Approved Use

• Oral and topical DMSO is prescribed in many countries for a wide variety of health conditions, primarily for pain and inflammatory disorders. The FDA has only approved DMSO to relieve the pain of interstitial cystitis, a bladder disorder.
  
  

Availability

• Because DMSO is available for purchase as a solvent, people can easily buy it over the counter to treat various inflammatory conditions. It is also available in health food stores and from online stores, and veterinarians prescribe it as a liniment.
  
  

Scleroderma

• An article in a 1985 issue of Reviews in Clinical and Basic Pharmacology notes that topical DMSO may be beneficial for skin problems associated with scleroderma.
  
  

Arthritis

• Topical application of DMSO seems to provide fast temporary pain relief for people with arthritis and connective tissue injuries, according to the journal article.
  
  

Research Issues

• Research on DMSO for health care purposes has stalled partly because placebo-controlled studies are difficult with this substance. Many people who take DMSO orally develop a garlic-like body and breath odor, making it obvious they are not taking a placebo.