Join Me As I Try Organic-Sulfur (MSM)

While trying to work on my health over the last couple of years, I have been learning about different healthy, natural ways to detox and get myself into a state of good health. I've came a long way, but still need work on a few issues in particular, most of which I have shared with ya'll.  So, I've experimented with several different things  and lately, I've felt the need to "detox" due to a series of vaccines I was given that are dangerous & I wanted to try and get some of that out of my system, if possible. So that led me to learning about MSM -- Organic Sulfur and the benefits of it.

After doing some searching of my own, I came to the realization that like everything else in the world, not all MSM is that great. Some contain additives that could be harmful for one thing, but also may block the absorption of the MSM all together, which makes buying and using it totally pointless! Then there's the MSM that's produced from petrleum derivatives.

That's a pain, but the good thing is, I found Organic-Sulfur.com which has a great deal of good, trustworthy information about their product, which can be read online. I got in touch with them & have had amazing, super helpful conversations and was well-informed on how I should use the MSM for my own specific health concerns and everything. I was really impressed with how helpful Ralph from Organic-Sulfur has been to me.  

Organic-Sulfur's Organic Sulfur (say that 9 times over) is free of any additives and fillers. It's pure, organic sulfur made in the USA.



What is MSM?

MSM is the 4th most plentiful mineral in the body, and so essential to life that it is found in every cell of virtually every animal and plant. 

MSM is an organic white sulfur powder that  comes from the ocean. It's a food found in plants, meats, dairy and vegetation. It's water-soluble. 


Most commercially available MSM does not contain 34% sulfur. Some contain no sulfur by observation, and some contained none, by observation according to Organic Sulfur Study. 

Organic Sulfur is MSM precipitated from DMSO into a coarse crystal flake and not processed any further nor does it have anti caking or flow agents added. 

MSM can come in the form of crystals, powder or flakes. I have been using the crystals.



As I said, the company I got them from is Organic-Sulfer. They have pure organic sulfur, so there's no worries with it being other stuff and not the real deal. Their's is also made in the USA.

There is a little bit of a difference between the powder, flakes and crystals. I have only tried the crystals that I'm using now, but have learned the difference from the Organic-sulfur webpage and the person I've been in touch with from there, who has been more than kind and  helpful to me. He even gave me information pertaining to my specific health concerns, so this made it so much easier. Another thing I love is they don't hesitate to give you an abundance of information on how to use it, how much to use and what to expect.

Here is what Organic Sulfur's website says about the difference between the MSM powder, flakes and crystals:

The bag of Organic Sulfur, opened. You can kind of see those lovely crystals.

Some people prefer the powder form because it dissolves quicker. On a side note, I have been using the crystals and they dissolve perfectly. I just add one teaspoon per drink so far and hardly even have to stir it and they dissolve. 

"We are told it is identical to the Crystals except that the powder is ground finer. Because it is 99.9% pure (with the balance being moisture), the powder tends to form clumps. That's a good sign. It tells you that no free flow agents were added. The clumping seems to vary with time of year, and the amount of humidity present at time of manufacture. Should it form clumps, you just scrape it with a spoon or break up the clumps as you use it."


 Others prefer the crystals because they aren't so prone to clumping since they aren't as fine. "So they are a better form of organic sulfur if it won't be used immediately. They just take a little longer to dissolve."

"But there's a bigger reason some prefer the Crystals / Flakes: They say they get slightly better results than with the Powder. The reasoning is that the Crystals or Flakes remain exactly as they naturally formed when they were made. And the grinding represents a very slight processing. So purists prefer Organic Sulfur in its unground form.

We haven't personally seen a difference in effectiveness one way or the other, so we carry both and let you decide. To see for yourself, if you have a preference, you can order a pound of each."


Dosage/How To Use Organic-Sulfur




  

The Organic Sulfur from Organic-Sulfer.com comes in a resealable bag with instructions right on the front, which was really handy. It says:

Contains 16 ounces (454 grams)

Suggested use: 1/2 teaspoon dissolved in liquid in the morning and afternoon as the body eliminates excess in about 12 hours. You may start with less and increase to 1/2 heaping teaspoon or more, or use as directed by by a health professional. Some people gradually increase to take much more.


1 heaping teaspoon = about 5 grams. 

On the instructional sheet of paper that comes with the bag of Organic Sulfur, it says that it's been suggested that taking about 1,000 milligrams of Organic Sulfur per 30 pounds of body weight is good. There's a dosage chart too, so this makes it easier to know how much you should take.

