By Sandra Berenbaum, Lyme-literate psychotherapist co-authored “When Your Child Has Lyme Disease.”
How Lyme disease takes a toll on children’s schooling
Lyme disease can drastically impact a child’s education. One of the biggest problems involves sleep—both too much and too little. Some children may sleep many more hours than is common for others their age. But from what I have seen, for most young Lyme patients it is just the opposite. They cannot get enough sleep and what little they get is of poor quality.
Some children completely reverse their circadian rhythms. They stay awake all night and sleep during the day. Those around them may see this as a behavior problem and assume the child is staying awake to defy the parent. But for the great majority of children with Lyme, the sleep problems are, in fact, caused by the disease.
Such sleep problems can contribute to profound fatigue. Blogger Jennifer Crystal, who writes extensively about the experience of having Lyme disease, describes it this way:
The fatigue of tick-borne diseases…is a crippling flu-like exhaustion, one that leaves muscles not sore but literally unable to function; one that makes the body feel shackled to the bed; one that makes the effort of lifting one’s head off the pillow seem like a Herculean feat. There were times, at my lowest point of illness, when I …felt too tired to breathe.
Pain And Other Symptoms
Another symptom that interferes with education is pain. Children with Lyme may have migraine-like headaches, joint pain or gastrointestinal disturbances. One of my young clients would spend up to two hours in the bathroom at a stretch, crying in agony, as her mother tried to comfort her. This unpredictable symptom made it impossible for this child to attend school. She needed homebound instruction until, with proper medical treatment, this problem cleared up.
Sensitivity to light and sound makes school intolerable for some students with Lyme. The noise of children in the halls and cafeteria may be overwhelming. For some, even the sound of a pencil scratching on a paper is too much. Fluorescent lighting in the classroom can cause burning eyes, blurred vision, or severe headaches. Furthermore, children whose brains have been affected by Lyme disease may find it extremely hard to process information and organize their time. They may have problems involving short-term memory and word-finding.
In my practice, I have not met a child with Lyme who wanted to get out of going to school when healthy enough to do so. The children I see want to attend school and to connect with their peers. Before getting sick, some had been active in sports, music, or drama. Even the quiet or shy children had found their circle of friends and their place in school.
The picture changes when Lyme symptoms emerge. At first, there might be subtle backsliding, as school attendance and performance gradually decline. After the child has been diagnosed, the parents may realize that problems at school are due to the disease and not her failure to try her best.
Unfortunately, many schools do not understand the link between the illness and academic performance. It can be useful to help educate district personnel about Lyme disease, to minimize the level of misunderstanding between the school and the family.
Addressing School-Related Problems
Here are some of the school-related problems that children with Lyme may experience:
Attendance—Sometimes the child is too ill to be in class. Other times, there are medical appointments that cannot be scheduled after school. Some schools have firm attendance and lateness policies that don’t make allowances for such circumstances. For children with a documented medical need to be out of school, it is important to establish a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that includes a waiver of the attendance and tardiness policies.
Length of school day—The regular academic day is too long for many children with Lyme. Some schools may agree to a shortened day but want the child to start early in the morning when the other students arrive. That rarely works for students with the sleep problems that are typical of Lyme. They often wake up later and take longer to get ready. A shortened day, starting late, may help them stay in school and better absorb the material.
Bathroom access—Children with gastrointestinal symptoms must be free to go to the bathroom as needed. They should not have to ask the teacher’s permission first. This meets a physical need and avoids embarrassing the student. Some schools will easily provide this kind of support for children who need it. They may even allow the child to use the bathroom in the nurse’s office to avoid the more public student facilities.
Access to a quiet room—Students suffering from sensory overload or headaches need a chance to escape to a quiet place. This might be the nurse’s office or a room off of the teacher’s lounge. Taking a break like this may protect the rest of the day and avoid the need for the child to leave school early or go on homebound instruction.
No two cases of Lyme are exactly alike, with identical symptoms and challenges. There is no blueprint for educating a child with Lyme disease. Complex problems call for complex solutions.
Excerpted from “When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide,” by Sandra K. Berenbaum, LCSW, and Dorothy Kupcha Leland. Published by Lyme Literate Press. Berenbaum has a psychotherapy practice that focuses exclusively on Lyme disease patients and their families. She is a member of ILADS and advises a number of Lyme patient advocacy groups. Her website is LymeFamilies.com.
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**Comment**
Great article. If children suffer in school, adults are suffering in the work-place and have unique issues and problems to consider.
GENDER AND LYME: IS TICK-BORNE DISEASE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN?
by Jennifer Crystal
Every Thursday evening, three girl friends come over to eat ice cream with me and watch Grey’s Anatomy. Yes, that show is still on! Despite the fact that it’s been running for 14 seasons, it often makes some commentary on current social issues. In one recent episode, the Chief of Surgery, Dr. Bailey, checks herself in to the hospital because she believes she is having a heart attack. But because her tests initially come back clean—she suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and is under tremendous stress— she grows increasingly upset when her male doctors won’t listen to her, and her symptoms are written off as psychosomatic.
Does this scenario sound at all familiar?
Dr. Bailey’s experience is one that too many female patients go through—not just women with Lyme, but women with any illness. In her March 2013 New York Times article, “The Gender Gap in Pain”, award-winning health writer Laurie Edwards cites several studies that prove that women’s complaints of pain are much more likely to be dismissed than men’s. For Lyme patients, the complaints are not just about pain, but also about brain fog, word reiteration, forgetfulness, heart palpitations, insomnia, and that particularly nebulous one, fatigue. Because Lyme symptoms can seem idiopathic—meaning they arise spontaneously from unknown causes— and do sometimes encompass a psychological component, it’s easy for doctors to write them off as “all in someone’s head.”This especially occurs when faulty diagnostic tests can’t support what a patient knows to be true: that she is physically ill with an all too real pathogen. Women who appear in doctor’s offices wearing makeup or hairstyles that mask how awful they really feel are often told, “But you don’t look sick!”
