Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

systemic-proteolytic-enzymes_300To help cleanse your kidneys is only one of many reasons to use systemic proteolytic enzymes. These medical wonders can be used as a safe alternative treatment or as an adjunct to standard medical treatment for many chronic illnesses and inflammatory conditions.

Different Kinds Of Enzymes

Systemic enzyme therapy with proteolytic enzymes is quite different from digestive enzymes (which are used to help digestion in the digestive tract). These systemic enzymes are proteases that you can take on an empty stomach so they can freely enter the bloodstream. Once there, they dismantle problem proteins that are involved in your immune system’s inflammation process. In this way they have many medical uses, which I’ll discuss in a moment.

Systemic proteolytic enzyme studies are found throughout the peer-reviewed scientific literature. They have also been quite extensively studied in Germany by the company that manufactures Wobenzym® N and Wobenzym® PS. There are many companies now manufacturing these substances from animals (trypsin, chymotrypsin), plants (bromelain, papain), bacteria (serrapeptidase) and fungi (Serrazimes®).

Enzymatic Action

In general, proteolytic enzymes have been found to clear the harmful immune complexes that form as a result of antibody reactions. Therefore, they are anti-inflammatory.

They are known to:

  • Regulate cytokine activity and help clear inflammatory cytokines. [1] Cytokines are proteins made by a wide variety of cells whose signals set off inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the interleukins.
  • Enhance the clearance of damaged proteins, remove fibrin and their fragments found in the blood during inflammation, improve blood circulation and decrease clots. [2]
  • Reduce advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) [3] and their receptors on cells. These AGEs are a form of inflammation (intracellular damage and apoptosis, or programmed cell death) implicated in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, [4] cardiovascular disease, [5] stroke, [6] reduced muscle function and more.
  • Down-regulate adhesion molecule activity of inflamed cells and cancer cells.
  • Clean dead material from the blood [7] so it can be filtered through the liver and kidneys.
  • Improve white blood cell availability and function to fight off infection. [8]

Improving Chronic Conditions

Systemic proteolytic enzymes have been shown to digest the protective protein coating of pathogens [9] (such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and candida) to make them inert, [10] [11] and they have a similar effect against cancer cells. [12] Because systemic enzymes safely and effectively clean the bloodstream, they reduce the toxic load to the kidneys. They should be used the week prior to and during a kidney cleanse as described in my article that appeared last week.

Research demonstrates that there are other conditions for which systemic proteolyic enzymes are useful:

Alzheimer’s disease: Reduces amyloid beta peptide in the brains of these patients. [13]

Arthritis: A safe and effective NSAIDs alternative for the pain of knee and hip osteoarthritis. [14] In rheumatoid arthritis proteolytic enzymes can protect and preserve joint cartilage even better than NSAIDs. [15] Systemic proteolytic enzymes improve every form of arthritis and can be safely added to standard medical therapy.

Asthma: Reduces dyspnea attacks (shortness of breath) and respiratory infections in children with asthma. [16]

Cardiovascular disease: Reduces angina attacks and improves tolerance of physical workload in patient with stable angina. [17] Proteolytic enzyme therapy also showed a reduction of repeated heart attack in patients with known heart disease. [18]

Infertility: Improves autoimmune and alloimmune (reaction to your partner) infertility.

Lymphedema: Can effectively resolve lymphedema in upper and lower extremities because it removes fibrin and improves lymphatic flow. [19]

Multiple sclerosis (MS): Decreases the frequency and length of attacks. [20]

Psoriasis and eczema: Recurrence was decreased and symptoms reduced. [21] When proteolytic enzyme therapy was added to standard psoriasis medical treatment, it rapidly improved eczema. [22]

Strains and sprains: Reduced duration of injury in top athletes and enhanced recovery from sprains. [23]

Thrombophlebitis: Acute thrombophlebitis as well as post-thrombophlebitic syndrome were greatly improved; subjects had decreased pain, reduced edema and fewer trophic ulcers. [24]

Thyroid disease: Autoimmune thyroiditis was significantly decreased; L-thyroxine dosages were able to be lowered. [25]

Urinary infections/stones: Recurring urinary tract infections [26] and kidney stones [27] were fewer. Also, systemic proteolytic enzymes improved the lab results in patients with pyelonephritis better than standard medical treatment. [28]

Some Things To Know About Proteolytic Enzymes

Proteolytic enzymes are measured in fibrinolytic units (how quickly they break down fibrin). They start working as soon as they are absorbed. Contraindications include any other special risk for bleeding (blood thinners, post-surgery, pregnancy complications); taking antibiotics (interferes with their mechanism of action); or allergy to papayas or pineapples (the enzymes may have been formulated from these sources).

