Bromelain

Bromelain is a group of protein-digesting enzymes extracted from pineapples.

Bromelain is used in these conditons:

Allergies:

Allegies are caused by the unwarranted presence in the body of antigens (“foreign proteins” which the body is unable to process).  Bromelain helps to dissolve and remove these “foreign proteins” that cause allergies.

Angina:

Bromelain is a highly effective therapy for angina patients because of its ability to break down a damaging protein named fibrinogen.  Elevated fibrinogen levels are a significant causative factor in angina.  In one study, bromelain therapy resulted in the disappearance of all symptoms of angina within 4 to 90 days of commencement of daily bromelain treatment (the number of days taken until the symptoms of angina disappeared depended on the severity of the occlusions in the angina patients).

Bronchitis:

Bromelain significantly reduces the quantity of mucous produced by bronchitis patients and helps to break down the mucous that is produced during bronchitis.

Bruises/Sprains:

Bromelain accelerates the healing of bruises however this therapy must be commenced as soon as possible after the occurrence of an injury.

In one study on boxers, all signs of bruising in injured boxers diminished within four days of commencing bromelain therapy.  In subjects that did not receive bromelain, bruising did not subside until eight to ten days after the injury.

Burns:

Bromelain accelerates the healing of burns and accelerates the clearance of burns debris (unwanted tissue breakdown products that are formed during burns and during the healing of burns).

Digestion:

Bromelain helps you to properly digest dietary proteins.

Gout:

Significant inflammation occurs during gout attacks and it is this inflammation that is responsible for the joint pain that occurs during gout attacks.  Bromelain is known to reduce inflammation and may reduce the inflammation that occurs during gout attacks.

Heart Attack:

Bromelain is an excellent treatment for people who have experienced a heart attack.  It helps to inhibit any further blood clotting that may cause a second heart attack.

Joint Health:

Bromelain reduces the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Prostatitis:

Bromelain may increase the effectiveness of quercetin when quercetin is used for the treatment of prostatitits.

In a clinical study, bromelain (combined with quercetin) reduced free radical damage in the prostate of prostatitis patients.  This treatment reduced the symptoms of prostatitis by 25% in 82% of prostatitis patients.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Bromelain reduces the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

In a clinical study, patients with moderate or severe rheumatoid arthritis received oral bromelain therapy for thirteen months.  28% of patients experienced resolution of inflammation and pain soon after commencing bromelain therapy.  A further 45% of patients experienced lessened inflammation and pain soon after commencing bromelain therapy.

Sinusitis:

Bromelain reduces the inflammation associated with sinusitis.

In a clinical study, acute sinusitis patients received bromelain four times per day in addition to standard pharmaceutical treatments.  In the patients receiving bromelain, 83% had complete resolution of nasal mucosal inflammation.  Improvement in breathing occurred in 78% of those receiving bromelain compared.

Skin Health & Appearance:

Bromelain (applied topically or ingested orally) improves the visual appearance of the skin by dissolving cross-links in the skin and accelerating the turnover and exfoliation of skin cells).  These actions of bromelain can help to delay the appearance of wrinkles.

Topical products that contain bromelain can digest dead proteins, expecially degraded collagen and result in softer, smoother skin.  Bromelain dissolves and digests old, debilitated or dead cells from the skin's outer layer without harming the younger, living cells.  The dissolved cross-linked collagen is gradually replaced by new non-cross-linked collagen that is identical in structure to the collagen produced by young people.  Empirical evidence suggests that topically-applied bromelain helps to heal uneven pigmentation, fine lines and brown spots in addition to exfoliating skin.

Oral consumption of bromelain can gradually dissolve cross-linked (degraded) proteins in the skin. These dissolved proteins are gradually replaced by new non-cross-linked proteins. It would be necessary to use bromelain for several years continuously in order to replace half of the body’s existing cross-linked skin collagen.

Surgery Recovery:

Bromelain has been shown in a clinical study to reduce post-operative swelling, edema (water retention) and inflammation in surgery patients.  It also reduces pain following surgery and reduces the need for painkillers folllowing surgery.

