I've taken MSM for pain due to inflammation in my back, etc., with good results...here's more on this supplement...
MSM May Ease Aching Muscles (from EnergyTimes.com)
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One of the less attractive aspects of vigorous exercise is the resulting muscular soreness. But a supplement called MSM may help alleviate workout-related discomfort.
Florida researchers gave 24 trained young men either MSM or a placebo after the participants had performed leg extensions until they couldn’t do another rep. Two hours and 48 hours after the workout, the study team assessed the men’s levels of pain and inflammation.
Taking MSM “resulted in significantly less pain and discomfort” as well as reduction in levels of IL-6, a key inflammation marker, according to study results published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), a source of biologically active sulfur, appears to inhibit the transmission of pain signals. It has also been found to promote blood flow, ease spasms and support tissue detoxification.
The sulfur in MSM is used by the body to create collagen, a tough, flexible protein mesh found in joints. It is often recommended by alternative practitioners for arthritis, especially when combined with the joint nutrients glucosamine and chondrotin. It is also used to provide relief from disorders such as fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, chronic headaches and other forms of pain.
Collagen is a key skin component. Some people who use MSM have reported less wrinkling and a more youthful appearence as well as faster, thicker hair growth and harder, stronger nails. Some practitioners have even found that scleroderma, a condition marked by thick, hard skin, responds well to MSM.