53
Point blank, I myself am one of the individuals who I treated
with DMSO for a slipped disc, and I can tell you point blank that it
works better than anything else I have ever tried before or since
DMSO therapy. I make this statement because this is a recurrent
problem for me. That is a personal experience for me.
Sure, it is a testimonial, but unless one has experienced a thing,
one is offering secondhand information, and it is firsthand for me,
and for me firsthand information is far more valid than second
hand.
One last comment I want to make; that is, about the odor side
effect. I would like to turn that coin over and look at the other side
of the coin.
To me, this is a positive thing in that it is a self-regulatory
mechanism for the drug. Who the heck wants to walk around with
stinking breath? I think the drug will not be abused because of this
bad odor. Sure, this side effect is unpleasant, but on the other
hand, it will get the patient off this drug as quickly as possible.
I think that is a beneficial thing. When the patient doesn't need
it, they will stop it as quickly as they can. I look upon it in many
ways as a positive factor.
Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. Doctor, how extensively have you used DMSO?
Dr. PAUL. Well, in 1965, before the ban of all testing of all types I
had rather considerable experience with DMSO in many condi-
tions. May I point out it was banned at that time for safety rea-
sons. We learned last night on "60 Minutes" that FDA now consid-
ers DMSO a relatively, if not totally, safe drug, which we felt all
along.
think I had about 200 patients who I treated for various condi-
tions, basically soft tissue conditions, discs, things like that—about
200 patients in 1965.
The CHAIRMAN. How many serious reactions have your patients
had from the use of it?
Dr. PAUL. None. No serious reactions. I have had the bad breath
and the skin reactions, but never anything but mild. We had to use
common horsesense in therapy. For instance, we knew in fair-
haired, fair-skinned individuals you had to go easy on the stuff,
because they are more prone to skin reactions.
Though my hair doesn't show it, I am very fair skinned. I got a
skin reaction to it. But boy, the effect it had on my back, it was
worth it. It was a mild skin reaction, but I was glad to put up with
it because of the therapeutic result achieved. I never encountered
any serious reaction. I made the statement somewhere down the
line that I consider this drug safer than aspirin.
The CHAIRMAN. Now, Canada gives only limited permission for
the use of it so far?
Dr. PAUL. Yes, just for its use in scleroderma.
The CHAIRMAN. Why do you think Canada has not permitted the
general use of it?
Dr. PAUL. Well, we are into this business of the thalidomide
scare still, you know. I have no concrete knowledge of this, but I
think they are very, very loathe to make any mistakes. Therefore, I
feel they would rather pass the buck than take a stand.