If women are louder with their complaints, it’s only because they’re not being heard. A patient recently wrote to me to ask if Lyme is more common in women, because all of the other patients in the waiting room of a doctor she recently visited were female. Perhaps those females had legitimate tick-borne illnesses that had been dismissed longer than their male counterparts’, and they had finally made their way to a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD). Whatever the reason, medical research demonstrates that more men than women test positive for Lyme disease. A study by Dr. John Aucott of Johns Hopkins University found that when testing for Lyme—with tests that are, admittedly, less than 60% accurate—women’s and men’s antibody responses were different, and more men than women tested positive.
Does this mean more men than women actually have Lyme disease? That’s hard to know, since the tests are so unreliable. What it does mean though is that men have a greater chance of having their symptoms confirmed by clinical tests, while women face a greater uphill battle in getting accurately diagnosed. Some have to wander around for years—it took me eight years, battling both male and female doctors—to be taken seriously. Even on Grey’s Anatomy, the fictional Dr. Bailey had to collapse on the hospital floor before her doctors would admit she might actually be suffering a heart attack, and whisked her in to surgery.
In addition to more men than women being diagnosed with Lyme disease, women face different challenges from the illness. My own symptoms always increase during menstruation, when the hormones progesterone and estrogen diminish. I have a higher chance of getting a migraine than a male, and my fatigue and sleep disturbances are worse during those few days. Doctors and patients alike agree that many, many women say the same thing. Women also have to contend with the possibility of yeast infections from antibiotic treatment for Lyme. Yeast overgrowth can be a problem for any gender, as antibiotics not countered by probiotics and a special diet can cause intestinal yeast overgrowth, but women also have the added potential of vaginal yeast infection. And of course, women who contract Lyme while pregnant must work with their doctors to manage their own health while trying to avoid passing the Lyme bacterium to the fetus; women who already have Lyme and become pregnant have similar concerns.
Don’t forget that ticks do not discriminate. They will bite anyone of any gender. But women who get tick-borne illness as a result do often face discrimination when it comes to being validated, diagnosed, and treated by physicians. Once accurately diagnosed, women face different complications than men.
For now, women can’t do much about the fact that menses can worsen our symptoms, or that we are more susceptible to yeast infections, or that Lyme can affect pregnancy. We can, however, speak up for ourselves and for our illnesses. We can push back against doctors who won’t listen, or go elsewhere to find better medical care. We can also fight against the psychosomatic write-offs of Lyme sufferers. And we can share our stories, bonding together in a movement to earn validation and respect for all patients.
Opinions expressed by contributors are their own.
Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. She is working on a memoir about her journey with chronic tick-borne illness. Contact her at jennifercrystalwriter@gmail.com
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
This article reviews bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens associated with myelopathy. Infectious myelopathies may be due to direct infection or parainfectious autoimmune-mediated mechanisms; this article focuses primarily on the former.
RECENT FINDINGS:
Some microorganisms exhibit neurotropism for the spinal cord (eg, enteroviruses such as poliovirus and flaviviruses such as West Nile virus), while others are more protean in neurologic manifestations (eg, herpesviruses such as varicella-zoster virus), and others are only rarely reported to cause myelopathy (eg, certain fungal and parasitic infections). Individuals who are immunocompromised are at increased risk of disseminated infection to the central nervous system. Within the last few years, an enterovirus D68 outbreak has been associated with cases of acute flaccid paralysis in children, and emerging Zika virus infection has been concurrent with cases of acute flaccid paralysis due to Guillain-Barré syndrome, although cases of myelitis have also been reported. Associated pathogens differ by geographic distribution, with myelopathies related to Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and West Nile virus more commonly seen in the United States and parasitic infections encountered more often in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Characteristic CSF and MRI patterns have been identified with many of these infections.
SUMMARY: A myriad of pathogens are associated with infectious myelopathies. Host factors, geographic distribution, clinical features, CSF profiles, and MRI findings can assist in formulating the differential diagnosis and ultimately guide management.
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**Comment**
Myelopathy is a neurologic deficit related to the spinal cord which can be caused by trauma (spinal cord injury) or inflammation(myelitis). Inflammation can be caused by numerous things including pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the causative agent of Lyme Disease, as well as numerous viruses that can also be a part of the Lyme/MSIDS symptom picture which can be transmitted directly from ticks or activated due to the reaction of the body to the tick bite. Much research is needed in this particular area.
Myelopathy is typically a clinical diagnosis with patients complaining of weakness, clumsiness, muscle atrophy, sensory deficits, bowel/bladder symptoms, sexual dysfunction, altered tons, spasticity, and hyperreflexia among other symptoms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelopathy Treatment depends upon the underlying cause. If infectious, pathogen specific antibiotics, and/or things to reduce inflammation are in order.
Dr. Raymond Yingling, N.D., of Madison Laser Therapy speaks to the Madison Area Lyme Support Group about the benefits of class IV laser therapy as well as the realities of pharmaceutical drug-induced vitamin and mineral depletion.
Much Can Be Done to Ease ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ Symptoms
Miriam E. Tucker, March 12, 2018
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — The illness commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome is complex and currently incurable, but clinicians can still do a great deal to manage symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life, experts agree.
In a 2-day meeting held March 2 and 3, 2018, specialists in the condition, now termed myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), met to discuss their assessment and treatment approaches. The aim of the “summit,” organized by Lucinda Bateman, MD, and held at her Bateman-Horne Center facility here, was to initiate development of expert consensus ME/CFS guidance for primary care and specialist clinicians, and to identify research priorities to address major knowledge gaps.
