Packers said:
Who takes MSM in powder form and how do you usually take it? I take mine with a glass of water and it had a strane copper-like taste at first but I've gotten used to it.
Packers here,
I use only the MSM powder, I put a heaping teaspoon (approx. 4 grams) in hot coffee in the morning and often in the afternoon I use a heaping teaspoon in a cup of hot green tea. It dissolves instantly but is bitter.
Some added information for other readers.
Anecdotal evidence of its effects outside of usage for new hair growth:
Seems to purify or detox the system.
1. I exercise for about an hour, 6 days a week, and of course my shirt becomes soaked.
I hang the shirt to dry prior to placing in the dirty clothes hamper, after drying the shirt, it has almost no body odor. This was not true prior to MSM usage.
2. Healthy hair and nails do grow faster, no question about that.
3. I had a fairly advanced problem with receding gums (caused by gingivitis) at four teeth. Two of the four have now returned to normal, a third is about 95% cured and the fourth is at 90%. I think perhaps the warm coffee and tea MSM combo may responsible due to direct contact with gums.
4. Joint pain has been reduced.
5. I tried spraying on my scalp and hair and it made my hair feel stiff or thicker if you will. I stopped using in that way due to YELLOW hair from the sulfur in MSM.
So here is my take on this subject.
If you use it, start at 2 grams and work you way up to 6 or 8 grams a day over a month's time. The only side effect I am aware of is upset stomach, if it does that to you back off the dosage and ramp back up slowly over a few weeks.
It is inexpensive in the powdered bulk form. I pay 18 USD for a 1 lb (1/2 kilo) tub and that lasts about 2 to 4 months (456 grams/4g day =114 days).
Good source of information and to purchase in the US
http://www.msm-msm.com
Good source of information and to purchase in the UK
http://www.a1msm.co.uk/index2.htm
To get the maximum benefit, you have to try different dosages until you see and feel a change. I had almost no results dicking around with 2g a day. It wasn't till I went to 4g that I began to see any tangible evidence of results.