# DMSO

Category: Drugs & Compounds

Also known as: dimethyl sulfoxide

DMSO is a solvent whose early promise as an anti-inflammatory agent was tempered by Ray Peat's direct observations of its capacity to produce inflammation and intense skin reactions. Peat became interested in it in the mid-1960s, intrigued by its effects on cell water and its…

11 passages · 3 authors · 2013–2025 · Most-cited: [Ray Peat](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/voices/ray-peat/index.md)

Canonical page: https://bioenergeticoracle.com/concepts/dmso

## Synthesis

**DMSO** is a solvent whose early promise as an anti-inflammatory agent was tempered by Ray Peat's direct observations of its capacity to produce **inflammation** and *intense skin reactions*. [Source 1, 2, 4] Peat became interested in it in the mid-1960s, intrigued by its effects on cell water and its ability to accelerate some enzyme reactions, but he lost interest around 1970 after repeatedly seeing it cause burning, rashes, and inflammatory responses. [Source 1, 3, 4] He noted that it produces a characteristic bad taste in the mouth even from skin contact, and its function as a powerful solvent means it can easily drive trace contaminants and allergens into the tissues, making absolute purity critical yet difficult to guarantee. [Source 1, 3, 7]

Peat's mechanistic concerns centered on DMSO's intrinsic chemical instability and its breakdown products. He emphasized that DMSO is not stable in the presence of water, and its odor signals the degree of its decomposition. [Source 4] He warned that it has an *intrinsic oxidative effect*, and when mixed with reductants like vitamin C or glutathione, it immediately breaks them down into other substances, potentially generating **sulfite** and **metabisulfite**, which are highly allergenic for some people. [Source 4] Furthermore, Peat cited its ability to release **histamine** and **nitric oxide** and to inhibit **cholinesterase**, a profile that suggests its use should not be prolonged. [Source 4] Danny Roddy later reinforced this view, referencing Peat's papers showing DMSO increased nitric oxide and prostaglandin generation, characterizing it as clearly involved in the stress response and probably not a safe substance to take. [Source 10]

Regarding systemic effects, Peat acknowledged that DMSO can act as an anti-inflammatory by helping cells relinquish excess water, similar to progesterone, but he stressed there are many safer ways to achieve this. [Source 7, 11] He specifically cautioned that too much of the sulfur compounds from DMSO can very easily lead to a disturbance of **thyroid function**. [Source 8] Peat also noted that its metabolism is not fully understood, referencing suggestions from the Livermore lab about possibly toxic metabolites whose formation might depend on a person's unique *redox situation*. [Source 5] He concluded that small, occasional topical amounts are probably safe, but he advised against daily oral ingestion, partly because of the risk of carrying trace allergens into tissues and the unresolved questions about its long-range safety. [Source 5, 7]

In practical application, Peat saw a narrow role for DMSO as a penetration enhancer for treating stubborn fungal infections residing deep within the nail bed, where it could help carry therapeutic agents like sulfur through the thick nail material. [Source 6] Georgi Dinkov has written that when DMSO is used orally in milligram-range doses, the risk of helping absorb environmental toxins is much lower than with the gram doses used topically, though he acknowledged it would affect medication taken orally at the same time. [Source 9] However, Peat's overarching position remained one of caution, shaped by decades of observing its inflammatory side effects and the chemical uncertainties surrounding its decomposition and contaminants. [Source 1, 2, 4]

## People also ask

### Why did Ray Peat stop recommending DMSO?

Peat lost interest around 1970 after repeatedly observing it cause burning, rashes, and inflammatory responses, despite its early anti-inflammatory promise.

### How does DMSO interact with antioxidants like vitamin C?

Peat emphasized that DMSO has an intrinsic oxidative effect and immediately breaks down reductants like vitamin C or glutathione, potentially generating allergenic sulfite and metabisulfite.

### What did Peat consider a safe use for DMSO?

Peat saw a narrow role for DMSO as a penetration enhancer to carry therapeutic agents through thick nail material for treating deep fungal infections, but he advised against daily oral ingestion.

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## Cited passages

Passage numbers match the `[Source N]` markers in the synthesis above.

