MSM is short for methylsulfonylmethane. It is a naturally occurring chemical compound that contains high amounts of organic sulfur, and is related to another substance sometimes used as a dietary supplement, DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). MSM is found throughout nature; in humans, it shows up in tiny amounts in the blood and urine.
The exact role MSM plays in the body is unclear, although it does appear to play a role in the formation and maintenance of joints. One large trial of people with osteoarthritis found that patients taking an average of 2,250 milligrams of MSM per day reduced pain and inflammation in the joints after six weeks. Other studies regarding the efficacy of MSM have taken place in animals; for instance, mice with arthritic joints have experienced less deterioration of the joints after being given MSM supplements.
The exact amount of MSM that should be taken has yet to be established. Some scientists recommend between 250 and 500 milligrams per day; other studies have used much larger doses (>2,000 milligrams per day).
MSM occurs throughout nature and is found in some plant foods, but only in trace amounts; the amount of MSM in most foods has yet to be determined. Supplements containing MSM can be found at most health food stores and some supermarkets, and are usually available as tablets or capsules. MSM is also included in some multivitamin, multimineral supplements.
Whether MSM supplementation causes any unwanted side-effects remains unclear. Some studies have shown that patients may take up to 2,000 milligrams per day without suffering any adverse side-effects. Other studies, however, have shown that minor side-effects may be experienced in some patients, with diarrhea, skin rashes and headaches most often reported.
As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with MSM. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking MSM or any other dietary supplement or herbal remedy.
References
Chronic pain afflicts over 20% of the adult population. Sadly, most MDs have essentially no education in treating pain, beyond offering a few toxic medications. Then they tend to steer people with pain away from those health practitioners who are trained. This puts the acupuncture community on the front lines for addressing this epidemic.
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One of the things that makes acupuncture so difficult to measure is that the medicine actually does contain some esoteric aspects. There have been numerous studies that demonstrate the neurochemical reasoning behind why acupuncture points stimulate the autonomic nervous system to enact change However, not all the benefits of TCM can easily be measured by randomized, controlled trials. But does that make them fundamentally and definitively untrue?
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