These days, more people are reverting to natural-based solutions for their health problems. And rightly so! Natural-based solutions are sustainable and manageable. More importantly, they give a viable alternative for patients who can’t afford expensive drugs.

One natural-based herbal miracle enzyme that is getting much buzz these days is the serrapeptase. Known as the “silkworm enzyme” or “butterfly enzyme”, serrapeptase is a commonly-used drug in Japan and Europe. It is also used as a well-known ingredient for supplements in the U.S.

As responsible consumers, we must monitor and understand the things that we put inside our bodies. In this article, we will discuss the serrapeptase benefits, uses, and side-effects. We will determine if serrapeptase can be an effective natural alternative for your specific health needs.

What is Serrapeptase?

Serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme commonly found on silkworms. It is from a bacteria that reside inside the digestive tract of silkworms also known as Serratia. Unknown to many, this enzyme is an essential part of the silkworm’s survival. As the silkworm starts its metamorphosis, it wraps itself inside a cocoon to protect it from other predators.

Once the transformation is finished and the silkworm is ready to move out of its cocoon, it secretes Serratia out of its gut. The bacteria then produce the serrapeptase enzyme. This enzyme dissolves the cocoon, allowing the silkmoth to emerge safely.

Characteristics of Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase is known as a proteolytic enzyme, which means it can dissolve and break down protein into smaller polypeptides or amino acids. Without catalysis, breaking down peptide bonds from proteins can take hundreds of years. Proteolytic enzymes help speed up this process.

Medical Studies on Serrapeptase Health Benefits, Uses and Side Effects

Since its discovery, there have been many uses and applications for the serrapeptase. Aside from being used as a drug in Europe and Japan, it is also a very popular ingredient for dietary supplements in the United States.

Because of its ability to break down protein, medical conditions such as blood clots and atherosclerosis might be affected by serrapeptase. Health problems that result in inflammation and mucus formation might also benefit from the breaking down of proteins. Thus, the ability of serrapeptase to break down proteins is something worth exploring for these conditions.

Below are some serrapeptase health benefits studied in other applications:

Serrapeptase Benefits For Lungs

Several medical studies already explored serrapeptase’s efficacy in treating certain health conditions. In 2003, Nakamura et al. studied the effects of serrapeptase in patients with chronic bronchitis. After 4 weeks of treatment with the enzyme, sputum weight, solid percentage component, viscosity and elasticity of sputum as well as the frequency of coughing significantly decreased among patients. This is one of the well-documented studies of serrapeptase’s benefits for lungs.

Serrapeptase Skin Benefits

Serrapeptase skin benefits are also one thing that many people are curious about. Nirale and Menon (2010) studied the topical formulations of serrapeptase to find out its anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. They used serrapeptase as a gel and ointment. The study showed that there are anti-inflammatory effects on the skin when serrapeptase is used as a topical formulation. However, it is important to discover potential allergic reactions to people when using products based on proteolytic enzymes.

Because of its characteristic as a proteolytic enzyme, serrapeptase might affect blood clotting. It can act as a “blood thinner” and make bleeding worse for some people. Because of this, try to avoid using serrapeptase at least a few weeks before a scheduled surgery. Medications that can slow down blood clottings such as aspirin, Plavix, ibuprofen, and heparin might have an unintended interaction with this enzyme. To be on the safe side, try to avoid this combination.

Serrapeptase in Supplements

Serrapeptase is used as one of the best ingredients for anti inflammatory supplements around the world. It is very popular not only in Eastern Asian regions but also in Western countries such as the United States. Even during ancient times, some tribes have already tapped into serrapeptase through the use of silkworms and silkmoths in treating certain health and skin conditions.

Because of the new “health is wealth” movement, health-conscious people are looking at natural-based solutions for their medical concerns. Supplements are easy to ingest and access – which is why it is a popular over-the-counter choice for most people.

One such supplement that uses serrapeptase as a key ingredient is SerraZyme. Designed to provide natural systemic enzyme therapy and remove organic waste from the body, it is one of the most popular supplements under Whole Family Products. If you want to discover a whole new natural-based solution for cleaning up and dissolving organic waste products from the body, check out SerraZyme today.