### Source 1 — One Radio Network: Ray Peat with Patrick Timpone — December 21, 2020

Ray Peat · Interview · Dec 21, 2020

> **Ray Peat:** Yeah, I think it is okay topically. You don't want to take it orally because
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** part of the effect
>
> **Ray Peat:** of stress is to release fat from storage and every molecule of triglyceride involves a glycerin molecule. And glycerin, even from our natural tissue stores, a certain amount of it converts to methylglyoxal, which is a toxin and which adds to the protein glycation, the aging process. And So you definitely don't want to ingest glycerin. And I wouldn't use it copiously on the skin because a little bit of it might get absorbed.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** We're talking with Dr. Ray Peete. He's here on the third Monday of the month, One Radio Network. You can check out other videos we've done with Dr. Peat on One Radio Network. Look for the video section and also in the archives, all the audio shows are there. His website is raypeete.com and you can... Send him an email, raypetes, a plural newsletter, at gmail.com and sign up for his terrific newsletter. It comes out every couple of months. Dr. Peat, do you have much experience with using for different things a DMSO?

### Source 2 — Ray Peat Email Advice Depository — Post 302

Ray Peat · Email · Nov 19, 2016

> **Question:** Hi ray. Don't know if this is useful to you but it seems that many taking dmso supplements are experiencing joint pain as well as other side effects i previously attributed to androsterone. No more for me. I did feel good at first on the androsterone. Very best regards,
>
> **Ray Peat:** Thanks for the information; about 40 years ago I was interested in DMSO, but I lost interest in it when I saw some reactions like that.

### Source 3 — One Radio Network: Ray Peat with Patrick Timpone — December 21, 2020

Ray Peat · Interview · Dec 21, 2020

> **Ray Peat:** Oh, yeah. Do you? I was very interested in it in the mid-late 60s. Then I had a series of experiences in which it was producing inflammation, and that sort of discouraged my interest in it. Besides, it produces a bad taste in your mouth if you just get it on your skin. Yeah. It can easily take impurities into your skin with it. And so the question of getting an absolutely pure substance in itself is hard enough. But then if you just introduce a trace of contaminant along with it, it can... Drive it right in.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** I mean, you could actually, people have said you could use some maybe DMSO and something else on your feet and put on a sock. And if it has dye in there, that would draw that in. You have to be careful with that stuff. I did a sauna. I like to do a sauna with a little bit of DMSO and castor oil and just let it on my stomach. And I did one the other night and I just got over... I don't know, overabundant, you know, with the DMSO. And Dr. Peat, I have to tell you, my stomach burned, you know, on the outside. I actually burnt it for about two or three days. I mean, it's been itching and it's finally going away. That stuff can burn you, right?

### Source 4 — Ray Peat Email Advice Depository — Post 247

Ray Peat · Email · May 23, 2016

> **Question:** In response to a question about DMSO:
>
> **Ray Peat:** I got interested in it in 1965, after reading about Stanley Jacob’s ideas, and experimented with it occasionally over the next several years. I was interested in its effects on cell water, stabilizing it in a way that reduces some kinds of inflammation. It seems to accelerate some enzyme reactions. I later started to think about its own chemical properties, rather than thinking of it as just a solvent. It isn’t stable in the presence of water, and the odor seems to indicate the degree of its decomposition. It occasionally helps slightly with joint pain, but it can cause intense skin reactions, rashes; I think some of its effects depend on the breakdown products. People often forget that it has an intrinsic oxidative effect when they are thinking of it as just a solvent, to transport drugs. I saw a product sold as eye drops, consisting of vitamin C and glutathione in DMSO. Each of those reductants, in the presence of DMSO, immediately breaks down into other substances, and the composition changes continually over a long period. There has been very little investigation of the actual composition of solutions of DMSO with other substances. At least some of the mixtures will produce sulfite and metabisulfite, which are very allergenic for some people. Small amounts are probably harmless; even large amounts seem harmless for some people. Its ability to release histamine and nitric oxide and to inhibit cholinesterase (articles below) suggest that its use shouldn’t be prolonged. [references]

### Source 5 — Ray Peat Email Advice Depository — Post 481

Ray Peat · Email · Mar 31, 2018

> **Question:** I was wondering what your opinion of DMSO was? Thank you!
>
> **Ray Peat:** I think it’s safe for occasional use in small amounts; in the early ‘70s I was interested in it, but I gradually decided that there wasn’t enough known about its metabolism to be sure of its long range safety. People at the Livermore lab suggested some possibly toxic metabolites (in connection with the Gloria Ramirez case), that might depend on a person’s unique redox situation.