If you take proteolytic enzymes, you may need to supplement with magnesium (500-1,000 mg) and zinc (30 mg) to help them activate optimally.

Next week, I’ll discuss how these enzymes have been used in cancer treatments (Kelly-Gonzales protocol) and how they are used in cancer treatment currently.

To feeling good for life,
Michael Cutler, M.D.
Easy Health Options


[1] LaMarre J, Wollenberg GK, Gonias SL, Hayes MA. Cytokine binding and clearance properties of proteinase-activated alpha 2-macroglobulins. Lab Invest. 1991 Jul;65(1):3-14.

[2] Ernst E., Matrai A.: Oral Therapy with proteolytic enzymes for modifying blood rheology.  Klin Wschr. 65 (1987), 994.

[3] Shaikh S, Nicholson LF. Advanced glycation end products induce in vitro cross-linking of alpha-synuclein and accelerate the process of intracellular inclusion body formation. J Neurosci Res. 2008 Jul;86(9):2071-82.

[4] Srikanth, V.; MacZurek, A.; Phan, T.; Steele, M.; Westcott, B.; Juskiw, D.; Münch, G. (2011). “Advanced glycation endproducts and their receptor RAGE in Alzheimer’s disease”. Neurobiology of Aging 32 (5): 763–777.

[5] Simm A, Wagner J, Gursinsky T, Nass N, Friedrich I, Schinzel R, Czeslik E, Silber RE, Scheubel RJ. Advanced glycation endproducts: a biomarker for age as an outcome predictor after cardiac surgery? Exp Gerontol. 2007 Jul;42(7):668-75

[6] Zimmerman GA, Meistrell M 3rd, Bloom O, Cockroft KM, Bianchi M, Risucci D, Broome J, Farmer P, Cerami A, Vlassara H, et al. Neurotoxicity of advanced glycation endproducts during focal stroke and neuroprotective effects of aminoguanidine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 Apr 25;92(9):3744-8.

[7] Ernst E., Matrai A.: Oral Therapy with proteolytic enzymes for modifying blood rheology.  Klin Wschr. 65 (1987), 994.

[8] Kunze R., Ransberger K., et at: Humoral immunomodulatory capasity of proteases in immune complex decomposition and formation. First International symposium on combination therapies, Washington, DC, 1991.

[9] Biziulevicius GA. Where do the immunostimulatory effects of oral proteolytic enzymes (‘systemic enzyme therapy’) come from? Microbial proteolysis as a possible starting point. Med Hypotheses. 2006;67(6):1386-8.

[10] Jager H.: Hydrolytic Enzymes in the therapy of HIV disease. Zeitschr. Allgemeinmed., 19 (1990), 160.

[11] Bartsch W.: The treatment of herpes zoster using proteolytic enzymes. Der Informierte Arzt. 2 (1974), 424-429.

[12] Pillai K, Akhter J, Chua TC, Morris DL. Anticancer property of bromelain with therapeutic potential in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Cancer Invest. 2013 May;31(4):241-50.

[13] Lauer D, Reichenbach A, Birkenmeier G. Alpha 2-macroglobulin-mediated degradation of amyloid beta 1–42: a mechanism to enhance amyloid beta catabolism. Exp Neurol. 2001 Feb;167(2):385-92.  Mettenburg JM, Gonias SL. Beta-amyloid peptide binds equivalently to binary and ternary alpha2-macroglobulin-protease complexes. Protein J. 2005 Feb;24(2):89-93.

[14] Akhtar NM, Naseer R, Farooqi AZ, Aziz W, Nazir M. Oral enzyme combination versus diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee–a double-blind prospective randomized study. Clin Rheumatol. 2004 Oct;23(5):410-5. Epub 2004 Jul 24.  Klein G, Kullich W, Schnitker J, Schwann H. Efficacy and tolerance of an oral enzyme combination in painful osteoarthritis of the hip. A double-blind, randomised study comparing oral enzymes with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Jan-Feb;24(1):25-30.

[15] Mazourov V.I., Lila A.M., Klimko N.N., Raimuev K.V, Makulova T.G. The Efficacy of Systemic Enzyme Therapy in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Int. J. Immunotherapy 1997, Vol. XIII, No. 3/4, pp. 85-91.  Klein G., Kullich W. Pain Reduction in Rheumatic Diseases by Oral Therapy with Enzymes. Wien. Med. Wschr. 1999, 149, pp. 577-580.  Kovalenko V.,Golovkov Y., Golovatcky I. Using of systemic enzymotherapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatologia 1998, Suppl., Vol. XXXVI, Warsaw 1998, Abst. No. 140, pp. 206.