 The chart shows that for someone or an animal up to 30 pounds, 1/8 teaspoon in the a.m. and p.m. is a good dosage. 

31-60 pounds, 1/4 teaspoon in the a.m. and p.m. 
61-90 pounds = 3/8 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m. 
91-120 pounds = 1/2 teaspoon in a.m and p.m.
121-150 pounds = 5/8 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m. 
151-180 pounds = 3/4 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m.
181-210 pounds  = 7/8 teaspoon in a.m and p.m.
211-240 pounds = 1 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m. 
241-270 pounds =  1-1/8 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m.
271 - 300 pounds = 1-1/4 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m.

It is also recommended that you take vitamin C when you're taking Organic Sulfur. This dosage is also available on the chart. I've not included it here, but basically, for someone up to 30 pounds in weight should take around 250 mg of vitamin C and someone 31-60 pounds should take 500 mg of vitamin C and so on. I personally try to get 1,000 mg of Vitamin C daily, but I don't always make it to that amount. I usually add that Emergen-C or Super-C stuff to my MSM water, so that way I'm getting both the vitamin C and MSM in one.

Organic Sulfur dissolves well in water, juice or other beverages -- just stir occasionally. Never use hot liquids, as heat breaks down the Organic Sulfur once it's dissolved. Body temperature is fine. You can also dissolve about a tablespoon or more per gallon of water, tea, or other drinks that you'll drink throughout the day, with no need to wait for it to dissolve in each glass.

*Consistently taking it is more important than taking exactly the same amount daily.

*Its toxicity level is close to that of water, so I feel very safe using MSM.  

*Warm liquids are okay to use with MSM, but Organic-Sulfur.com recommends avoiding hot because while some think heat won't break down the organic sulfur molecule, some think it will. So it's best to not use hot liquids, just in case heat will mess with it.

The Benefits & Reasons for Using Sulfur 


There are tons of benefits of using MSM. It has been used by vets and humans for years. MSM helps the body absorb more nutrients (vitamins and minerals,) so it's beneficial for overall health, in general as well as providing relief from particular issues. Some things that MSM can do include:

- Healthy hair, nails and skin. 

- MSM is an analgesic.

- Anti-parasitic. This is one of MSM's properties that I love! From what I've read, a pretty large number of the population in the US actually do have some type of parasites. Some don't know it! So MSM can for eliminate parasites in people and animals, although dosing will vary for everybody and every pet. 

- Provide great relief from conditions such as emphysema, diabetes, help with fatigue, relief of muscular aches and pains, arthritis, bursitis, hip dysplasia, rheumatism, muscle spasms, lupus, scleroderma, sinusitis, gingivitis, etc.


- An increase in effeciency of vitamins and minerals (since vitamins and minerals require MSM in order for the body to fully utilize them instead of  part of a lot of the vitamins and minerals we get going to waste.

- When taken with Vitamin C, MSM can bring relief from easy bruises, chronic nosebleeds, varicose veins. Also, when combined with Vitamin C, MSM helps the body build new, healthy cells, reduce scar tissue and wrinkles, help the skin be more elastic, helps hair and nails grow stronger,

- Can reduce inflamation, eye irritation, headaches, cramps, muscle pain caused by hormonal imbalance like PMS. 

- Relieve constipation or control chronic constipation.

- Lab studies done on rodents has shown that MSM helps to delay the onset of cancer, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Here's something I think is so awesome: MSM can help reduce snoring! I never knew you could stop snoring besides by using the old clothes pin method!


- Can improve mental alertness. 

-Improves circulation.

- Helps with the formation of  connective tissue necessary for joint flexibility and elasticity. 

- Breaks up calcium deposits, when used with magnesium powder.

- Can possibly help relieve allergies and possibly even eliminate them totally. This would be especially true for someone who has allergies due to something like candidiasis. Allergies they didn't have before developing it.

- MSM increases the amount of oxygen available to the body.  

- Helps release toxins built up and stuck in cells.

- MSM also increases the blood's circulation of oxygen and helps oxygen get into the blood.

- Makes the cell walls more permeable, which in turn increases energy levels.

