What About DMSO?
By Dennis B. Weis
"The Yukon Hercules"
For those of us power bodybuilders who lift the heavy iron as a means of acquiring more muscle size, strength, and power, the topic of training injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments will demand our attention at some time in our lives. There are a number of things that cause injury: improper warm-ups, lack of flexibility, adding poundage (to the bar) too rapidly, unbalanced strengths (quads versus hamstrings, etc.), fatigue during the workout, and under-recovery between workout sessions. These causes, either individually or collectively, can create quite a bit of trauma to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the form of strains and sprains. This seems to be even more evident as a power bodybuilder gets older (30s, 40s, and 50s) compared to being a teenager or 20-year-old.
For example, I can remember when I was in my 20s and performing dead hang cleans for 4-6 sets of 10 reps with 225 pounds. I received a lot of direct trapezius stimulation, plus it boosted my pulling power in the conventional deadlift. Now, 30-plus years later, if I attempt to do this exercise, I always seem to end up with a severe case of elbow tendinitis on the inside of my right arm near the elbow. It always gets very sore, and the thing I notice most of all is that it dramatically affects my exercise performance in exercises like lat machine pulldowns to the sternal pectoralis (regardless whether I use a supinated and/or prone hand grip), pullups, barbell curls, and sometimes barbell wrist curls. I suppose I should shy away from the dead hang clean with the barbell, but the truth is I like the movement enough to keep it as one of my exercises of choice.
I have a two-pronged attack that I use to accelerate the healing process of the elbow tendinitis. First, I start ingesting 200 milligrams of the mineral Manganese every 3 hours for 3 days (72 hours). I learned about this mineral megadose trick from the late Vince Gironda, the "Iron Guru." Second, I use a special solvent called DMSO. DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) was discovered around 1866 but didn't get much interest until around a hundred years later when, in 1966, a chemist at the University of Oregon Medical School discovered its potential value.
DMSO is basically a solvent made from the sap of trees. Its value is threefold in nature in that, as an anti-inflammatory agent or analgesic, it seems to reduce swelling, heat, and pain, and at a very quick rate. This of course is accomplished only with a medical grade of DMSO that is 90-95% pure. Anything less than medical grade (industrial or unpure) can lead to some toxic reactions due to the cadmium, lead, and other toxic metal contaminants found in nonmedical DMSO solvent.
Many health food stores carry DMSO as part of their existing product mix, so it should not be a problem finding a supplier. Personally, I purchase my DMSO from Crain's Muscle World Unlimited (1.800.272.0051). At 90-95% pure, DMSO is very concentrated, to say the least, and can cause major skin irritations in many individuals. It is therefore a good idea to dilute it down with distilled water (not tap water) to at least a 70% solution and more probably to a 50-50 ratio of distilled water to solvent for best results. Frank Zane, a three time Mr. Olympia, uses "Rimso" a pure 50% solution which requires a prescription.
Prior to the actual application of DMSO, carefully wash the area of the body where it will be applied with a mild nondetergent soap and water. Rinse with water and dry the area. The reason for washing the inflamed area is that DMSO has the unique capability to carry substances on the skin surface, such as dirt, into the body. It can also carry the fibers from cotton of cosmetic puffs into the body as well. Your best bet here is to use a gauze pad for the application of the DMSO. If you want to eliminate the fuss of gauze pads, simply use a DMSO roll-on.
No doubt you have heard the expression "more is better." Well, in the case of high intensity training protocol, it isn't; but in the case of DMSO application, more is certainly better. Apply the solvent liberally to a large area of the skin surface. Don't let any type of clothing come in contact with the skin area of the DMSO application for at least the first half-hour. After 30 minutes, remove any remaining excess DMSO from the skin.
Perform the supersaturation applications of DMSO 2 to 3 times a day (every 4-6 hours) for 5 consecutive days, then cease application for 2 days in a row before you begin the suggested application procedure all over again.
Basically, upon application DMSO penetrates or is absorbed into the skin and dissolves the various debris in the injured or inflamed area when it releases an oxygen atom. A big problem with this on a social level is that the release of the oxygen atom is excreted as dimethyl sulfoxide, which in turn gives off a really bad case of gorilla breath. So if you're wondering why you aren't a babe magnet all of a sudden, that's the reason. It might be a very good idea to lay low socially until you are finished with the DMSO therapy.
Oh, yeah, while you're laying low, don't sit at home with your friends, Jack Daniel's and Bud Weiser. DMSO seems to accelerate the normal effects of alcoholic beverages, so it's not a good idea to down a few brews during or after the application of the solvent.
Individuals with liver or kidney disease, infants, and pregnant women are absolutely forbidden to use the DMSO solvent. Plain and simple, discontinue the use of DMSO if you notice any adverse side effects.
Having said that, DMSO does seem to have some rather unlimited values and is reported to have been used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, emphysema, strokes, etc. Best of all, for me personally and many other power bodybuilders I have chatted with, DMSO has proven to be very useful for muscle spasms, sprains, strains, and, as mentioned, tendonitis.
I have personally felt, and you more than likely will, the therapeutic relief of DMSO in a matter of minutes and at most one hour after an application.
Always remember, though: DMSO is not a replacement for a professional medical and sports evaluation!
