[thedoc (OP)]

Sherri Hartmann  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello Chris,

Thank you for your great website.

I have a question that I have been researching for years. I had an amazing health experience with "real" MSM (derived from plant material, not petroleum) and thought, why not make my own.

How can I make my own MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) from pine tree bark?
And, I have read that it is impossible to differentiate between petroleum-derived and pine bark-derived MSM products, is this really true?

Answers would be absolutely amazing.

Thank you.

Sherri

What do you think?

[chris]

What exactly does one do with "MSM"?

(Incidentally, in medical speak, we use this letter combination to refer to "men who have sex with men"...)

[RD]

allegedly it's a panacea ...

MSM marketers are making similar claims. One, for example, states that MSM can relieve stress and constipation; help heal Candida, asthma, emphysema, arthritis and tendinitis; reduce muscle cramps and back pain; increase stamina and relieve lactic acid buildup during workouts; detoxify and energize the body; increase blood circulation; strengthen capillary walls, healing varicose veins; help keep hormones in balance; relieve allergies to foods, drugs and environmental irritants; aid the liver in bile secretion and choline production; control stomach acidity while maintaining body's normal pH balance; coat and help heal intestinal walls; increase body's ability to produce insulin; aid carbohydrate metabolism; boost vitamin, mineral, amino acid, and antioxidant utilization; speed wound healing; help keep hair; and keep skin and nails healthy and beautiful [6]. Another marketer states that the conditions that have responded to MSM include: acne; allergies; arthritis; asthma; Candida yeast infections; carpal tunnel syndrome; chronic fatigue; constipation; diabetes; digestive disorders; fragile hair and nails; migraine headaches; muscle pain and cramps; parasites; skin damage and aging; toxic build-up; and ulcers [7].

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/msm.html

[evan_au]

Natural vs synthetic: A major difference between synthetic and natural chemicals is often their "chiral" behaviour - many organic chemicals like proteins and sugars are chiral when made by living things, and non-chiral when made in a laboratory. This makes a big difference to their biological activity.

However, looking at this simple chemical with its sulphur core, it doesn't appear chiral at all. So there should be no difference between natural and synthetic MSM.

Another difference comes about when there are many chemicals having the same formula - but this one is so simple that there aren't any alternatives.

Incidentally, the main claim for MSM seems to be that it provides extra sulphur in the diet. Sulphur is essential for life, but there are ample natural sources - like an egg. You will need less complex equipment to boil an egg than to break down the cellulose of pine bark, and refine this chemical from the residue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylsulfonylmethane