DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide)
an industrial solvent sold as a remedy. Claimed cures.
Also called or includes: Dimethyl sulfoxide, Intravenous DMSO
- Verdict
- UnclearThere isn't enough human evidence to say either way.
- How sure
- Rung 1 · UnprovenLab or animal data only, or never directly tested in people.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
None
What the evidence shows
Memorial Sloan Kettering says there is no evidence that DMSO treats cancer in people: lab results are inconsistent and clinical studies haven't been done. Its only approved use is for a bladder condition, given directly into the bladder, and hospitals use it when chemotherapy leaks out of a vein.
What to do
Don't use it for cancer. Industrial DMSO may be contaminated with other chemicals.
Sources
Spotted an error, or want something else rated? Tell us and we’ll check it against the sources.
Related
Every myth and exposure we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.