10+ diseases that can be treated with enzymes

Just about every process in the human body involves chemical reactions.

And the catalysts for those chemical reactions are proteins known as enzymes.

There are different kinds of enzymes…

Digestive enzymes improve nutrient absorption, while proteolytic enzymes treat various chronic diseases.

And in my previous report I told you that systemic enzymes disassemble problem proteins that cause inflammation.  These enzymes work like NSAIDS, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, without the harm that these drugs can sometimes cause.

Let’s look at these closer and consider the scientific literature that supports these treatments…

  1. Alzheimer’s disease: reduces amyloid beta peptide in the brains of these patients.
  2. Arthritis: a safe and effective alternative to NSAIDS (i.e. Ibuprofen) for the pain of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Proteolytic enzymes can protect and preserve joint cartilage even better than NSAIDs in rheumatoid arthritis, and can be safely added to standard medical therapy to improve every form of arthritis.
  3. Asthma: improves breathing and lowers respiratory infections in children with asthma.
  4. Cardiovascular disease: reduces angina attacks and improves tolerance of physical work load in patient with stable angina, and has shown a reduction of repeated heart attack in patients with known heart disease.
  5. Lymphedema: removes fibrin (clot) inside blood vessels to improves lymphatic flow in upper or lower extremities.
  6. Thrombophlebitis: greatly improves acute thrombophlebitis and post-thrombophlebitis syndrome; subjects had decreased pain, reduced leg swelling and fewer trophic (from impaired nutrition and blood circulation) ulcers.
  7. Multiple sclerosis (MS): decreases the frequency and length of attacks.
  8. Psoriasis and eczema: reduces symptoms and decreases recurrence of psoriasis when added to standard medical treatments. Rapidly improved eczema when used alone.
  9. Strains and Sprains: reduces duration of injury and enhances recovery from sprains.
  10. Thyroid disease: significantly decreases autoimmune thyroiditis; loweres levothyroxine dosage.
  11. Urinary infections/kidney stones: Reduced recurrent urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

Which specific enzymes?

Let me answer the question of a reader who wrote, “I want to try to treat IgA Nephropathy with enzymes. Which specific enzymes would you consider potentially most beneficial for this condition? Kind regards, J.”

IgA nephropathy is a leading cause of kidney failure worldwide. In IgA nephropathy, there are abnormal protein deposits (autoantibodies) on the tiny capillaries where urine is filtered. Researchers have shown that using an IgA specific protease enzyme therapy strongly reduced these very same protein deposits, and reduced inflammation, fibrosis, and urinary blood in mice with (induced) IgA nephropathy.

Other researchers also tell us that protease (systemic proteolytic enzyme) that is specific for the IgA Nephropathy accumulating protein, should be an effective therapy for this condition.

As far as I am aware, there are no plant-based proteolytic enzymes that have been studied for this purpose. I would stick with what has been working for so many other conditions (e.g. see medical uses listed above) and consider this one exception to a rule you may have about not using animal based products.

One physician with experience using systemic enzymes writes, “Other kidney diseases that could also be helped by systemic enzymes include Goodpasture’s syndrome, Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, Mixed cryoglobulinemia, IGA nephropathy, periarteritis nodosa, Wegener’s granulomatosis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, hypersensitivity vasculitis, interstitial nephritis.”

Some final things to know about proteolytic enzymes

They are measured in fibrinolytic units (how quickly they break down fibrin). They begin working as soon as they are absorbed. Contraindications include any other special risk for bleeding (blood thinners, post-surgery, pregnancy complications). Antibiotic use (interferes with their mechanism of action); or allergy to papayas or pineapples (where enzymes can be derived from).  You may need to supplement daily with magnesium (500 mg), zinc (30 mg), or a plant-derived multi-mineral supplement such as Vital Earth Mineral Blend (ionic solution) to help the enzymes stay activated.

To healing with natural means as much as possible,

Michael Cutler, M.D.

Sources:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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,
  8. 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).
  9. 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.
  10. Milus I.E. Wobenzym in the treatment of patients with psoriasis. Zurnal dermatologii i venerologii 1998, 2 (6), 35-36.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Kvantchakhadze R.G. Wobenzym in the complex treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis. International Journal on Immunorehabilitation, 2002,  Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 114.
  14. 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
  15. 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.
  16. IgA Nephropathy — Medscape
  17. Lechner SM, Abbad L, Boedec E, Papista C, Le Stang MB, Moal C, Maillard J, Jamin A, Bex-Coudrat J, Wang Y, Li A, Martini PG, Monteiro RC, Berthelot L. IgA1 Protease Treatment Reverses Mesangial Deposits and Hematuria in a Model of IgA Nephropathy.J Am Soc Nephrol. 2016 Sep;27(9):2622-9.
  18. Lamm ME, Emancipator SN, Robinson JK, et al. Microbial IgA Protease Removes IgA Immune Complexes from Mouse Glomeruli In Vivo: Potential Therapy for IgA Nephropathy. — The American Journal of Pathology. 2008;172(1):31-36.
  19. IgA specific serine endopeptidase — Wikipedia
  20. Xie LS, Huang J, Qin W, Fan JM. Immunoglobulin A1 protease: a new therapeutic candidate for immunoglobulin A nephropathy.Nephrology (Carlton). 2010 Aug;15(5):584-6.
  21. How Systemic Enzymes Work To Cure Diseases — NewsWithViews.com
  22. Vital Earth Minerals
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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