Have you heard of serrapeptase? Well, it is a natural enzyme derived from silkworms, and it’s known for its healing properties. Many developed countries use it to ease pain, and Japan and the United States are no exception. They use it for pain conditions, including osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine headache, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Serrapeptase also enhances mobility and reduces joint stiffness by reducing cysts and scar tissue. Some people use it to treat inflammation, including sore throat, vein swelling, laryngitis, and ear infections. According to experts, women use this enzyme for fibrocystic breast disease, while nursing mothers rely on it for breast pain brought about by too much milk.

How Does it Work?

Serrapeptase helps your body to break down non-living proteins. Non-living tissues are only present in your body when inflammation, swelling, or clogging occurs. Serrapeptase targets such tissues in your body and lowers inflammation and mucus.

Uses And Effectiveness

Serrapeptase is clinically approved to address facial swelling after surgery to clear up the sinuses. You can also use it for the following purposes, despite insufficient evidence supporting its effectiveness.

• Sinus pain (sinusitis) – Some researchers find that patients with sinusitis who consume serrapeptase have greatly reduced pain, nasal instruction, and secretion after 3 to 5 days.
• Chronic bronchitis – Early research purports that serrapeptase can ease coughing and thin secretions in patients with chronic bronchitis after nearly a month of treatment.
• Hoarseness (laryngitis) – Experts also point out that serrapeptase can lessen secretions, pain, difficulty swallowing, and fever in patients with a sore throat after 3 to 4 days.
• Back pain.
• Leg ulcers.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Diabetes.
• Asthma.
• Migraine headache.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Tension headache.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Heart disease.
• Ear infections.
• Breast enforcement.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Thrombophlebitis.

However, more research is needed to affirm the effectiveness of this enzyme for the uses mentioned above.

Serrapeptase Side Effects

• Nausea
• Itchiness and drowsiness.
• Stomach ache.
• Rash and fever.
• Allergic reactions.
• Weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Bleeding in patients with bleeding disorders.

Note: Serrapeptase is safe for adults when taken orally, for a short duration ( up to 4 weeks.) The long-term safety of this enzyme is not guaranteed.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding – Very little is known about using serrapeptase during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore, avoid using it while pregnant.

Bleeding disorders – Serrapeptase can disrupt blood clotting, so experts are concerned that it might worsen bleeding disorders.

Surgery – Since this enzyme can compromise blood clotting, there is a concern for increased bleeding after surgery. For this reason, you should stop using it two weeks before surgery.

Dosage

Serrapeptase can get destroyed by your stomach acid before being absorbed into your intestines. Therefore, any dietary supplements incorporating serrapeptase must be energetic-coated to prevent them from dissolving in the stomach.

Approved doses used in studies recommend 10 mg to 60 mg daily. It will help to take your dose when the stomach is empty or at least 2 hours before eating. Additionally, you must not take any food for at least 30 minutes after taking Serrapeptase.

The Bottom line

Since there is insufficient data on the long-term safety of serrapeptase, more clinical studies must be done to affirm its efficacy and tolerability.