### Source 6 — Herb Doctors: Environmental Enrichment-Bad Science

Ray Peat · Interview · Aug 16, 2013 · http://l-i-g-h-t.com/files/herb-doctors-environmental-enrichment -bad-science.mp4

> **Caller:** From Oregon House California, which is close to Nevada City.
>
> **Andrew Murray:** OK, thank you.
>
> **Caller:** Oh yeah, the first question has to do with toe fungus, Dr Peat, you mentioned in the past that sulphur was good for fungus and I was just wondering if it would work with toe fungus and if I should use some DMSO to get it in there. And the second, I was wondering about your thoughts about irradiation of food.
>
> **Ray Peat:** There’s a 10% sulphur soap sold at drug stores. They may not stock it on the shelf because it’s too cheap, but it works very well for athlete’s foot anywhere on the body.
>
> **Caller:** This is a bit deeper than athlete’s foot; it’s actually in the nail bed.
>
> **Ray Peat:** Yeah, once it gets into the nail, it’s very hard to get anything in there, but it’s possible but DMSO would help it penetrate through the nail, the fungus actually lives right inside the thick nail material.
>
> **Caller:** I have been using [Adremal?], as much as I can bear, but I’ll try that too. So, about irradiation of food, do you have any thoughts about that?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Yeah, it’s been known for a long time that it breaks down all of the fragile, easily oxidised nutrients, changes some of the amino acids, turns tryptophan into some toxins. The advocates of it – the radiation waste disposal industry - it's a good way to get rid of radioactive waste to put it in to factories. They do studies and claim that it almost doesn’t change the food at all.

### Source 7 — One Radio Network: Ray Peat with Patrick Timpone — December 20, 2021

Ray Peat · Interview · Dec 20, 2021

> **Patrick Timpone:** Fascinating. Wow. Here's an email. I want to take a liquid supplement orally that has DMSO as a solvent. If I'm not allergic to DMSO, is 200 milligrams of DMSO orally a safe amount to take every day in the long term?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Using it as a solvent for what?
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** They're asking about a liquid supplement that has a little bit of DMSO in there. I've never heard of that.
>
> **Ray Peat:** I think it's not a good thing to take every day.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** Why would you take DMSO internally?
>
> **Ray Peat:** They have found that it has an anti-inflammatory effect. It helps the same way progesterone and anti-inflammatory things do to let the cell give up some of the water it shouldn't have. But there are so many. safer ways to reduce inflammation in cells. You can't always count on the DMSO being as pure as it should be. It can carry trace allergens into your tissues.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** Interesting question for you, Doc. Any ideas of why my long brown hair is thinning so much it breaks off at the shaft right? where the follicle enters the scalp, comes out with the slightest pull.

### Source 8 — One Radio Network: Ray Peat with Patrick Timpone — February 21, 2022

Ray Peat · Interview · Feb 21, 2022

> **Patrick Timpone:** Rhonda wants to know, she says, I've been reading that taking a bath in 3% hydrogen peroxide and magnesium flakes is good pain relief remedy. Can you ask Dr. Peat if he knows if this would be a reasonable thing to do?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Oh, it's very bad for your skin.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** Bad for the skin.
>
> **Ray Peat:** Stay very long in contact with that concentration of hydrogen peroxide. I see.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** Not good. Can Dr. Peat please discuss the pros and cons of using DMSO and also MMS, chlorine dioxide?
>
> **Ray Peat:** They both have potential problems. The DMSO got famous when it was used for treating arthritis pain, and it can activate the respiratory tract. process and help to eliminate water from tissues. But too much of the sulfur compounds can very easily lead to disturbance of your thyroid function.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** This is from Emily. I've been taking the sulfur that Patrick promotes and I like it, but now I'm seven months pregnant. Can I still keep taking sulfur? This is just pure sulfur. What do you think, Doc?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Oh, I... Flowers of sulfur. That's different, right? Yeah, it's a very safe thing to take. Just a pinch of it, 200 or 300 milligrams, orally will help to suppress the candida and other fungus development without causing any noticeable change in the person.

