Enzymes Ease Pain and Inflammation

Almost every disease and injury involves some form of inflammation and this inflammation often results in pain. Enzymes, especially proteases (proteolytic enzymes that break down proteins) can be employed to alleviate inflammation.

Inflammation and Enzymes

Enzymes are molecules that accelerate chemical reactions necessary for the body's normal functions. As enzymes are naturally-occurring compounds, using them to treat inflammation does not bring about the side effects caused by their synthetic counterparts. Enzymes don't stop or block inflammation - they actually support and accelerate the process, resulting in a more rapid resolution of the inflammatory process. As such, enzymes are not deemed to be true anti-inflammatories but can be thought of as inflammatory resolution agents.

When an injury occurs, a series of predictable biochemical events occur. The permeability (leakiness) of capillaries increases, permitting excess fluids to accumulate at the site of the injury. This leads to swelling. A wall of insoluble fibrin (a body protein associated with blood clotting) forms at the site of the injury and this fibrin interferes with blood circulation at the site of an injury and is responsible for the pain associated with injuries. It is at this stage that enzymes are of benefit. Enzymes hydrolyse the peptide bonds that join amino acids within proteins such as fibrin. This process leads to the break down of fibrin plugs at the site of an injury. This reduction of fibrin removes the cause of inflammatory pain and permits more oxygen to reach and revive tissue cells. Excessive fluid is then able to be reabsorbed and this further reduces pain and hastens the completion of the inflammatory process.

Research Supports Enzymes for Inflammation

Specific examples of proteolytic enzymes include pancreatin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, bromelain, and papain.

Scientific research indicates that mixtures of proteolytic enzymes are helpful during inflammation. A double-blind German study tested proteolytic enzymes on dental surgery patients and found beneficial effects using a combination of 100 mg of pancreatin, 45 mg of bromelain, 60 mg of papain, 24 mg of trypsin and 1 mg of chymotrypsin. The patients received the enzymes mixture for several days prior to and after dental surgery. By the third day after surgery, levels of C-reactive protein (a biomarker of inflammation) were 300 percent higher in the control group compared with the enzymes group.

Research Supports Enzymes for Pain Relief Proteolytic enzymes have analgesic (pain relieving) effects that are based both on their inflammation-resolving actions as well as their direct influence on pain receptors (nociceptors). This effect on nociceptors accounts for the beneficial effects of proteolytic enzymes on pain, even in the absence of inflammation.

Injured athletes using enzyme therapy to treat their injuries report a reduced requirement for pharmaceutical painkillers.

Enzymes for Pain and Inflammation Relief in Sports Injuries

German and USA studies have shown that bruises, swelling and inflammation incurred during sports injuries are all cleared in less than seven days when athletes receive enzymes. Athletes who do not use enzymes take approximately 16 days to recover. Restricted movement (which occurs from the pain and inflammation inflicted by the injury) usually disappear after an average of five days of enzyme treatment. Athletes who do not use enzymes take more than twelve days to recover their field of movement.

In one double-blind study conducted on American football players, 32 subjects received (orally) proteolytic enzymes and 32 subjects received a placebo compound. Players who received enzymes prior to injuries occurring were found to recover twice as fast. Types of injuries that responded included bruises, sprains, strains and fractures.

Usng Proteolytic Enzymes

Although monotherapy (use of a single type of enzyme) may be effective, most studies have employed a combination of several proteolytic enzymes to resolve inflammation. The most beneficial proteolytic enzymes appear to be bromelain and papain (from pineapple and papaya respectively); and trypsin and chymotrypsin (which are produced naturally in the human body). A good enzyme formula should include at least 45 mg of bromelain, 60 mg of papain, 24 mg of trypsin and 1 mg of chymotrypsin.

Another strategy could be the combination of pancreatin with bromelain and papain. Pancreatin is a mixture of numerous proteolytic enzymes produced naturally by the human pancreas.