“One of the messages I’d like to send to physicians is not to have an all-or-nothing approach to this illness, but to break it down into its parts, and see what you can get hold of with the history, objective markers, and clinical intuition. And then, it’s not unreasonable to try some things that are not harmful or expensive,” Bateman told Medscape Medical News.
The 13 panelists, who hail from primary care, infectious disease, immunology, neurology, endocrinology, pediatrics, and integrative medicine, discussed and prioritized elements of history-taking, physical exam findings, diagnostic tests, and treatment approaches for each of the illness’ major components. The core features include fatigue, impaired function, postexertional malaise, sleep dysregulation, neurocognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance; other commonly reported features are widespread pain, immune dysregulation, and infection.
Panel members focused on approaches they have found to be most helpful and that can be accomplished in primary care, as well as more advanced modalities that would be more feasible in specialty practices.
Assessing the Illness
The document the group produces will endorse the 2015 Institute of Medicine diagnostic criteria, which defineME/CFS as 6 months of unexplained fatigue with substantial functional impairment, postexertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and either cognitive dysfunction or orthostatic intolerance. The symptoms must be moderate to severe and present at least 50% of the time. (Five summit participants, including Bateman, were on the writing committee for that report, and three others served as reviewers for it.)
Assessing functional capacity is key, Bateman said.
“It’s an illness that impairs people’s ability to function in their daily lives. Clinicians need to ask about function, and what happens when people exert themselves both physically and cognitively.”
One revealing question is, “What would you be doing now if you weren’t ill?” Typically, as opposed to depressed patients, those with ME/CFS will have a laundry list. “Our patients are trapped in bodies that don’t work,” Bateman said. “They’re desperate to do more.”
Laboratory tests such as complete blood count with differential, complete metabolic panel, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, lipid panel, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and celiac screen should all be performed to investigate symptoms, but are often unhelpful. (As reported previously by Medscape Medical News, evidence suggests that the inflammatory cytokines involved in ME/CFS are different from those that induce C-reactive protein.)
In contrast, assessments that often yield valuable information in patients with ME/CFS include evaluation for orthostatic intolerance and autonomic dysregulation (ideally via tilt-table, but also can be accomplished with the 10-minute “Lean” test), and laboratory tests for Lyme immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM;lymphocyte subsets; IgG subclasses; Epstein-Barr virus, including early antigen antibody; herpes viruses; urine or serum markers of mast cell activation syndrome; small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; and natural killer cell function (almost universally low in patients with ME/CFS).
Brain imaging with magnetic resonance imaging or electroencephalography may be indicated in patients who exhibit “brain fog,” headaches, or other neurocognitive symptoms.
“A lot of the testing we do is the differential diagnosis, and we’re looking for comorbid conditions, treatment targets, and subgroups, like people with [small intestinal bacterial overgrowth] or mast cell activation. In the clinical setting, we don’t have to make sense of it all. We just have to identify it, and see if the patient responds to treatment,” Bateman said.
In the early 90s, a mysterious muscular disease began to surface among multiple patients in France. A team of doctors in Paris discovered that these patients had developed a new disease called Macrophagic Myofascitis, or MMF, which occurs when the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant from a vaccine remains embedded in the muscle tissue.
Note: This film was released in France under the title L’Aluminum, les vaccins and les deux lapins (translated: “Aluminum, vaccines and two rabbits”). The aluminum adjuvant was only tested for 28 days, on two rabbits, and their remains have mysteriously disappeared.
Injecting Aluminum features groundbreaking interviews with leading aluminum specialists such as:
Dr. Romain Gherardi, the Director of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research
Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld, founder of the leading Centre for Autoimmune Diseases at the Sheba Medical Center
“Mr. Aluminum”, Dr. Christopher Exley, biologist at the University of Stirling with a PhD in the Ecotoxicology of Aluminum
Dr. Jérôme Authier, neurologist and head of the Center of Reference of neuromuscular diseases of the Henri Mondor Hospital in Créteil, France.
Frequently Asked Questions
Available worldwide in 250+ territories (excluding France)
To watch the film, just click on link above.
After viewing online for free, you can also purchase DVDs.
To receive 40% off the Injecting Aluminum DVDs until March 8th, enter code SMV during check out from our store (code must be entered to receive the discount).
Note: This film was released in France under the title L’Aluminum, les vaccins and les deux lapins (translated: “Aluminum, vaccines and two rabbits”). The aluminum adjuvant was only tested for 28 days, on two rabbits, and their remains have mysteriously disappeared.
CMSRI (Children’s Medical Safety Research Institute) helped fund the grants for several scientists featured in Injecting Aluminum, to do research, specifically Dr. Christopher Exley as well as Dr. Romain Gherardi, Dr. Jerome Authier. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to funding independent research at leading universities and medical facilities worldwide to identify the causal factors behind today’s epidemic of chronic illness and disabilities.
Lyme/MSIDS patients are always looking for relief. The pain we endure is indescribable. We clearly understand most of the pathogens we are dealing with are persistent, despite the CDC/IDSA/NIH denial. Our experience shows that we function well off treatment for a while and then the dreaded symptoms return. We cycle in and out of treatments which are expensive, time consuming, and often have significant blow-back. While antibiotics kill or disable bacteria, we all know they disrupt the microflora of the gut and damage mitochondria. Similarly to other treatments for other diseases, say cancer for instance, sometimes the treatment is as bad as the disease and some are affected more negatively than others.
This article is about two substances that you should learn about and discuss with your medical practitioner. These two substances are described as “therapeutic principles,” – not drugs. In many aspects they are quite similar and one is derived from the other.
It’s important to condense and overlap treatment modalities as much as possible for two reasons: time and money. Another lesson Lyme/MSIDS patients learn is this disease can take over your life and cost you everything you have since it’s a long-term treatment – perhaps life-long. I believe the substances in this article to be worth real consideration as they do so many things simultaneously, and are cheap & effective for most who use them.
