Evidence supporting the use of: Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
For the health condition: Bursitis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is primarily used for bursitis based on traditional and anecdotal evidence rather than robust scientific validation. MSM is a sulfur-containing compound that is popular in alternative medicine circles for its purported anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. While there is some scientific research on MSM for joint pain and osteoarthritis, the direct evidence for its effectiveness specifically for bursitis is minimal. Most of its use for bursitis is extrapolated from its general application for musculoskeletal discomfort and inflammation. Traditional and folk medicine practitioners have recommended MSM for various inflammatory conditions, including bursitis, based on user reports and small, uncontrolled case series.

To date, there have been no large, high-quality randomized controlled trials evaluating MSM’s efficacy in the treatment of bursitis. Some studies have shown that MSM may help reduce pain and improve function in osteoarthritis, but these results cannot be directly applied to bursitis due to different underlying pathologies. The mechanism proposed for MSM involves reduction of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress, which could theoretically benefit inflammatory conditions like bursitis, but clinical data are lacking. Therefore, while MSM is sometimes used for bursitis, its use is supported primarily by tradition and anecdotal reports, with scientific evidence rated as weak (1 out of 5).

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