-Keloid reduction!  
I just now read that MSM can help reduce keloids! This is awesome because I have had a very large, painful keloid on the back of my ear since I was 12 or 13! It came up right after a piercing and I had surgery on it that didn't work because as the dr. was cutting and I was feeling everything despite the anethesia, he found that I wasn't lying about feeling the cutting -- there was actually nerves bundled up in there! He sent me from there to a hospital. After that, I had to return to the hospital once a week for for steroid shots, for the rest of my school year that year. It did reduce the size of the keloid, but after the surgery, it got to where I'd have random sharp, horrible pain in it. Felt exactly like it was being cut all over again! Before I ever had anything done about it, it didn't just cause me pain out of the blue. Not unless it was injured or hit or I slept on it. But it continued to get bigger and bigger. Over the last 2 years since I've made changes to my diet to help with the endometriosis and IBS (aloe vera, I think was a big part) I noticed the keloid got smaller. Also, another thing I started to notice over the years -- when I'd have extreme pain from endometriosis, it seemed my keloid would start hurting with that super sharp pain. Sometimes it was blinding. I put those two together and thought perhaps the keloid (scar tissue) was somehow linked to the endometriosis (also a scar tissue thing as well)! Then my dr. said they could be. 

Anyways, my point is that I didn't even know that MSM could help keloids! I'd given up all hope on the keloid since the steroid shots back when I was in high school. I'm just now learning that MSM can help with keloids. This is awesome! I'll have to keep an eye on it and see if there's a change. It's just too bad I don't have a photo of the keloid back when it was HUGE. I think I'll take one tomorrow as a before and after thing. That will be fun.

 

* For sinusitis, I believe people mix a solution of water and MSM and use it as a nasal rinse -- you'd want to know specific instructions for doing this, though. And for gingivitis, you can apply it to the gums.


Another thought I had, if it repels fleas on pets, I wonder if it'll work as a bug spray for humans? I'm gonna try it when I get in the pool because we have those blasted no see um's that attack me like mad when I get out there. So I will see if it keeps those away.

Did I mention that a lot of people spray it on their skin too, mostly on their abdomens? I have been spraying my face before bed (since your skin does the most repairing while you sleep) to help with the typical skin concerns. I like it for this, too.




The bag I have here from Organic-Sulfur, is a resealable, 1 pound bag of Organic Sulfur crystals. What I've been doing is filling my large water bottle (holds 3 1/2 cups of water maximum) with 3 teaspoons of MSM (which I've worked up to. I started off with a smaller amount. I've gone into detail about that in this post) and give the bottle a good shake. I can see the crystals swim around in there. Sometimes, if I've added a lot, I'll have to give it a few shakes, but they really dissolve quite well.


Just a little background, history of my health "issues" or whatever you call it:If you're a frequent reader, you may have read my journey with the dental issues and endometriosis and IBS. I had some dental issues that began last year -- I think October 2012. I seen a dentist and even shared those experiences here (one half-done root canal, 3 temporary fillings and one wisdom tooth extracted later) and here we are. So I started researching everything I could so I could better care for my teeth and health in general, but was mostly focusing on my teeth. I have dealt with endometriosis since my teen years (I'm 23 now) and IBS came along shortly after the endometriosis. What a lovely pair those two are! 

You guys may also recall the many posts I've shared about my journey with the endometriosis and IBS and the measures I've taken to get better (aloe vera was a big help there, which I've shared in many posts.) Last year, when I began trying to help my teeth issues, I came across tons of information, books, articles and people who have shared their testimonials on what's helped them get their dental health in check and what hasn't. I read Dr. Judd's book "Teeth Total" and decided to join some of the people in the world who don't use toothpaste, but soap or something else safe and natural. I have not touched toothpaste since August 2012! 

I could go on and on and on. I could talk about all the things I've learned about vaccine ingredients like mercury and other harmful stuff we're given, but I will try to not do that and only share the important parts.

I first learned of MSM (Organic Sulfur) when I was sharing my own dental journey with others on the blog Mint & Chili. Some people had said they started adding it to their drinks and even adding it to water in a spray bottle and spraying it on their skin (abdomen, usually).

More recent issues

What really sent me over the edge again, after learning about MSM (Organic Sulfur) was when I got this last vaccine not even a full month ago. It's the Gardasil vaccine, which has caused me many issues. I had had the first 2 vaccines and experienced scary, bad, long-lasting effects from it. So when I went back to the dr. and they asked did I want the third and last Gardasil vaccine, I said "no, I will never take that shot again." I explained why, they left me alone for the rest of the year. However, I went back for an annual thing at the beginning of May (same dr. Same nurse) And she comes in with the vaccine in her hand! I told her I did NOT want it, explained again why. No idea why they didn't make note of that in my file. But she spent about 30 minutes telling me these great things about the vaccine, and finally, I broke down and said "fine, I'll just take it." That's my fault for being weak and not being good at standing up and being firm. She said "I can't make you get it... Actually, I can, but... The choice is really yours." I asked about ingredients -- she must not have known them. She only said "I got the shot for my daughters, so you see?" Then I said "but I had bad side effects and worry that I'll end up like many people with paralaysis or who's health goes quickly down-hill right after the vaccines." She acted like that was crazy. Said it was super rare.