Tendonitis:

Oral consumption of bromelain is known to reduce inflammation and pain in many types of sports injuries.

Ulcerative Colitis:

Several case reports indicate that bromelain may be useful for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.  Improvements include reduced diarrhea, a decrease in the number of bowel movements and a reduction in the appearance of blood in the stool.

These effects are likely to occur from bromelain’s known anti-inflammatory effects.

Urinary Tract Infections:

Bromelain (a group of enzymes derived from pineapple) significantly increases the effectiveness of pharmaceutical antibiotics for the treatment of urinary tract infections.  In one study, 28 people with urinary tract infections received antibiotics together with either bromelain or a placebo.  Symptoms of urinary tract infection resolved in ALL of those who received bromelain, compared with 46% of those receiving a placebo.

Varicose Veins:

Bromelain reduces the pain, inflammation and overall discomfort of varicose veins.

Wounds:

Bromelain alleviates the inflammation associated with wounds and accelerates the clearance of the wound debris during the initial phases of wound healing.

Dosage:

500 - 2,000 mg per day.

References

Allergies

· Cichoke, Anthony J.  The Complete Book of Enzyme Therapy.  Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, New York, USA.  1999:46.

Angina

· Nieper, H.  Effect of bromelain on coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.  Acta Medica Empirica.  5:274-278, 1978.

Bronchitis

· Maurer, H. R.,et al.  Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use.  Cell Mol Life Sci.  58:1234-1245, 2001.

Bruising

· Howat, R. C. L., et al.  The effect of bromelain therapy on episiotomy wounds - a double blind controlled clinical trial.  J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonwealth.  79:951-953, 1972.

Burns

Klaue, P., et al.  [Experimental examination of the use of topical bromelain to treat sub dermal burns on animals.]  Therapiewoche.  29:796-799, 1979.

Digestion

Kelly, G. S.  Bromelain:  A literature review and discussion of its therapeutic applications.  Alt Med Rev.  1(4):243-257, 1996.

Heart Attack

Nieper, H. A.  Decrease of the incidence of coronary heart infarct by Mg- and K-orotate and bromelain. Acta Med Empirica.  12:614-618, 1977.

Joint Health

Leipner, J., et al.  Therapy with proteolytic enzymes in rheumatic disorders.  BioDrugs.  15(12):779-789, 2001.

Prostatitis

Shahed, A. R., et al.  Oxidative stress in prostatic fluid of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome: correlation with gram positive bacterial growth and treatment response.  J Androl.  21:669-675, 2000.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Cohen, A.  Bromelains therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Penn Med J.  67:27-30, 1964.

Sinusitis

· Ryan, R. E.  A double-blind clinical evaluation of bromelains in the treatment of acute sinusitis.  Headache.  7:13–17, 1967.

Skin Health & Appearance

· Pearson, D. & Shaw, S.  Life Extension:  A Practical Scientific Approach.  Warner Books, New York, USA, 1982:99.

Surgery Recovery

Kamenicek, V., et al.  [Systemic enzyme therapy in the treatment and prevention of post-traumatic and postoperative swelling].  Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech.  68(1):45-49, 2001.

Tendonitis

· Masson, M.  Bromelain in the treatment of blunt injuries to the musculoskeletal system. A case observation study by an orthopedic surgeon in private practice.  Fortschr Med.  113(19):303-306, 1995.

Ulcerative Colitis

· Kane, S., et al.  Use of bromelain for mild ulcerative colitis [letter].  Ann Intern Med.  132(8):680, 2000.

Urinary Tract Infections

· Mori, S., et al.  The clinical effect of proteolytic enzyme containing bromelain and trypsin on urinary tract infection evaluated by double blind method.  Acta Obstet Gynaecol Jpn.  19:147-153, 1972.

Varicose Veins

Hurd, L.  An interview with Dr. Karl Ransberger, the founder of enzyme therapy.  Totalhealth.  19(4):34-35, 1997.

Wounds

Masson, M.  Bromelain in blunt injuries of the locomotor system.  A study of observed applications in general practice.  Fortschr Med.  113:303-306, 1995.

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