[16] Vokálová I. Systemic enzyme therapy in the treatment of children with recurrent infections of respiratory tract. Vox Pediatriae 2003, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 29 – 30.

[17] Mazurov V.I., Stolov S.V., Linetskaya N.E., Onyschenko E.F. Systemic enzyme therapy in the complex treatment of angina pectoris. Int. J. Immunotherapy 2001, Vol. XVII, No. 2/3/4, pp. 113-120.

[18] Sledzevskaja U. K., Šumakov V. A., Bratus V. B., Babij A., Malinovskaja U. Z., Gavrilenko T. U., Terzov A. U. Systemic enzyme therapy in the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction. Žurnal praktièeskogo vraèa 1997, No. 3, pp. 43-44.  Kovalenko V.N., Sledzevskaya I.K., Ryabokon E.N., Gavrilenko T.I., Terzov A.I. N.D. Strazhesko New approaches to modern cardiology based on systemic enzyme therapy. Int. J. Immunotherapy 2001, Vol. XVII, No. 2/3/4, pp. 101-111.

[19] Dzupina A., Morvay P., Dzupina M. Proteolytic enzymes in lymphedema therapy. 41st Annual World Congress – ICA’99, International College of Angiology, Sapporo, Japan, July 3-10, 1999, Scientific Posters pp. 76. Kasseroller R., Wenning H.G. Efficacy and tolerability of proteolytic enzymes as an anti-inflammatory agent in lymphoedema after axillary dissection due to mammary cancer. The European Journal of Lymphology, 2002-2003, Vol. 10, No. 37-38, pp. 18-26,

[20] Mertin J.1, Stauder G., ESEMS working group. Use of oral enzymes in multiple sclerosis patients. Inter. Journal of  Tissue Reactions 1997, Vol. XIX , No.1/2, pp 95.  Hana Krejcová. Wobenzym® and Wobe-Mugos® in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.  PharmaScript, Kathi-Kobus-Steig 1, D-82515 Wolfratshausen, Germany.

[21] Milus I.E. Wobenzym in the treatment of patients with psoriasis. Zurnal dermatologii i venerologii 1998, 2 (6), 35-36.

[22] Samtsov A.V., Mazurov V. I., Tabachnov V.V. Systemic enzyme therapy in the treatment of neurodermitis (atopic dermatitis) patients. Skin and Venereal Diseases Department of Sankt-Petersburg’s Military Medicine Academy Conference “New aspects of systemic enzyme therapy”, Moscow, 1999.

[23] Zuschlag J.-M. Prophylactic administration of Wobenzym to reduce consequences of sports injuries in karate fighters. MUCOS Pharma GmbH & Co, Dept. Clinical Research, Geretsried, Germany.  Nouza K. Physical activity and immune system. Systemic enzyme therapy in prevention and treatment. Medicina Sportiva Boh. Slov. 1997, Vol. 6., No. 2, pp. 41 – 45.

[24] Koshkin V.M., Kirienko A.I., Leontjev S.G., Agafonov V.F. Systemic enzyme therapy of lower limb postphlebitic syndrome. Angiology and vascular surgery 2000, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 61 – 64. Džupina A., Džupinová M. Wobenzym in the treatment of Thrombophlebitis. Praktická flebologie 1998, Roè. 7, è. 1, str. 28-30 (17-12-3).

[25] Kvantchakhadze R.G. Wobenzym in the complex treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis. International Journal on Immunorehabilitation, 2002,  Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 114.

[26] Schlüter. P. Phlogenzym® in patients with relapsing urinary tract infections: Efficacy & Tolerance. Schlüter. Gartenstraße 96, D-69502 Hemsbach, Germany. Report by: MUCOS Pharma GmbH & Co, Abt. Klinische Forschung, Kirchplatz 8, D-82538 Geretsried, Germany

[27] Borisov O.V. Coenzyme metabolic assurance of patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis in the complex treatment by systemic enzyme therapy. Urologia 1998, 3, pp. 29-35.

[28] Schved N.I., Martyniuk L.P. Clinico-laboratory evaluation of treatment efficacy in chronic pyelonephritis patients with Wobenzym. Vratschebnaya praktika 1997, 4, 38-42.

Dr. Michael Cutler

By Dr. Michael Cutler

Dr. Michael Cutler is a graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine and is a board-certified family physician with more than 20 years of experience. He serves as a medical liaison to alternative and traditional practicing physicians. His practice focuses on an integrative solution to health problems. Dr. Cutler is a sought-after speaker and lecturer on experiencing optimum health through natural medicines and founder of the original Easy Health Options™ newsletter — an advisory on natural healing therapies and nutrients. His current practice is San Diego Integrative Medicine, near San Diego, California.

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