So that's just the brief of that story. I got home, started having some moderate issues soon after the vaccine & began keeping a journal and writing it all down. I also had sudden stomach problems again -- resembling the horrible IBS that kept me so down in the past that I couldn't even leave the house for long periods of time. I knew there was no reason for it since I'd kept myself in check with the aloe and other good things like garlic. 

Not more than a few days and I knew for sure I had some IBS issues -- candida overgrowth to be exact. I then started having other... more private problems. It was a yeast infection! So I thought it was strange that I had the yeast problem both in my stomach and ... ! So I got to looking into it & learned that yeast is an ingredient in the HPV vaccine Gardasil! The nurse clearly either did not know that yeast was an ingredient or forgot that my file explains all the issues I've had and meds I'd been given for the problem of IBS/candidiasis! So she should've known that I would basically be considered "yeast sensitive." 


Moving on...

That last vaccine and all the crappy symptoms had me wanting to quickly do something about it. I remembered the MSM (Organic Sulfur) and wanted to read up on the different kinds available. Well, I ended up learning even more about MSM from someone at Organic-Sulfur and also trying it too! I've been using Organic Sulfur almost all week now.


I started off the very first day with just a teaspoon mixed into my flavored, filtered water. I didn't want to over-do it since I hadn't taken it before & wasn't 100% sure if I'd feel any effects. The good news is, there aren't any bad side effects that come with it -- I read up on it. From what I read, unless you take way more than the recommended dose, you shouldn't have anything out of the ordinary. But if you do take a lot more than recommended, the common things you may experience are diarrhea, rash, minor cramping headache. Taking it with food is supposed to decrease the chances of those things happening. 

I just added the MSM to my regular carry-around water bottle, which holds 3 1/2" cups of water. I fill it up when I wake up and drink on it all day. So I just did the same thing, only I added the Organic Sulfur to it. This way, I could just drink it throughout the day rather than all at once.

Since it went so well the first day, I increased it to a tablespoon the next day, and then about 2 teaspoons (some days a bit more), which I've been doing ever since. I plan to continue at this amount, to equal the recommended 1/2 "heaping teaspoon in the morning and afternoon." I think just adding the full daily amount to my water bottle and drinking close to half when I get up and the rest by the end of the night is what works well for me so far. This way, I don't have to worry about forgetting to refill and drink at night, since the bottle is still there and waiting to be drank when night-time comes. 

I've read that different people do it differently, as they find exactly what works for them.

 I chose to do it slowly because given my sensitive stomach these days (especially with the new flare-up due to extreme stress and the vaccine), I was afraid I'd experience some stomach discomfort since it had become sensitive again. As I said though, I had no issues at all, so I have been able to take it and increase to a nice amount without any problem. I'm so excited about this and all the benefits that are coming. 

Okay, I know you guys are wondering how it tastes. Surprisingly, the first few times I drank the water, flavored water or other beverage with MSM mixed in, I couldn't notice any taste besides the drink's normal taste. It's only after I'd swallowed and a minute later, I sometimes noticed a very different, but hardly noticeable taste on the back of my tongue. I don't notice it every time I take a drink. 

Most people say it tastes bitter. I didn't notice a taste of bitterness until I upped my dosage to 3 teaspoons & then, it was definitely a bitter-like taste. Not intense, but I ended up adding more flavored type beverages in it to help mask it. I've used it mixed with those Emergen-C packets so that I get the Vitamin C along with the MSM. Adding Vitamin C while you're taking MSM is supposed to increase the benefits. I've also used a similar version of Emergen-C called Super-C. It's basically the same.

I don't really let the drink linger in my mouth. I just swallow it quickly. It isn't horrible & you can adjust it by adding less or adding more of a flavored drink in to help. I do notice a slight aftertase a few seconds after I swallow, right on the back of my tongue. I can't easily describe it, but it's somewhat like a vegetable-y taste. Like boiled broccoli or asparagus, maybe? The good thing is, the aftertaste goes right away almost as soon as it comes, and doesn't hang around on my tongue. I've heard this aftertaste described as a "clean" one & I have to agree with that. It is a clean taste.