As always, this article is meant for educational purposes only and not meant in any way to diagnose or treat.
DMSO
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is a colorless, odorless, transparent substance obtained from wood; however, small amounts are naturally present in common foods such as milk, tomatoes, tea, coffee, & beer, among others.
First discovered by Russian chemist, Alexander Mikhaylovich Zaitsev in 1867, today DMSO is obtained as an industrial by-product from lignin in paper manufacturing. Because of its polarity and low acidity, it is a highly aprotic (doesn’t yield protons) solvent that can be mixed with other substances to increase their effect. It’s ability to penetrate biological membranes and transport other substances with it has also made it an excellent carrier.
Hartmut P.S. Fischer has explained in great detail in his groundbreaking book, “The DMSO Handbook: A New Paradigm in Healthcare,” the structure of DMSO and its chemical properties as well as the following brief summary of pharmacological properties on humans and animals:
These qualities play out in reducing pain, alleviating inflammation, diuresis, vascular dilation, free radical scavenging, wound healing, and muscle relaxation. All issues Lyme/MSIDS patients deal with at some point.
The father of the medical use of DMSO, Dr. Stanley Jacob, enjoyed notoriety in the 60’s but admits the reception was short-lived due to DMSO’s long list of pharmacological properties and its being labelled a “miracle medicine.” In other words it did too many things to be taken seriously. The FDA approved DMSO for preservation of stem cells, bone marrow cells and organs for transplant, as well as for therapy of interstitial cystitis and cancer radiation protection – by prescription. It’s also used under medical supervision to treat several other conditions, including shingles. DMSO is available without a prescription in gel, cream, or liquid forms. It can be purchased in health food stores, by mail order, and on the Internet.
MSM, which I explain next andis derived from DMSO, is considered a methyl donor and reduces homocysteine levels suggesting a role in the methylation process and in reducing oxidative stress. Since many patients struggle with high homocysteine which leads to inflammation and neurological problems, this is another boon for Lyme/MSIDS.
Speaking of Methyl donors, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention their importance in the issues of mood & energy:http://www.raysahelian.com/methyl.html(I have no affiliation with any products)
A “60-Minutes” interview with Jacob on DMSO, one of the most researched drugs in history:
Approx. 16 Min.
A 2014 video by Integrative Medicine Orlando on DMSO IV Therapy
Approx. 2 Min
DMSO has been used for cancer and an article by Camelot Cancer Care states the reason it protects against radiation damage and side-effects of traditional cancer treatments is due to how it stimulates parts of the immune system and scavenges hydroxyl radicals that promote tumor growth.http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/dmso-faq.htm Since this usage is considered “off label,” insurance companies can not be billed for it. Go to link for more info on how it’s used for cancer.
Cutaneous manifestations of scleroderma (an autoimmune rheumatic disease) appear to revolve following topical applications
IV DMSO may benefit amyloidosis (an abnormal protein builds up in tissues & organs)
Dermal application provides rapid, temporary, relief of pain in arthritis and connective tissue injuries
Animal studies indicate IV DMSO is as effective as mannitol & dexamethasone in reversing cerebral edema (brain swelling) and intracranial hypertension (a neurological disorder where cerebrospinal fluid pressure is high in the skull)– a human clinical trail in 11 patients supports this
DMSO is used with mixtures of idoxuridine in the UK for topical treatment of herpes zoster
Adverse reactions are related to the concentration of DMSO and are usually minor
According to Dr. Jacob, “DMSO is a potent free-radical scavenger and diuretic that reduces swelling and improves blood supply to the brain… “we observed that when the human brain was treated with intravenously administered DMSO after a head injury, the swelling could be reduced within five minutes. No other treatment comes close to acting that quickly.
Astonishingly, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any new pharmacological agent of significance for the treatment of traumatic brain injury in more than three decades. With so much attention focused on the plight of severely injured soldiers returning home from war, Dr. Jacob is leading the charge to gain FDA approval of DMSO to treat this type of injury. He believes that DMSO would be more effective than some current therapies such as removing parts of the brain to reduce swelling.
Dr. Jacob and his colleagues previously sponsored preliminary clinical trials of DMSO on traumatic brain injury patients in Europe. The results of the trial were remarkable, with an 80% survival rate (about twice the historical rate of 30-40%) and 70% of the patients experiencing a favorable outcome (far higher than the historical rate of less than 10%).1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19443933/The effects of DMSO make it potentially useful in the treatment of medical disorders involving head and spinal cord injury, stroke, memory dysfunction, and ischemic heart disease.
How’s all this relate to Lyme/MSIDS? Glad you asked.
First, many with neuro-Lyme have brain swelling. Excruciating head pain is a hallmark symptom – often worsened with Babesia & other coinfections. Second, many Lyme/MSIDS patients suffer with various viruses – the herpes virus being one. Some patients struggle with dermal issues such as Morgellons and various rashes.Third, nearly all patients suffer with inflammation & pain. Pain, pain, pain and more pain. Fourth, DMSO is a strong anti-oxidant and powerful free radical scavenger. Both are helpful for immune health and fighting pathogens. Fifth, DMSO is known as the “Supreme detoxifier,” and assists in heavy metal detoxification. If patients can’t detox all they are killing, they will not improve.
Fischer has a section in his book about DMSO usage and Lyme. He, unlike the CDC/IDSA/NIH, acknowledges that the borrelia bacteria is very persistent and that standard treatment is either very long and/or mostly unsuccessful. He recommends a combination of an oxidative bactericide(MMS, MMS2, or hydrogen peroxide)and DMSO as a carrier to ensure penetration into the favorite hiding places of borrelia as well as deals with the various forms and stages of the pathogen. DMSO is an excellent detoxifier which is a boon for eliminating the endotoxins caused by borrelia when it is destroyed. This last element is just as important as killing organisms as the die-off can make patients miserable and cause significant symptoms. Whatever bactericide is used needs to be pure as DMSO will take it directly into the body.
