Arthritis Relief Using Sulfur

Use Sulfur in Baths and Supplements to Relieve Arthritis Pain

Sep 4, 2009 Wendy Kelly

Bathing in Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), eating garlic, or taking MSM may help relieve arthritis pain. These contain sulfur, the third most common mineral in our body.

Whether you bathe in it, eat it in foods, or take it as a supplement, sulfur may help your arthritis pain. Long neglected as an important nutrient, research is now showing that sulfur is important to a healthy diet. It is found in many healthy foods, such as eggs, broccoli and garlic.

Bathing in Sulfur

Bathing in the mineral has a centuries long tradition, and has been empirically studied. Two studies stand out when looking at pain relief from arthritis using sulfur. One, conducted in Israel in 1990, showed that soaking in the sulfur rich waters of the Dead Sea gave some relief in arthritis symptoms. Another study, done in 1992 in Russia, showed that sulfur baths significantly reduced pain sensitivity of arthritis sufferers. You don’t have to travel to Russia to benefit from these baths, however. Epsom salts, which are readily available, contain both sulfur and magnesium. Both minerals help to reduce joint and muscle pain.

How Sulfur Helps the Body

Sulfur plays an important role in your body. It is essential in the synthesis of collagen and is an integral part of your hair, skin, nails, and, important for arthritis sufferers, cartilage. Sulfur has properties that may help in dermatitis and other skin conditions. It is also part of the molecule that forms the amino acids methionine, cysteine, and taurine. It is the third most common mineral in the body, after calcium and phosphorus.

Sulfur Rich Foods

Sulfur is an element, which means that your body cannot produce it and needs to get it from outside sources. It is commonly found in red meat, poultry, eggs, onions, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, kale, and wheat germ. Garlic, which is especially high in sulfur, needs to be carefully prepared to get maximum benefit. Dr. Eric Block, garlic expert for over 25 years, has shown in studies that garlic should be mashed or roasted in order to get the maximum health benefits.

Sulfur Supplements

Chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate have been proven to relieve arthritic pain, and this may be in part because the role they play in the body is to help form cartilage tissue. The recommended dose for arthritis sufferers is 1,500 mg of glucosamine, and 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily. Another sulfur-containing supplement is Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM. Dr. Stanley Jacob of the University of Portland is a pioneer researcher of MSM and has found it to be very effective in reducing muscle and joint pain. The recommended dose of MSM is 1,000-2,000 mg daily.

Sulfur may help relieve arthritis pain. It is essential to good health and easy to find in the foods we eat or in supplements. Bathing in sulfur-rich mineral baths, a centuries old tradition, is another great way to help stop your arthritis pain.

The copyright of the article Arthritis Relief Using Sulfur in Natural Medicine is owned by Wendy Kelly. Permission to republish Arthritis Relief Using Sulfur in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Eggs Are Rich in Sulfur