As I have mentioned a few thousand times, I had elbow surgery a little over three months ago. Recovery is good, but it isn't perfect. So I look for every little edge, whether it is from some sort of anti-inflammatory angle, or from a mobility point of view.
And then I read this article by the Bulletproof Executive guys, and the last part of it addressed something very interesting, a supplement called serrapeptase.
Here's what they said: "Serrapeptase is an enzyme supplement created by the silkworm. It’s a protein-dissolving pill you can take on an empty stomach. It fights strokes and thins the blood, but most people don’t know it dissolves scar tissue throughout the body, including muscle adhesions. I’ve been taking 3 normal sized caps from a variety of manufacturers for a decade with great results."
Whoa. Really?
It turns out that a little more research taught me a few more things about serrapeptase: it also is a strong anti-inflammatory, more commonly used in Europe and Japan; it dissolves arterial plaque; it doesn't seem to have the side effects of other NSAIDs like ibuprofen; it's the enzyme the silkworm uses to dissolve its cocoon, and it works in the human body to dissolve dead tissue, like scar tissue, y'know... the stuff I have a lot of in my elbow. I also learned that stomach acid destroys it, so it is best to get an enteric-coated version that can make it intact to the small intestine where it can be properly absorbed.
So I started contacting some of my Super Smart Nutrition Internet Pals (SSNIP) to see what they knew about evil/nasty side effects as well as effectiveness of this supplement.
The SSNIP crew much knew nothing about it. I am flying solo in Weirdville on this one.
When I told them what I knew about it, two of them seemed to think it was worth any small risk, and the third wasn't so sure. He warned me to back off if there was any kind of "heavy immunological reaction" from putting biological material from another creature inside my body -- a fair point.
So.... I am only a few days into a regimen where I take a 40,000 i.u. pill in the a.m. and one in the p.m. They need to be taken on a empty stomach. I may try to work a third pill in, but I am starting slow. So far, I haven't noticed anything dramatic, certainly no heavy-duty *anything*. I *do* notice a reduction in achy kinds of pain in the surgery elbow, however. Placebo effect? Maybe, but who cares? It hurts less. That's good. So far, I am wishing that I started this routine immediately after surgery, but better late than never.
Updates to follow, including if anything like this takes place:
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Nice information about serrapeptase and that video is quite horrifying
ReplyDeleteDo you have any updates on your use of Serrapeptase? I am curious for possible similar use for my child. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's been almost a year, did you notice any benefits from serrapeptase, and are you still taking it? I find it very calming for some reason, perhaps the anti-inflammatory actions.
ReplyDeleteI stopped taking it a few months back because I thought it wan't doing anything. Then, my surgery elbow started bugging me more, and my blood pressure was a bit higher. Started up again about three weeks ago. Not the best science experiment, because I am simultaneously meditating like a mofo (an actual meditation term), but blood pressure plunged and elbow pain dramatically went down. As Frank Costanza would say, "I'm back, baby!!!" 120 i.u. every morning when I wake up.
ReplyDeleteAre you still alive Steve? is so, how bout an update.
ReplyDeleteI am. I haven't used serrapeptase in about 7 years though.
DeleteHey Steve, sorry to bother you sir, but I really needed to contact you about your serrapeptase intake.
ReplyDeleteMy mother I think has fibrocystic breast, I will ask her again tonight, but anyways I found someone online mentioning serrapeptase and that they have used it for their fibrocystic breast problem and I wanted to ask you sir about your experience with serrapeptase and if you did take coffee and or any other supplements during your treatment of your arm injury, of course only if you do remember anything.
First can I ask you what that video in the blog post was about, it is taken down and from the comments on this blog it seems that it would be useful to have the context of the video at least. Also, about your supplement intake, did you drink any coffee or eat any fish oils or anything of the sort during your use of serrapeptase?
I am pretty much trying to aid my ill mother as much as I can and will of course ask her to contact her doctor if she can use and should use serrapeptase for her breast problem.
Anyways, if you ever find this and you are still alive during these trying covid times, please reply! I do beg you sir, I love my mother and do not want her to suffer at all! I am hopeful that you and your family were and will be safe from the craziness of this world.
Leo, sorry. It's been almost nine years since that post, and I can't remember a thing about serrapeptase at this point. I definitely did not keep taking it for very long. I don't recall what that video was, but it was definitely a joke about worms, not something substantive. Good luck with your mom. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
DeleteHello, sorry for the late reply Mr. Kirsch! I did not expect a reply so soon. Been busy with looking after my mother and the stress she is going through in recent times, and I just wanted to say thank you for getting back at me and explaining what the video was about. Your blog (life journey/documentary/diary) has proved to be invaluable with the amount of useful information you have wrote down over the years and your banter like humor in the posts were something that made me forget about the stressful situation in my family for awhile, so I do send you a big Thank YOU! Also thank you for the well wishes! Hopefully everything will be alright.
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