Dr. William Robert expounds on the healing power of DMSO

05/19/2025 / By Olivia Cook

DMSO is a natural, safe, natural anti-inflammatory compound that relieves pain, fights infection and heals tissue when used correctly.
It can be applied topically, taken orally, or used in eye and bladder treatments, among others, with proper dilution and cleanliness.
DMSO must be high purity (99.9 percent). Always buy from reputable sources to avoid contamination.
Functional/integrative medicine clinics now offer DMSO therapies as part of a growing holistic health movement in the United States.
DMSO’s real power is patient empowerment – offering low-cost, high-impact natural healing and recovery where conventional care has fallen short.

What if the cure for pain, inflammation and even certain chronic conditions was already here – hut hiding in plain sight? While Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) might sound like something from a chemistry lab, it is a low-cost, natural sulfur compound with near-miraculous potential for healing.

Dr. William Robert’s book, “Healing with DMSO: The Complete Guide to Safely Treat Pain, Inflammation, Arthritis, Stomach Ulcers and Other Ailments,” makes the case with clarity and care. This compound is gaining ground as a key tool in holistic and integrative medicine.

Initially used as a powerful industrial solvent, scientists later in the 1960s discovered it had remarkable medicinal properties: It calms redness and swelling, blocks pain signals and fights cellular damage.

DMSO’s property as a carrier agent allows it to pull other compounds through the skin into deep tissue. It can cross skin, muscle, bone, tissues, cell membranes – even the blood-brain barrier, a wall that keeps most substances out of the brain.

Just like how Robert explains it in his book, DMSO’s versatility means it can be adapted for a wide range of health concerns – from muscle strains to autoimmune flares to chronic bladder pain. Here’s a deeper look at how to use it effectively, safely and with confidence.

Autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma)

For topical use, 60 to 90 percent DMSO cream, gel or liquid. Only use 99.9 percent pharmaceutical grade DMSO orally under professional medical supervision. Apply 60 to 90 percent DMSO gel to inflamed joints or muscles, three times a day for three weeks.

Add one teaspoon of pharmaceutical grade DMSO diluted in freshly squeezed juice, once daily. However, this should only be done under medical supervision. Taking DMSO this way helps calm immune overreaction and reduce chronic pain cycles.

Headaches and migraines

For headaches and migraines, apply half a teaspoon of 90 percent DMSO to the scalp near the temples, hairline or neck. Use clean fingertips and avoid contact with the eyes.

DMSO opens blood vessels, improving oxygen flow and reducing pressure-related pain. Relief may occur in 10 to 30 minutes.

Joint and arthritis relief (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)

For joint pains, use 70 to 90 percent topical DMSO gel or liquid. Clean skin thoroughly with soap and water, and apply one to two teaspoons of 70 percent DMSO to the painful joint using a cotton pad or clean fingers. Let it absorb naturally; no need to rub in.

Use two to three times daily for two to three weeks, then taper off as symptoms improve. For deeper relief, DMSO can be mixed with magnesium oil or aloe vera gel for a maximum concentration of 50-50. This eases stiffness and boosts nutrient delivery to the joints.

Pressure ulcers (bed sores)

For bed sores, five to 10 percent DMSO cream or solution works best. Massage gently into coccyx, heels or shoulder blades every six hours, and continue for one month or until wound closure occurs. This therapy is especially useful in elderly or immobile patients.

Shingles and herpes (pain and viral control)

To address the health issues that come with shingles and herpes, a 50 percent DMSO solution alone or combined with idoxuridine works. Apply the solution three times daily for two to five days.

For shingles pain alone, a 50 percent DMSO cream can be used directly. Using DMSO reduces viral replication, swelling and nerve pain, but it must be paired with an antiviral for maximum effect.

Skin burns, wounds and post-chemo tissue damage

DMSO solution in a concentration of between 50 to 90 percent can help in skin healing. Apply gently to burns, cuts, scrapes, surgical wounds or areas damaged by chemotherapy IV leaks. Use every eight hours for two weeks or until healing occurs.

For minor cuts or abrasions, a 50 percent gel can be used up to four times daily. DMSO is known to prevent blistering and scarring when used early.

Tendonitis, sprains and sports injuries

Sports-related injuries in the limbs can be addressed using 10 to 25 percent DMSO in either gel or liquid form. Apply a 10 percent DMSO gel directly to affected tendons, knees and ankles twice a day. Use consistently for three to five days, followed by one day off.

Combine RICE protocols (rest, ice, compression and elevation) for enhanced healing. DMSO is ideal for Achilles tendonitis, rotator cuff pain or tennis elbow.

Eye conditions (floaters, cataracts, glaucoma)

Under professional medical guidance, 40 percent DMSO can be combined in sterile saline eye drops. Use one drop in each eye daily for floaters or early cataracts. For glaucoma, apply twice daily with 25 to 30 percent DMSO solution in sterile saline eye drops.

Keep the solution refrigerated and away from light. A teaspoon of pure DMSO can be added to orange juice and drank daily to support systemic healing. Temporary stinging for 30 seconds is normal.

Bladder pain (interstitial cystitis)

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is the only condition the Food and Drug Administration has approved DMSO for. In this case, a healthcare urologist should administer 50 percent DMSO in sterile water using a bladder catheter.

Treatment of IC using DMSO should only be done in a clinical setting, thrice every two weeks before being reduced in frequency. There should be a 30-minute wait before urinating following the treatment. DMSO effectively calms chronic inflammation in the bladder wall.

Safety tips for DMSO

Here are some important safety tips to remember when using DMSO.

Only buy and use 99.9 percent pharmaceutical grade DMSO.
Only use glass containers, not plastic or metal, because it is nonreactive with the chemical, meaning it won’t interact or leach into the DMSO solution to preserve its purity and effectiveness and prevent potential contamination.
Wash skin thoroughly before applying topically.
Store cool and dark, primarily to prevent degradation and maintain its purity and effectiveness.
Always consult a professional practitioner for guidance and supervision.

Only buy high purity DMSO (99.9 percent) from trusted sources. Look for products with lab testing, no added chemicals and proper labeling, and verify purity and reviews.

As more Americans turn to functional and integrative medicine, DMSO is quietly making a comeback. Clinics focused on root-cause healing now offer DMSO for joint injections, IV therapy, on top of topical applications. It is being paired with acupuncture or craniosacral work, herbal detox products, hyperbaric oxygen and IV nutrient therapy, to name a few.

As patients demand natural, low-cost, root-level healing options, interest in DMSO is rising. Robert’s book is part of a broader awakening – a return to nature, real science and common sense.

Watch this “60 Minutes” report from the 1980s about DMSO.

This video is from the ParadoxMan channel on Brighteon.com.