 Also, I once put one of the crystals in my mouth and it had the tiniest taste -- slightly bitter. I'd describe the bitterness to be somewhat close to that you taste when you accidentally get a little of pecan shell in your pecan nuts. Not near as bitter or noticeable though. 

Another interesting thing I noticed was as the little crystal dissolved in my mouth, the roof of my mouth and spot on my tongue where it dissolved felt cool -- like coldness. I thought that was neat. 

The taste I mentioned on the back of my tongue does not stay or linger around after swallowing. Just sometimes I notice it for a second right before it goes away. I figure most people wouldn't even notice this. 

It seems I'm the only one to experience this with MSM, but right after I drink it, I feel a slight burning sensation in my stomach. It's similar to how it feels when I take a BC Powder on an empty stomach, but nowhere near as intense. It's actually like a cool sensation in my stomach, but I have gotten to where I remember to keep something to eat nearby when I drink it such as crackers & it seems to do the trick. It could be because I take BC Powders sometimes, and that is what's causing the little burny sensation.

I've experimented by adding MSM to several different drinks. Mostly, I stick with water and a Vitamin C mix, like the Emergen-C I mentioned above. I have heard of people adding it to everything from Coke-type drinks to coffee and even herbal tea, which is something I will try soon (the herbal tea). I have not tried coke or coffee with MSM, but I've tried it with tea & water-flavorers like Crystal Light, and those are pretty good for masking the bitterness. It's a very strange taste, MSM. It's definitely unlike anything else. 

I've read that some people enjoy a glass of water/MSM just as much as a coffee drinker enjoys coffee. I've yet to become really in love with the taste, but find it easier and easier to drink every day. Some have described the taste of MSM as having a "bite," and that does make sense. 

If you happened to really hate the taste, you can always add more water or other drink & just drink more of it instead of adding a small amount of liquid and getting it over with sooner.

The crystals are also interesting to look at, in my opinion. Or maybe I'm just easily entertained. They're so white and sparkly looking. I like to dump them in my hand sometimes before adding it to my drink and watching them dissolve in there.

I've been doing a lot of reading on MSM when I get some free time & have been trying to keep up with a forum where people discuss their experiences with it. It seems most people find that MSM gives them energy & they can't even drink it at night because it keeps them awake! For some crazy reason, it does the opposite for me. I get real sleepy when I drink it. I make sure I do drink it right before bed. I can't figure out why it has that affect on me. I have read that MSM is a kind of muscle-relaxer, so maybe that is why. Either way, I enjoy the nice sleep I have been getting! 

Another effect I notice from using MSM is that I wake up feeling ready and energized. It's amazing to wake up without feeling draggy and it seems I've not woken up with immediate headaches like I normally did.

I've been drinking MSM for about three weeks, I think. I didn't notice big things right away, but I definitely didn't expect to feel energized & better overall like I do already.

MSM can thin the blood, so that's something to keep in mind if you take blood thinners.

I also read that MSM is 7 times safer than table salt, if that gives you more of an idea of how safe the stuff is. 

"In a study done on humans, MSM was shown to have no negative side effects at 1 g/kg body weight. That means around 68 g/day for a 150-pound person. In tests on animals, the LD-50 test findings were for more than 20 g/kg body weight."

"Long term studies have shown no negative drawbacks to MSM. People who take it regularly tend to have fewer colds and viral infections, but there have been no studies done on this effect." (from http://users.rcn.com/ereshkigal/msm.htm)

P.S. Some people tend to think MSM is something like "sulfa-drugs," which some people are allergic to. I don't think I've ever taken "sulfa-drugs," but I just wanted to note that MSM is not  a sulfite, so if you have bad reactions to sulfa-drugs, it is not an indication that MSM will do the same.

As I said, I've had no negative reactions to the Organic Sulfur. If anything, I feel more energized and perhaps even had less of those pesky late-night cravings, which I've been thinking may be due to the MSM for some reason. I was having intense and many late-night cravings. Chocolate, cake, cookies, toast, anything! But I have noticed a major decrease in those in the last 4 days. Just thought I'd mention that. I certainly ain't complaining about that possible effect. 

In a way, I think it could be due to the MSM already helping with the candida that came back into my system from that vaccine. When I'm having a "flare-up", I always have these cravings, so I figure the MSM is doing its work on me, which has resulted in less of those. I got to where I was eating here and there all night long and in the morning too! 

I will update you guys as I go along and see more improvements.