Serrapeptase is a little-known natural remedy that may be exactly what you need to eliminate the harmful effects of chronic inflammation, which can be an indicator of untreated chronic disease. A side benefit of supplementing with Serrapeptase is that it can also help protect healthy cells from cancer drugs, decrease the formation of amyloid plaque, which is associated with alzheimer’s disease, clear excess mucus in the lungs, dissolve atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries, and remove unsightly scar tissue.
Researchers in Japan and Europe identified Serrapeptase over 40 years ago by isolating bacteria found in silkworms. It is also known as serratiopeptidase and is found in the digestive tract of silkworms. Serrapeptase is considered a proteolytic enzyme, meaning it can break down dead proteins into smaller molecules and turn them into amino acids to be used throughout the body. Proteolytic enzymes are what allow silkworms to digest and dissolve their cocoons to emerge as a moth.
This proteolytic enzyme was used heavily throughout Asia and Europe to reduce pain after surgery and trauma, and to reduce inflammation. It gained attention in the United States and Canada in the 1950’s as an anti-inflammatory agent and was later discovered to have many more health benefits. It has been used in post-surgery, dentistry, gynecology, heart health, asthma, and pulmonary cases, and for many other health issues.
How it Works
Our body knows how to heal itself, including repairing damaged tissues. Part of our self-healing is our immune system response. When our body experiences a cut, traumatic injury, or even bacteria or viruses that enter the body, inflammation jumps into action to protect the area during the healing process. The pain from inflammation during this time is helpful because it prevents you from moving the area too much so you don’t cause even more injury until the site heals. During this process, the body is sending its soldiers to the injured site to deliver more oxygen, nutrients, and materials to rebuild the affected cells, while simultaneously removing the weak and dead cells.
When inflammation no longer works to repair the damage, it can begin to work overtime, resulting in chronic inflammation, which can cause chronic disease if left untreated.
Serrapeptase to the Rescue
This power enzyme decreases inflammatory cells where the injury or trauma occurred. It is so effective at reducing inflammation that it is sometimes seen as more effective than over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and without the side effects these drugs cause. Serrapeptase reduces pain and inflammation by communicating with the immune system to coordinate the movement of immune cells and regulate white blood cells at the inflamed site, making it work faster and more efficiently. This process thins the mucus around the injured site, allowing the fluid to drain faster and the proteins that kill bacteria to work more efficiently, accelerating the healing process.
Additional Health Benefits
Breaks Down Scar Tissue
Serrapeptase can break down and remove the scar tissue that is unsightly on the outside, or unseen but damaging on the inside. As you will see, its benefits for healing the body extend far beyond just scar tissue.
Supplementing with serrapeptase removes excess fibrin that makes scar tissue by recognizing exactly how much the body needs, digesting dead scar tissue, and breaking down protein faster. This causes the scar tissue to fade away, replaced by the original healthy tissue that was damaged. Genius!
External scar tissue is a result of damage to healthy tissue after surgery, a cut, or injury. Internal scar tissue can happen because of disease or internal injury or trauma that damages the healthy tissue and forms scars on the inside. Serrapeptase has been used with success because it dissolves the dead tissue surrounding the affected site without harming the healthy tissue. Our bodies naturally produce fibrin, an essential protein during inflammation, and create the scars internally and externally. When there is trauma or injury, the body’s intelligence produces scar tissue to cover and protect the injury to replace the injured tissue until it is healed. When the site is healed, ideally the body releases plasmin (which diminishes as we age) to dissolve the excess scar tissue.
As we get older or unhealthier, we produce less plasmin, but continue to produce fibrin, the protein that produces scar tissue. This excess fibrin is the primary component resulting in the unhealthy build-up of scar tissue and will continue to grow even though there are not enough enzymes (plasmin) to dissolve it. The result is a build-up of scar tissue along with arterial plaque, abnormal blood clot formation, toxins/viruses, thrombus formation, as well as the spider web of tissue that covers our organs as we age. Additionally, too much fibrin causes new scar tissue to form over the old scar tissue, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Assists Digestive Enzymes
These proteolytic enzymes are important for helping digest food but can also prevent excess fibrin and dead debris from getting into the bloodstream and affecting the injured site. If the enzyme is strong enough, it can digest and dissolve unsightly scar tissue.
Treats Respiratory Infections
Serrapeptase can thin and mobilize excess mucus and supports lymphatic drainage.
Promotes Weight Loss
Because Serrapeptase is so effective at reducing inflammation, it may indirectly result in weight loss. People with excess weight tend to have more chronic inflammation, which can prevent the body from regulating blood sugar and lead to insulin resistance. Since insulin resistance can make it difficult to lose weight, Serrapeptase can lower inflammation and restore the body’s ability to manage insulin, allowing the body to release weight when combined with a healthy diet and exercise program.
Promotes Heart Health
Serrapeptase can help break down blood clots long before they become a problem, and can dissolve atherosclerosis, which builds up plaque in the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Dosing
It is important to purchase Serrapeptase in enteric-coated form because this enzyme will be deactivated by the stomach acid before it can be absorbed into the intestines if not in a protective coating. It should be taken with water on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before a meal or two hours after meals. The typical dosage is 10-60 mg per day.
LaVera J. Forbes, PhD, MS, CHN, is the founder of Dr. LaVera’s Healthy Aging, LLC. Find free healthy aging resources at drlavera.com.
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