IF your brain works like mine you are thinking, “If DMSO is such a great carrier, why don’t we use this with antibiotics to make them more effective?” Great question. Ask your doctor. It could also be said that it could take essential oils into the body as well….. See where this is going? It also penetrates the blood, brain barrier.
While Fischer recommends combining DMSO with an oxidizer for Lyme, DMSO alone is bacteriostatic, antiviral, and antifungal. Between 30-40% aqueous solutions have inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Other tests have proven diluted DMSO fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi and improves distribution of other antimicrobial substances and enhance their effects.
Safety: DMSO has a LD50 value and is safer than ibuprofen, aspirin, caffeine, and cooking salt! Study after study has proven its safety record on both animals and humans.
https://www.sott.net/article/228453-DMSO-The-Real-Miracle-Solution If you search for DMSO on the U.S. National Library of Medicine (pubmed.gov), you’ll get almost 30,000 indexed results, making it one of the most studied compounds of our time. Yet, we are led to believe that DMSO can’t pass the required regulations for its approval in other medical conditions even though its effectiveness and low toxicity profile is unquestionable.
The above link also completely refutes a 1960 animal study that DMSO caused eye lens trouble. In fact:
As far as eyes are concerned, the evidence on DMSO is quite to the contrary. When several patients treated with DMSO for muscular problems reported to Dr. Jacob that their vision had improved, he sent them to Dr. Robert O. Hill, ophthalmologist at the University of Oregon Medical School. Confirming the favorable changes, Dr. Hill began his own experiments with DMSO (after it was known that the lens changes did not happen in humans). His research showed drops of 50% DMSO to be effective in retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration, and presented a report on this at the New York Academy of Sciences symposium in 1971. (Haley, 2000)
Dimethyl sulfoxide caused teratogenic responses in animals when administered intraperitoneally at high doses. Oral doses did not cause problems of reproduction in animals. In one study topical doses produced terata in animals, but in another study topical dose failed to produce any abnormalities. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. FDA pregnancy category C: Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.
Contraindications: According to Jacob in “The Miracle of MSM The Natural Solution For Pain,”DMSO has been found to counteract platelet aggregation. He advises caution for those taking blood thinning agents such as heparin, aspirin, or dicumarol. Accelerated blood thinning can not be ruled out. Indications that that is occurring would be bruising or increased bleeding from hemorrhoids.
Now for the tricky part…….
When applied externally DMSO opens capillaries. This can lead to temporary redness of the skin. It can also burn and itch. Evidently, not everyone experiences this but I did. To me it felt a lot like taking niacin. Wowza, but worth it.
DO NOT ITCH
The reduction in pain and swelling will be dramatic. It’s worth the initial discomfort. For me the pain went away in seconds. Other patients have told me it took a number of days for noticeable improvement.
The next tricky part is understanding how DMSO breaks down into components. Most of the DMSO will be broken down to MSM in the body; however, there is a small part (about 1%) that breaks down into a substance that causes a temporary odor. Some say it smells like garlic. I say it smells like oysters.
The viscosity of DMSO is double that of water which means it drips off the skin easily which is why many like gels and lotions; however, Fischer cautions that gels/lotions are made from raw materials such as polyacrylic acid derivatives which will be taken directly into the body. He recommends the pure DMSO liquid that will take a tad longer to be absorbed than the lotions. If you choose gels or creams make sure you are confident about ALL the ingredients as they will go directly into your body. Please keep this in mind. Essential oils, antibiotics, anything applied with DMSO needs to be PURE. Also, many EO’s can cause skin irritation so you need to work with a knowledgable practitioner. I include a recipe on how to make your own DMSO gel.
And that’s another point that needs to be made. DMSO MUST COMPLETELY DRY before anything touches it. Again, because DMSO is a solvent/carrier, it will take everything and anything directly into your body such as perfumes, dyes, germs, etc. So application must be done over an unbleached white towel, with clean hands and instruments and allowed to completely dry before covering with clothing or anything else. Also note what the DMSO is stored in. I would only get DMSO stored in glass as immune disruptors in plastics can leach into your body.
The next tricky part: Just like you will find detractors for DMSO, you will find detractors on MMS and the other oxidizers Fischer recommends for Lyme/MSIDS. This is where you need to do your own research, talk to plenty of health professionals and make up your own mind. Perhaps I’ll take on the subject of oxidizers in another article, but for now I’m just going to cover DMSO and MSM.
In essence, between the fact it does so many things which would interfere with the sale of many other drugs, and the fact it smells a bit, which makes it virtually impossible to complete double blind studies as the smell would give it away, big pharma tossed it to the sidelines. But read the article for yourself as there’s great info in it, including what it can do for you.
DMSO is generally applied to the skin in a gel, cream, or liquid. It can be taken by mouth or as an intravenous injection, in many cases along with other drugs. It has also been administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intrathecally, by inhalation, instilled into the eye, on the mucous membranes, and into the urinary bladder. Strenghs and dosages vary widely.
If you are just dealing with pain or an injury, use a topical application. Don’t drink it. Drinking it is for serious detoxing and other internal necessities. If you use a rose scented DMSO cream, chances are that nobody will be able to smell DMSO’s garlic-like smell. (My comment: Be careful here – unless you know for certain that smell came from a pure source, don’t use it. I called this company and heard nothing back which says everything to me. I won’t be using the rose cream!)
The usual oral dose of DMSO is one teaspoon per day of DMSO 70% (Morton, 1993). But since it can trigger detoxification reactions and DMSO’s total excretion from the body can take several days, it is best to do it only once a week to begin with.Start with half a teaspoon of DMSO 50% and increase to a teaspoon of DMSO 70% only if any possible detoxification reaction is well tolerated.
