Serrapeptase is a natural enzyme produced by symbiotic bacteria inside the gut of the silkworm. It is a protease, a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins into simpler units. Silkworms use serrapeptase to free themselves from their cocoon so that they can emerge as full-fledged domestic silk moths.
Proteases have been studied as natural alternatives to synthetic drugs that have toxic side effects on the human body. Serrapeptase itself is especially interesting because it is more powerful and has broader pH stability than most other proteolytic enzymes.
The silkworm enzyme has seen use in Europe and Japan for more than five decades as an alternative and natural medicine. A number of clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness at reducing pain and inflammation.
While many proteolytic enzymes can relieve swelling and reduce pain, serrapeptase has demonstrated greater effectiveness than most. It is used in the treatment of sports injuries, the management of pain that follows a surgical operation, and treating autoimmune diseases. (Related: Popular Ayurvedic medicine found to effectively reduce sciatic nerve pain.)
Serrapeptase reduces pain and swelling for dental patients
Serrapeptase accomplishes its anti-inflammatory activity by preventing the creation of cell-surface adhesion molecules that summon inflammation-causing cells to the affected area. Doing so reduces swelling, which in turn relieves the pain caused by the immune overreaction. Furthermore, serrapeptase also inhibits kinins, which are compounds that cause pain.
Dentists use serrapeptase to reduce pain and swelling in their patients after removing teeth and performing other minor surgical operations, such as the removal of impacted wisdom teeth.
A double-blind study conducted by Mouneshkumar Chappi in 2015 compared the effects of serratiopeptidase and the corticosteroid medication methylprednisolone in reducing post-operative pain and swelling. Chappi reported that serratiopeptidase was able to relieve pain; the silkworm enzyme was also more effective than the corticosteroid in controlling swelling and lockjaw.
A set of more complex studies compared serratiopeptidase to both placebos and other painkilling compounds that were either taken alone or in combination with each other. The synthetic painkillers included acetaminophen, bromelain, ibuprofen, and corticosteroids, all of which are widely used.
These studies tested the ability of the natural and synthetic painkillers to reduce facial swelling, lockjaw, and pain after the surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth. The researchers tested serrapeptase dosage that ranged from 10 to 60 milligrams per day but they were unable to note any signs of enzyme potency.
Relieves pain, lowers swelling, and undoes the effects of lockjaw
After analyzing the results of their trials, the researchers reported that serrapeptase was able to reduce facial swelling at a comparable rate to corticosteroid-inclusive treatments. In addition, the silkworm enzyme demonstrated greater effectiveness when it came to treating the symptoms of lockjaw.
Lastly, serrapeptase exhibited moderate pain-killing effectiveness, which suffices for treating most injuries and illnesses.
“Serrapeptase could be used safely and effectively to improve trismus and facial swelling after surgical removal of impacted molar," remarked the study authors in their report. They reached the conclusion that serrapeptase is a safe and effective way of improving facial swelling and lockjaw stemming from surgical operations by dentists.
Given the negative side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and corticosteroids, the researchers recommended considering serrapeptase as a possible substitute in case of intolerance or contra-indications.
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