Serrapeptase
Serrapeptase - The remarkable but little known enzyme called
serrapeptase (or serrapeptidase, serratio peptidase, or just "the
butterfly enzyme") has been in wide use in Europe and Asia for the
better part of 30 years. During that time there have been very few if
any reports of side effects in the various scientific studies done
mostly in Europe and Asia for serrapeptase, so serrapeptse is considered
quite safe. As a result, most of the non-scientific reports you find on
serrapeptase conclude that there are "no known side effects."
The fact is that there have been a few side-effect as reported anecdotally, though side effects are rare.
These reports have included:
* a worsening instead of lessening of pain or edema
* a sudden onset of pain and tight muscles in the legs, knees and ankles
* the sudden appearance of varicose veins; digestive upsets
* increase in blood pressure
* lung congestion problems and even a case or two of pneumonitis.
Curiously, the reported side effects of serrapeptase involve the inverse
of some of its strongest benefits. For example, while serrapeptase is
known for helping with pain and edema, it's been reported (anecdotally)
to cause these problems.
The reported pulmonary side-effects are especially disappointing,
perhaps, since there is so much promise otherwise for improving chronic
and longstanding lung problems, and so many positive reports of efficacy
for various lung impairments as serious and "incurable" as asbestosis,
emphysema, asthma and COPD. This is not to say that serrapeptase isn't
useful and mostly helpful for these conditions, just that there can be
the occasional inversion of results.
Unfortunately, it's not clear whether or not these negative results
could possibly be due to what is well-known in the natural and
alternative health fields as "healing crises." Here's what happens: as
the body throws off toxins, they are free to circulate around the body
until expelled, and that makes people feel worse temporarily, not
better. Sometimes these healing crises retrace the steps a disease or
other condition took as it was acquired, or as it developed.
Too, it helps to put these reports into perspective. Any pharmaceutical
you can name has a long list of side effects which have shown up in
clinical studies to such an extent that they must be reported to alert
or warn the public, although for most drugs, only a few of usually many
side effects are published in the drug's insert material.
By comparison, in the case of the reports of serripeptidase side effects
to date, they are rare enough that they are anecdotally reported rather
than routine occurrences, and they seem both mild and easy to eliminate
by not taking the supplement any more.
Of course, it's always better to be safe than sorry, and to proceed
carefully enough with dosage to be able to self-correct if one
encounters negative effects while taking serrapeptase. So many people
have had no problems whatsoever while enjoying results ranging from good
to fabulous to miraculous, that most people would consider giving
serrapaptae a try, even if a somewhat cautious try.