When you use liquid DMSO in the skin, let it dry for over 20 to 30 minutes before wiping the rest out (with an unbleached white towel). The skin must be clean, dry, and unbroken for any topical use of DMSO. The face and the neck are more sensitive to DMSO and no higher concenrations than 50% should be applied there. Topical concentrations of DMSO should be kept below 70% in areas where there is a reduction of circulation. When 60 to 90% DMSO is applied to the skin, warmth, redness, itching, and somtimes local hives may occur. This usually disappears within a couple of hours and using natural aloe vera, gel or cream, will help counteract or prevent this effect. When 60 to 90% DMSO is applied to the palm on the hand, the skin may wrinkle and stay that way for several days.
Chronic pain patients often have to apply the substance for 6 weeks before a change occurs, but many report relief to a degree that had not been able to obtain from any other source. In general, the greater the chronicity of the disorder, the longer the treatment with DMSO must be employed in order to achieve palliation (Steinberg , 1967).
Common health problems for which people will apply topical DMSO at home include acute musculoskeletal injuries and inflammations. The earlier DMSO is used, the more dramatic the result. A 70% concentration of DMSO mixed with water in volumes ranging from 8 to 12 ml, applied on and around the injury in a wide area at least three times daily, will have a healing affect in 4 out ot 5 people.
Arthritis, Sprains, Strains
It provides rapid amelioriation of pain and increased mobility and reduction of inflammation when used topically. You can see a positive response within 5 to 20 minutes and usually lasting for 4 to 6 hours. (Steinberg, 1967).
The first 15 Min is purely information on DMSO and how to use it. Much of the information is repeated from what is written above. From then on they explain and market the Herbeso line, which I am not affiliated with whatsoever. It is interesting material and worth your time just for the information, however.
Topical
You can make your own gel: (make sure hands, utensils, and body are completely clean)
http://organicbiomama.com/dmso-safety-handling-recipes Mix 1oz70% pure DMSO and 3 oz Aloe Vera gel(at least 99.5% pure) in a glass container & store in a cool place. It’s best to mix right before application. I like this idea much better than the creams/gels on the market with questionable preservatives.
http://www.thetickslayer.com
DMSO to the rescue! Topical applications can help inflammation and infection! This all natural solvent is easy to use. (Again, watch out for plastics and scents as it will all go into your body – this can not be over emphasized)
Oral
According to Fischer in the DMSO handbook, due to the long half-life of DMSO, levels increase as you continue taking it. Fischer recommends starting at a low dose of 3.5g (1 tsp = roughly 3ml) in a glass of water and to observe symptoms. If pain is relieved and it is well tolerated, remain at that low dose. If not, he recommends increasing in increments of 3.5g per day.
Interactions: DMSO has been found in studies to counteract platelet aggregation. If you are taking blood thinners, please consult your physician before starting DMSO.
Oral directions:
Pour 3.5g DMSO into clean glass (about 300ml or 10 oz)
Fill with water or chosen drink (DMSO releases histamines from body cells so he advises against tomato juice, but that cooled tea, or grape juice work well) DMSO is bitter in water so some prefer something to mask it. I say “tough it out” and use water. You don’t need all that added sugar.
Mix well as DMSO will sink to bottom of glass
This gives you a 1-2% DMSO solution
Many find doing this after breakfast agreeable
DMSO has a diuretic effect. Taking before bed is not advisable unless you like to get up to go to the bathroom a lot!
3.5ml of DMSO at a density of 1.1 g/ml is equal to 3.85g giving you a dose of about .05g DMSO per kilogram of body weight if you weigh 75kg. This is a long way from quantities that are labeled as clinically safe in most clinical trials and toxicity tests.
There is no promise of a cure; however, and there are some “non-responders.” And of course, it’s important to work on all aspects of health such as proper rest/sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, addressing hormonal, nutritional, mineral, and emotional imbalances.
Dimethyl sulfoxide exits the body in about 24 hours. Nevertheless, in both acute and chronic cases, it is recommended that you take some time off on a regular basis, say two days in a row each week. For example, just take Saturday and Sunday off every week. If you are using it daily, long term, take two to four weeks off, in a row, every six months. Or, you could do 30 days on and 30 days off.
Personal usage: I have personally used a 70% DMSO gel topically myself as well as on numerous Guinea pigs – i.e., my family. Once we got past the initial redness, burning, and desire to itch, pain & swelling reduced within minutes. Dr. Jacob states this pain reduction lasts for 4-6 hours and that was our experience as well. The smell of oysters in this case was very mild as the amount of DMSO used was small. My LLMD has used IV DMSO and states that really smells – but the results were worth it.
One other note: I have a suspicious spot under my eye that looks remarkably like another cancerous spot I had removed a few years ago. I did have it treated with silver nitrate first, but after that healed, I applied the 70% DMSO gel on it. I went back for a checkup and the dermatologist stated it looked great but to keep observing it. I then told him about my experiment with DMSO to which he replied he just read an old study the previous night about the effectiveness of DMSO on cancer. He also said to keep using it.
MSM
MSM stands for Methylsulfonylmethane and is a naturally occurring sulfur compound which is 34% sulfur by weight and is a metabolite of DMSO. It is a dietary mineral element that is an odorless, white crystalline powder that is somewhat bitter tasting. It was approved as a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) substance in 2007 and is well-tolerated by most.
MSM is produced naturally as part of the Earth’s sulfur cycle involving algae, phytoplankton, and marine organisms, where it is absorbed into the soil, taken up by plants or soil bacterium and is expressed in minute amounts in many fruits, vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, garlic, onions), coconut & olive oil, eggs, pasture-fed meats, and grains. It is destroyed when pasteurized or heated at high temperatures and is also volatile when frozen or irradiated.
