version one should wear high-quality rubber gloves. If you apply it topically to an animal the area of application must first be thoroughly cleansed for the DMSO can carry toxins or other harmful substances on the skin into the animal's body. Once applied to the animal's skin it can cause redness, edema or itchiness. Therefore humans should wear the gloves to prevent the absorption of toxins into their skin.

I hope this helps.

[mimitabby]

this stuff is nasty. There's a reason why they don't sell it human grade!

[KnottedYet]

It's a solvent, so be very careful!

[Flybye]

My grandfather tried it with my grandmother who had alzheimers about 25 years ago. It made her smell horrible - like tomato juice or something just completely awful. I don't know if it was a homeopathic remedy for alheimers or if he was thinking that it would work for something other than alzheimers disease.
It was horrid, awful stuff.
You know how some smells leave a wonderful basket of memories with them? This one doesn't.
Sorry I can't offer any other help than that.
All I know is that sports creams work great and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[farrellcollie]

It is an ingredient in Wintercrest (horribly expensive) which is a sports balm/ointment and DSMO is also sold as an ointment with aloe gel for humans (70% DMSO and 30% aloe for example). I just found the Wintercrest at a marathon expo and thought it worked a lot better than Icy Hot (i bought a tiny littly thing of it) - and I hate the smell of Tiger Balm - so I thought I would see if anyone knew about it here and whether it was safe or not because I am training for a long distance ride in mid 2008 - and often my neck and shoulders get really sore.

[velogirl]

ding, ding, ding!!!

if your neck and shoulders get really sore, that would indicate that either you need a proper bike fit (your bar is likely too wide), or that your riding technique could be perfected (relaxing your shoulders and elbows, strengthening your core).

sports balms shouldn't be required for long-distance riding, if your fit and technique are good. however, there are some good ones on the market such as biofreeze. I bet our PTs and chiros could mention some others. and not all sports balms smell mediciney.

[KnottedYet]

I've heard glowing reports about Biofreeze. I've used it, but I'm not really into topicals, they don't seem to work well for me. I like the smell, though.:D

[r900]

Please be careful with this stuff. A relative, also a veternarian, treated himself with dmso. It left him with a very nasty looking burn on his hand. I informed him that dmso was an industrial solvent. He curtly reminded me he was a doctor in animal medicine and he knew what was best. I have used Biofreeze for a few years for cramped and sore muscles . I think it works pretty darn good, especially for neck and shoulder pains that you know will sooner or later turn into those tension headaches.

[newfsmith]

We have a bottle of DMSO in our clinic (veterinary) which is kept in the the very back. The DVM would have disposed of it long ago, except it is a solvent and is hazardous waste. Not only can it cause local irritation, it may also cause retinal damage and liver toxicity. Stay away from the stuff, at least until there is a FDA approved human product.

[light_sabe_r]

I wouldn't put that stuff anywhere near my skin.

Here's the Product sheet for it http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/ProductDetail/SIGMA/D8418

We use it to cryofreeze live cells.

[lattae]

We had a biking buddy that injured his rotator cuff and used the DSMO for treatment and healing. You could smell him from quite a distance away and this was outside getting ready for a ride. This stuff smelled horrible too... kinda gross odor and we knew who it was wearing it too... our friend was convinced this stuff healed his torn muscle. He tried to convince me to use it on my painful knee but after reading about it I decided it was too dangerous. I've heard good things about Biofreeze.

[PscyclePath]

As a chemist, I'm aware that some preparations use dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent/carrier for other medications and use its properties to carry the stuff down deep into the body tissues.

And as a chemist and knowing the stuff's properties, I'd rather keep hurting/aching before I used that stuff on myself, or my hound dog.

Tom

[farrellcollie]

I am very careful about what I put on the herding dogs. I am a lot more willing to experiment on myself, but perhaps there is a reason DSMO is not more popular or used in more sports creams. The Wintercrest stuff smells better to me (and my partner) than tiger balm for example and it felt good for a fairly long time. I am not certain how much DSMO it has in it - it just lists it as an ingredient. But perhaps better safe than smelling okay.

[aicabsolut]

I have no problem using DMSO with my bare hands when treating horses. In fact, it makes my knuckles feel amazingly good. I also don't experience the garlic taste, smell funky, or have any other side effects. However, that's pretty atypical. Most of my friends would cringe when they'd see me just slather on a handful of DMSO. I've never gotten it anywhere other than my hands, so maybe it could burn me in other places. I've had some horses completely freak out when it's been applied to them in certain areas. I wouldn't mess around with DMSO the same way as I'd slather on typical muscle rubs for human use. You're tempting me to try that Wintercrest stuff on my joints as I've got the same injury in my ankle as horses get in their hocks, for which we'd rub on some DMSO after exercise.

[SlowButSteady]

In the Eighties, it was the thing to use for lots of stuff in the veterinary field. We used it in small animal medicine when we used caparsolate to treat heartworms and would get swollen legs from extravasation.

YUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is undoubtedly the nastiest smelling/tasting stuff in the world when you accidentally get a little bit on you. And I could even taste it when we had a dog in the clinic that it had been used on.

Glad we don't use it any more!

[luckyfiddle]

Love DMSO. I know people that use the Wintercrest and swear by it. I have used it on my horses for years and have actually had a doctor ask me if I had it. When I said yes, he said use it on your neck when it won't release. My head hurt every day. It was just a matter of how much and if it would turn into a migraine. Just like anything, it should be used with discretion and appropriately. I can taste it even before I use it. One more thought, mine is diluted so it isn't full strength.

[Tokie]

I have an acquainted who has used DMSO over the years for various ailments. He has an incurable brain tumor now. We have all wondered in retrospect if the use of DMSO was a wise choice.