Sulfur is a mineral naturally occurring near hot springs and volcanic
craters. The "rotten egg" smell of sulfur mineral baths is caused by sulfur
dioxide gas escaping into the air. Sulfur has been used medicinally since
ancient times, and it is contained in every cell in your body. It is a component
of three different amino acids (the building blocks that make up protein).
Approximately 0.25% of your total body weight is sulfur. It is most concentrated
in keratin, which gives you strong hair, nails, and skin. It is known as
"nature's beauty mineral" because your body needs it to manufacture collagen,
which keeps your skin elastic and youthful. Sulfur is used primarily to ease the red, itchy rashes of conditions such as
eczema and diaper rash. It also helps to protect your body against toxins in the
environment. In addition, people with arthritis may find pain relief from taking
a soothing bath in hot sulfur springs. |
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| Uses |
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- Used primarily to treat the red, itchy discomfort of eczema, diaper
rash, dry scalp, hemorrhoids, and similar conditions
- Sulfur baths can help relieve arthritis pain.
- In recent years, the benefits of garlic have been widely studied.
Research suggests that the beneficial effects of garlic in lowering cholesterol
levels and blood pressure are likely due to the sulfur it contains.
- Necessary for the body to make collagen—the
substance in your skin that keeps it elastic, youthful, and wrinkle-free.
- Aids in certain digestive disorders, especially acid reflux,
indigestion made worse by milk, chronic diarrhea, and vomiting in the morning.
- Can help gynecological problems such as premenstrual syndrome and
menopausal discomforts.
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| Dietary Sources |
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The elemental mineral form of sulfur is found in rocks near hot springs and
volcanoes. The form your body uses is found in protein-rich foods such as meat,
organ meats, poultry, fish, eggs, cooked dried beans and peas, and milk and milk
products. Other good sources include garlic, onions, brussels sprouts,
asparagus, kale, and wheat germ. |
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| Other Forms |
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To ease skin rashes, there are ointments, creams, lotions, or dusting powders
containing sulfur as the active ingredient. If you suffer from arthritis,
soaking in a natural sulfur bath (the kind usually found at hot springs) can
greatly ease the pain in your joints. Talk to your health care provider to see
if you might benefit from this type of therapy. Organic sulfur (the kind our
body uses) is available in the form of MSM (metylsulfonylmethane). Sulfur is also available as a dietary supplement in tablets and capsules.
However, you most likely do not need to take extra sulfur. If you are eating a
well-balanced diet that includes the recommended daily allowance of protein, you
should get all the sulfur you need to maintain your body's daily functions. Any
extra sulfur will be excreted in your urine. Follow the advice of your health
care provider in taking sulfur as a supplement. |
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| How to Take It |
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Pediatric There is no specific recommended daily amount established for sulfur and
there are no reports to date about the use of sulfur in children. Therefore, use
of this supplement in children is not recommended at this time. Adult Approximately 850 mg/day is recommended for daily dietary intake. For arthritis patients, oral doses of 500 to 1,000 mg/day may decrease
symptoms. Consult your healthcare provider before taking sulfur supplements.
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| Precautions |
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Sulfur, by itself, is not toxic to our bodies. However, some people are
highly allergic to relatives of sulfur such as sulfites and sulfa drugs.
Sulfites are used as a food preservative and can trigger asthma and other
allergic reactions in people who are sensitive. Sulfa drugs can cause
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), skin rashes, high fever, headache, fatigue, and
gastric problems. Tell your health care provider if you think you may be
allergic to sulfur-containing substances. |
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| Possible Interactions |
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No noteworthy interactions (positive or negative) between sulfur and
conventional medications are known to have been reported in the literature to
date. |
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| Supporting Research |
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Balch J, Balch P. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. 2nd ed. Garden
City, NY: Avery Publishing Group; 1997. Eades MD. The Doctor's Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. New
York, NY: Dell Publishing; 1994. Haas EM. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. Berkeley, Calif: Celestial
Arts; 1992. Lockie A. Geddes N. The Complete Guide to Homeopathy. New York, NY: DK
Publishing; 1995. Lester MR. Sulfite sensitivity: significance in human health. J Am Coll
Nutr. 1995;14(3):229-32. Mahan LK, Arlin MT. Krause's Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy. 8th ed.
Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Company (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, Inc.);
1992. Martensson J. The effect of fasting on leucocyte and plasma glutathione and
sulfur amino acid concentrations. Metabolism.
1986;35:118–121. Midell E, Hopkins V. Prescription Alternatives. New Canaan, Conn:
Keats Publishing; 1998. The Mineral Connection website. MSM, Biologicial Sulfur supplements. Accessed
at www.mineralconnection.com/msm.htm on March 5, 1999. Murray MT; Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rev. 2nd
edition. Rocklin, Calif: Prima Publishing; 1998. Nutrition Search, Inc.. Nutrition Almanac. Rev. ed. New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill; 1979. Pratsel HG, Eigner UM, Weinert D, Limbach B. The analgesic efficacy of sulfur
mud baths in treating rheumatic diseases of the soft tissues [In Russian].
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.
1992;(3):37–41. Roediger WE, Moore J, Babidge W. Colonic sulfide in pathogenesis and
treatment of ulcerative colitis. Dig Dis Sci.
1997;42:1571–1579. Rossi A, Kaitila I, Wilcox WR, et al. Proteoglycan sulfation in cartilage and
cell cultures from patients with sulfate transporter chondrodysplasias:
relationship to clinical severity and indications on the role of intracellular
sulfate production. Matrix Biol.
1998;17:361–369. Shealy CN. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies. Boston,
Mass: Element Books, Inc; 1998. Smith SM, McDonald A, Webb D. Complete Book of Vitamins and Minerals.
Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, Ltd; 1998. Smirnova OV, Saliev VP, Klemparskaia NN, Dobronravova NN. Purified sulfur as
an agent to relieve the side effects in the radiation therapy of cervical cancer
[In Russian]. Med Radiol Mosk.
1991;36:16–19. Somer E. The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. New York, NY:
Harper Collins Publishers Inc; 1995. Sukenik S, Giryes H, Halevy, et al. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis at the
Dead Sea. J Rheumatol. 1994;21:1305–1309. Weiner M. The Complete Book of Homeopathy. New York, NY: MJF Books;
1989. Werbach MR. Nutritional Influences on Illness: A Sourcebook of Clinical
Research. New Canaan, Conn: Keats Publishing, Inc;
1988. |
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Copyright © 2003 OneMedicine
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herein.
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