It’s synthetically produced through the oxidation of DMSO with hydrogen peroxide and then purified via crystallization or the preferred method of distillation which particular method yields no detectable differences from the naturally produced product. The synthetic method allows patients to ingest far more than possible through food alone.
According to Stephanie Seneff PhD for the Weston Price Foundation,
“Sulfur is the eighth most common element by mass in the human body, behind oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. The two sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine, play essential physiological roles throughout the body. However, sulfur has been consistently overlooked by those addressing the issues of nutritional deficiencies. In fact, the National Academy of Sciences has not even assigned a minimum daily requirement (MDR) for sulfur…..
Experts have recently become aware that sulfur depletion in the soil creates a serious deficiency for plants,17 brought about in part by improved efficiency in the U.S. agricultural industry, which has steadily consolidated into highly technologized mega-farms.
It is estimated that humans obtain about ten percent of their sulfur supply from drinking water. Remarkably, people who drink soft water have an increased risk of heart disease compared to people who drink hard water.2 Many possible reasons have been suggested for why this might be true, and just about every trace metal has been considered as a possibility.3 However, I believe that the real reason may simply be that hard water is more likely to contain sulfur….
I recently came upon a remarkable article in a 1997 issue of FASEB11 which develops a persuasive theory that low blood serum levels of two sulfur-containing molecules are a characteristic feature of a number of disease conditions. All of these diseases are associated with muscle wasting, despite adequate nutrition. The authors have coined the term “low CG syndrome” to represent this observed profile, where “CG” stands for the amino acid “cysteine,” and the tripeptide “glutathione,” both of which contain a sulfhydryl radical “-S-H” that is essential to their function. Glutathione is synthesized from the amino acids cysteine, glutamate and glycine, and glutamate deficiency figures into the disease process as well, as I will discuss later.
The list of disease conditions associated with low CG syndrome is surprising and very revealing: HIV infection, cancer, major injuries, sepsis (blood poisoning), Crohn’s disease (irritable bowel syndrome), ulcerative colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome and athletic over-training….
In summary, a number of different arguments lead to the hypothesis that sulfur deficiency causes the liver to shift from producing cholesterol sulfate to producing arginine (and subsequently nitric oxide). This leaves the intestines and muscle cells vulnerable to oxidation damage, which can explain both the intestinal inflammation and the muscle wasting associated with Crohn’s disease.”
Doctors Jacob, Lawrence, and Zucker in their book “The Miracle of MSM – The Natural Solution for Pain,” explain thatSulfur is necessary for the proper formation of proteins and helps produce amino acids, connective tissue, enzymes and hormones. And that sulfur insufficiency is probably related to many disease states – perhaps including Lyme/MSIDS.
It all stems back to the 70’s when chemists from Crown Zellerback Corp, and doctors Herschler and Jacob of Oregon Health and Science University experimented with MSM to determine if it had similar therapeutic uses to DMSO. In 1981 Herschler obtained a patient to use MSM for skin, nails, and as a blood diluent. There were further patents claiming to relieve stress, pain, treat parasitic infections, increase energy, boost metabolism, enhance circulation and improve wound healing, despite little scientific proof. Current research has shown proven clinical improvement in arthritis, inflammatory disorders like interstitial cystitis, allergic rhinitis, and acute exercise-induced inflammation.
Both DMSO and MSM get into tissue due to their small size.
The clinical use of sulfur as an adjunct in our diet is becoming progressively more recognized as an important tool for optimizing health. MSM is already well-known for its joint health benefits, but may also be helpful for other conditions related to chronic inflammation and damage due to oxidation
MSM, which is a metabolite of DMSO approved for use in humans, primarily impacts your health by reducing inflammation. It’s widely used as a supplement for arthritic conditions. Like DMSO, MSM also appears to improve cell wall permeability, so it can be used to help deliver other active ingredients
MSM may be providing a missing link for optimal health, which appears to be related to sulfur. It also affects sulfur metabolism in the human body, although it’s still not entirely clear how
Sulfur also plays a critical role in detoxification, as it is part of one of the most important antioxidants that your body produces: glutathione. Without sulfur, glutathione cannot work
Toxicity studies have shown that MSM is extremely safe and can be taken at very high doses. Even if you have a very rich diet full of raw vegetables and MSM-rich foods, you can still supplement and not hit that toxicity level. Clinical research studies have found that the effective amounts range from about 1.5 grams to 6 grams
*Reduces cytokines & inflammation(in vitro studies show MSM reduces IL-6 (a marker implicated in chronic inflammation as well as suppressing NO and prostanoids) *antioxidant *free radical scavenger *kills gastrointestinal, liver, and colon cancer cells *restored normal cellular metabolism in mouse breast cancer and melanoma cells *helps wounds heal *increases blood flow *reduces muscle spasms*antiparasitic properties(especially for giardia) *normalizes the immune system *cholinesterase inhibitor *alleviates allergy symptoms *increases energy *improves condition of hair, nails, and skin
Karlene Karst, registered dietician, gives a 3.5 Min supplement review on MSM.
Like DMSO, MSM is more of a therapeutic principle than a drug and seems to be providing some kind of missing link within the body.
Safety
Toxicity studies have shown that MSM is extremely safe and can be taken at very, very high doses. Even if you have a very rich diet full of raw vegetables and MSM-rich foods, you can still supplement and not hit toxicity. Clinical research studies have found that the effective amounts range from about 1.5 grams to 6 grams, although at higher doses, potential side effects include:
Intestinal discomfort
Swelling of the ankles
Mild skin rashes
These are likely detoxifying effects that can typically be mitigated or minimized by cutting back on the initial dosage, and slowly working your way up. In that case, you might want to start out with half a gram (500 milligrams) for a couple of weeks and then slowly increase until you get up to the desired dose.
