History of Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase is an enzyme that was initially discovered in silkworms, where it helps digest their cocoons, but was later derived from a bacteria called Serratia marcescens. Historically, it was used in traditional Asian medicine, particularly in China and Japan, to help reduce inflammation and aid in wound healing. It was valued for promoting natural healing processes. Over time, serrapeptase gained recognition beyond Asia, especially in Europe, where it became a popular natural anti-inflammatory. Traditionally, herbal practitioners in various cultures relied on natural enzymes like serrapeptase to help reduce swelling, clear mucus, and support recovery after injuries or surgeries. Today, it's valued as a natural supplement and you may hear it be referred to as, serratiopeptidase, serralysin, serratiapeptase, and SPEP, or SER for short.

SER is in the peptidase enzyme family, meaning that it breaks up protein. There are a large number of health benefits attributed to Serrapeptase supplementation. In this article we will explore these benefits in detail.

Health Benefits of Serrapeptase

There are a number of health products out there claiming that SER can do just about anything in the body, including dissolving arterial plaque, blood clots, cysts, and scar tissue, while eliminating pain and inflammation.

Pain and Swelling

There are several dental studies examining SER treatment for the prevention of pain and swelling after dental surgery. When examining these studies together, it would appear that SER has good potential as an anti-inflammatory and pain reducer, although further research is needed to say for sure.

Thinning Mucous

There are also a number of studies examining the ability of SER to thin mucous secretions in both the nose and the rest of the respiratory tract. Each of these studies showed a positive result with the supplementation of SER.

Prevention of Bacterial Adhesion

The most current research has examined SER's potential as a protective agent on hospital surfaces for preventing colonization by certain bacteria. These studies have shown that it is successful in preventing the adhesion of a number of different bacteria.

Taking Serrapeptase Supplements

SER can be found as an individual supplement from a number of different manufacturers. The dosage varies due to the lack of research, although most studies used around 20-30mg a day. Because it is an enzyme, there is no perfect standardization (for more information on enzymes and standardization, please click here). In general, there is approximately 100IU/mg SER, thus a dose of 30mg is approximately 3,000IU per day. This is the only dosage with research supporting its use. Most manufacturers supply dosages that are much higher than this, often 10-40 times as much. Because of the lack of standardization in enzyme preparations, it is extremely difficult to compare the=m, or to recommend dosage. In general, if you would like to take these higher dosages, follow the manufacturer's recommended dosage. Do NOT break or open capsules to divide doses (see below).

Important Information

There are a few cases of allergic reaction with supplementation of SER; if you develop any difficulty breathing or skin rashes, discontinue use immediately. Do not use SER if you currently have, or have recently suffered from, pneumonia as there have been documented cases of relapse after apparent remission with SER use. There have been cases where oral supplementation of SER has resulted in damage to the throat due to improper usage. Do not break or open capsules prior to ingesting.