### Source 9 — IdeaLabs Forum Q&A — Oxidal

Georgi Dinkov · Forum Q&A · May 8, 2015

> **Forum User:** I was just looking at the uses for DMSO and the first thing I thought of was my grandmother. She's been having a lot pain in her right shoulder and she can't remember if she did something to it or if it's possibly arthritis. She refuses to go to the doctor to get it checked out and has opted to put icy hot on it instead. I'm wondering if DMSO would be good for her to try. My only concern is when you say "there are circumstances where it's not great - eg it's extra important to avoid any toxic substances while using it." Exactly what kind of toxic substances?
>
> **Forum User:** I was just looking at the uses for DMSO and the first thing I thought of was my grandmother. She's been having a lot pain in her right shoulder and she can't remember if she did something to it or if it's possibly arthritis. She refuses to go to the doctor to get it checked out and has opted to put icy hot on it instead. I'm wondering if DMSO would be good for her to try. My only concern is when you say "there are circumstances where it's not great - eg it's extra important to avoid any toxic substances while using it." Exactly what kind of toxic substances? Like foods, beauty products and/or
>
> **Georgi Dinkov:** (2015-07-22) I think these are legit concerns for someone working in a polluted environment like hospital, plants, construction, etc and mostly if the product is used topically. When used orally, I think most of these concerns are much lower risk and also the amount of DMSO in a single dose would be in the milligrams range so it should lower the risk even more. Most people that use DMSO use it in grams doses and I can see how it become a concern in helping absorb toxins.

### Source 10 — Bioenergetic Helpline #4: White Tongue, Importance of T4, Sleep Issues, High-Dose K2, Antibiotics

Danny Roddy · Interview · Dec 20, 2025 · https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCYdXExlDFk

> **Caller:** Okay. Yeah. I always ask the questions you're not up on like the old, I'm sorry.
>
> **Danny Roddy:** I'm fading very hard. So maybe my brain just doesn't work.
>
> **Caller:** And just one last thing to add on the magnesium thing is that, and I don't know if you're familiar with it. It's Georgi's Magnoil. It's magnesium with DMSO.
>
> **Danny Roddy:** I remember him announcing that on the podcast and like a form of magnesium I was not familiar with, but DMSO Ray had like lots of negative stuff to say about it. Like, I don't know if that's safe to use.
>
> **Caller:** okay because i had it i mean and that's my sense too because i tried it twice and if i took a little bit like five drops or something that i think the serving size is like 25 jobs so i took like four or five jobs and it was fine but then when i took like like i think i got up to 10 or 15 i woke up in the morning like early morning and my calves were completely locked up like it was the weirdest experience of my life
>
> **Danny Roddy:** Well, Ray had referenced papers saying that it increased nitric oxide, and I think the generation of prostaglandin. So it was clearly involved in the stress response. You know when somebody's getting a massage and they have the person dig into their back with some tool or something, and they're creating a red, like a nitric oxide reaction? I think that's what DMSO is doing. And so it's just probably not a safe thing to take.

### Source 11 — One Radio Network: Ray Peat with Patrick Timpone — December 20, 2021

Ray Peat · Interview · Dec 20, 2021

> Why would you take DMSO internally? They have found that it has an anti-inflammatory effect. It helps the same way progesterone and anti-inflammatory things do to let the cell give up some of the water it shouldn't have. But there are so many safer ways to reduce inflammation in cells. You can't always count on the DMSO being as pure as it should be. It can trace allergens into your tissues. This is an interesting question for you, Doc. Any ideas of why my long brown hair is thinning so much it breaks off at the shaft right where the follicle enters the scalp, comes out with the slightest pull? That's most often an effect of low thyroid. In animal studies, they find that... For example, a woman who was using estrogen cream found that her fuzzy dogs, I forget what brand of dog it was, but her dogs were going bald just from being in contact with her skin estrogen cream. The estrogen tends to... end the cycle of the fast-growing hair. Low thyroid slows the growth and thins the shaft diameter. So it gets weaker and weaker as you're......thyrate is lower and the estrogen higher. That's just an incredible thing when you think about it, the TSH, you're talking about 0.4 for thyroid function. That's so much lower than what is generally believed to be the right TSH level. Oh yeah, just lately I heard from several people with a 4 point something TSH and they're obviously sick and their symptoms are all traceable to an excess of TSH. TSH itself is pro-inflammatory and just lowering it is going to improve your symptoms but increasing the metabolic rate by supplementing thyroid goes with the anti-inflammatory effect of getting rid of excess TSH. And if you're experimenting with your thyroid whether it be piggy or whatever it is, Doc, how long would you want to be on it before you could reliably say, well I'm going to do another quick TSH maybe with this company to see where it is. How long would you want to be on it before it would be relevant? Since it's very hard to predict what dose you need, it's important to monitor your daily reaction by checking your pulse rate and temperature at waking and middle of the day, and to gradually increase the dose until you're at an optimal body temperature and pulse rate.

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