Pregnancy:https://www.drugs.com/npp/methylsulfonylmethane-msm.html Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation in humans is lacking; however, according to the MSM book by Jacob, he states, “Clinical experience indicates MSM is safe for pregnant women. We recommend; however, that you consult first with your physician before taking this or any other supplement or mediation.” (p. 47)
Regarding children: Jacob states that healthy children do not usually need MSM; however, those with allergies, asthma, or an inflammatory illness should consider using it. He also states many kids have taken MSM – some in high amounts without problem.
Contraindications: While DMSO has been found to counteract platelet aggregation, MSM has not been similarly tested in studies; however, clinical observations indicate it may also have a blood-thinning, aspirin-like effect. Discuss MSM supplementation with your doctor before taking it.
MSM & blood tests: Dr. Jacob recommends stopping MSM before a liver function test as it may interfere with the accuracy of the test and produce a false positive. Resume supplementation after the test.
How to Select a High–Quality MSM Supplement
There are two methods of purification of MSM:
Distillation
Crystallization
For MSM, distillation is by far superior. But crystallization is less expensive, and a lot less energy-intensive. According to Dr. Benjamin, only two companies that produce MSM use distillation. Mr. Benjamin explains why you should consider a product that has been purified using distillation.
“A lot of the problems with [crystallization] is you’re essentially crystallizing it out of a parent solvent or liquid. If there are any impurities, which could be salts of heavy metals, you could have aromatic hydrocarbons in that… It’s actually the parent solvent. It’s usually water. It is dependent upon water quality.”
I recently posted this: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/01/03/the-invisible-universe-of-the-human-microbiome-msm/Lyn-Genet Recitas, NMT, Sports Nutritionist, Holistic Health Pracitioner, RYT, and author of “The Plan,” calls MSM the wonder supplement for your gut. It can alleviate allergy symptoms, helps with detoxification, eliminates free radicals, and improves cell permeability. She states that with given time, MSM will start to actually repair damage caused by leaky gut – a common problem with Lyme/MSIDS patients. It can also help the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. Many Lyme patients struggle with paralysis of the gut where the muscles of the stomach and intestines stop being efficient. MSM helps this muscle tone as well.
Similar to DMSO you can take MSM topically and internally. It is recommended to start at a low initial dose and allow the body to acclimate. You can slowly increase the dose after a week. It is also stated that those with chronic conditions may take up to 6 or more months to notice a difference.
Topical
MSM comes in creams, gels, and lotions. Make sure you read about the other ingredients and if the MSM is made from distillation. Like any other supplement, the devil’s in the details. Recently I made my own MSM cream, which was quite easy and I loved how it worked as a skin cream.
Get pure 100% MSM powder made by distillation. (Should have OptiMSM patent on it)
Get pure aloe vera gel (99.5% or higher)
Mix 1/2 Cup aloe vera with 1-2 Tablespoons MSM – a tiny whisk or stirring stick works best
(Optional) Add your favorite pure, organic therapeutic grade essential oils – I used 3 drops lavender and 3 drops frankincense for a facial cream. Guys this is for you too. It is non greasy, tightens pores, & smells great.
This same cream can be used for pain relief but add another tablespoon of MSM (total of 3 Tbsp). Desired EO’s include Capaiba for inflammation (3 drops), Lavender for skin conditioning (3 drops) and peppermint as a cooling and driving oil taking the MSM deeper (4 drops). Mix all well.
Store in glass with a tight fitting lid like a small wide mouthed mason jar in a cool, dark place.
Internally
If you take 2-3g a day or less, capsules are convenient. For higher doses crystals are cheaper and easier.
You should take the least amount to achieve the desired benefit. More is not necessarily better. According to the MSM book a dosage of 2g (2,000mg) is adequate; however, higher doses are often necessary to experience therapeutic effects. You may need 3-4g of MSM to control allergy symptoms and for deep-seated severe conditions, you may have to even go higher. It is also recommended to divide the dose throughout the day, but since MSM increases your energy, it’s best not to take it before bedtime.
For pain and inflammatory conditions, Jacob recommends topical and internal MSM.
Personal usage: Currently, most of my family uses MSM internally, daily – including my dog. We all started at 1/4 tsp once a day for a a few days then increased to twice a day. After that, it was individual preference. I increased to 1/2tsp twice a day and all of my pain is GONE. My husband takes 1 tsp twice a day. We simply put the crystals in a few ounces of waters, stir it up, and slam it. It’s a bit bitter but I’ve had worse.
My daughter struggles with Mast Cell issues and this has helped her a lot. As you read it reduces or eliminates allergy symptoms and for her it has reduced mucus production and has boosted her immune system as well.
I’ve also made the MSM facial cream listed above and I’ve used a manufactured MSM cream with glucosamine chondroitin in it; however, it does have the caprylic ingredient along with parabens and other nasty ingredients Fischer warns about so I won’t be purchasing more, just making my own. I will say it worked for pain – within minutes.
Update: I’ve been taking the MSM internally for months now with complete resolution of pain. The only negative side-effect I had was my skin broke out due to the strong detoxification effects. I broke out on my face, chest, and back. Due to that I lowered the MSM to about half of what I took to give my body some help in clearing debris. Within a couple of weeks that went away and I upped my dose back to 1/4tsp twice a day. The pain never returned.
Depending upon your goals, if your doctor gives you a thumbs up, I would try MSM first as it is easy to obtain and has no side-effects or smell. If the MSM works (primarily for pain, inflammation, detox, & leaky gut) then you are home-free. If it doesn’t, you may want to then move on to get the OK from your doctor to try DMSO as it demands more knowledge, effort, attention to detail, and has a smell, depending upon amount used. For those who desire to try DMSO and an oxidative bactericide for a full Lyme/MSIDS treatment, please work under the direct supervision of a practitioner.
Opinions expressed by contributors are their own.
