DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)

Dupuytrens contracture is commonly treated in Alternative Medicine using DMSO
in combination with vitamin E and an ionic copper solution

DMSO is one of the stars of any broad-base Dupuytrens contracture program. It has some great science and research behind it, and it just makes a lot of sense to apply such an effective product directly to the problem area of the hand. In addition, DMSO can be used to enhance absorption of copper and vitamin E into the scar tissue area – both of which are also critically important to any Dupuytrens contracture program.

Description
Dimethyl sulfoxide, better known as DMSO, is a colorless and slightly oily liquid. It is a by-product of the paper manufacturing process, and is still used primarily as an industrial solvent. Stanley W. Jacob, MD first reported the medicinal effects of DMSO in 1964.
By the late 1960s it was known as a popular wonder drug because of its potential as a therapeutic agent and a pharmaceutical solvent, reported to be useful for a variety of problems ranging from arthritis to mental retardation. It has been used in treatment of Dupuytrens contracture and Peyronie’s disease for many years.

Most therapeutic benefits of DMSO are documented in connective tissue diseases in particular, such as Dupuytrens contracture, scleroderma, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, and muscle injury.(1-3) The AMA is among this group of supporters of DMSO for these applications. Multiple research suggests that DMSO applied over the afflicted region may soften the abnormal connective tissue associated with disorders such as Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand, Peyronie's disease, scleroderma and keloids.(4)
Each of these four conditions is similar, in that they share a thickening and hardening of tissue, and excess collagen and fibrous tissue deposits. As you read these therapy sections, you will notice scleroderma and Dupuytren’s contracture are often mentioned with Peyronie’s disease . This is because of the similarity of abnormal tissue hardening which occurs in each. Suffice it to mention that both of these conditions are connective tissue disorders of unknown cause, with similar track records of poor and variable treatment outcomes.

Technique
First apply one or more primary substance (vitamin E and/or Super CD Serum) to the skin, then apply DMSO. Allow to penetrate the skin for full benefit (about 30 minutes), as determined by complete drying.

When using DMSO for the first few times, it is not unusual to almost immediately experience a slight temporary and pleasant warmth or tingle (maybe lasting 30 seconds) where it has been applied. This is the response of the subcutaneous fat layer of the skin to the presence of the DMSO. It gets into your tissue so fast, the reaction is almost immediate!

Dupuytrens Contracture Connection
DMSO used alone demonstrates ability to soften the fibrous hardening of scleroderma, as well as similar fibrous tissue diseases, and stretch tissue needed during plastic surgery. While scleroderma is not Dupuytrens contracture or Peyronie’s disease , they both share enough similar collagen and soft tissue abnormalities to make it reasonable to connect the benefits of one problem to the other.

DMSO has a second strong Dupuytrens contracture connection by virtue of its ability to quickly carry – or as some say, “drive” – other therapies into the deep tissue layers for additional therapeutic benefit.

This double-duty action of DMSO has twice the potential benefit in a broad base Dupuytrens contracture program. If you are going to use vitamin E or copper in your plan, then you really should strongly consider including DMSO just so that the vitamin E and copper can penetrate deeper into the tissue for maximum potential benefit.

DMSO Product Recommendation
The doctors of PDI and DCI wanted to use a DMSO product that contained several synergistic products that could be helpful for DC.    They soon learned that the discoverer of DMSO, Stanley Jacobs, MD, has been using a special formula of DMSO, vitamin E, methyl salicylate and urea for his own patients with great success.  To make it easy and economical to apply, he made the formula into a gel formulation.  Dr. Jacobs called his special DMSO formula DUSA-SAL Gel.  When used twice daily it can be effective, and when combined in a larger therapy plan such as described by DCI  the results can be just that much better.  This particular product, Dusa-Sal Gel, was selected for use by DCI because of the encouraging reports and research behind each therapy. Our opinion is that this combination is a good way to get as much additional therapy into the local area of the lesion area as possible. We think you will not find a more effective, pure and safe DMSO product than Dusa-Sal Gel anywhere.

By now you know the philosophy of DCI is to treat the hand contracture aggressively with as many different therapies as possible, for maximum therapeutic potential. Remember the DCI treatment philosophy is a lot like ganging up on your problem, “USE EVERY GOOD RESOURCE YOU CAN FIND, ALL AT THE SAME TIME, FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO START SEEING RESULTS, THEN CONTINUE UNTIL YOUR BODY HEALS TO THE BEST OF ITS ABILITY.” We advocate approaching the contracted hand tissue very aggressively with very conservative measures. To do less than that is to take a grave risk with your hands that could result in a failure that no one wants to endure. Using a DMSO product that already contains vitamin E, methyl salicylate and ureas, and taking that to drive even more vitamin E and copper in the form of Super CP Serum into the tissue is an excellent way to put that philosophy into action. 

Dusa-Sal DMSO Gel comes in a shatterproof polyethylene bottle with a handy dispenser spout for ease of application. 

For ideas and suggestions putting DMSO and other goodies into a treatment plan, click Create a Dupuytrens Treatment Plan.

Want to learn more technical information on this subject?

The sister organization for the Dupuytrens Contracture Institute (DCI) is the Peyronie’s Disease Institute (PDI). There are many statistical and pathophysiological similarities between these two conditions, that the same group of doctors who created PDI have also developed DCI. Many men who have Peyronie’s disease note that their Dupuytrens contracture also improves. Therefore, there appears to be a natural confluence of interest between these two problems. What can be said for one problem can be said of the other, especially in terms of treatment.

On the website of the larger PDI website you will find a more detailed discussion and instruction of this topic. Just click here to learn more about DMSO on the PDI website.

For ideas and suggestions to put this information about DMSO into an effective treatment plan, click Create a Dupuytrens Treatment Plan.

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