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What exactly is an inflammation and how can it be treated? An inflammation is actually a reaction of the body to an external (e.g. trauma, i.e. an injury) or internal (e.g. viruses or bacteria) intervention, so it is actually something very positive, although we suffer from it. What happens in the body during an inflammation? The physician and philosopher Galen described the symptoms or “cardinal signs” as early as about 150 A.D., and they are actually still valid today:
- Rubor (redness)
- Calor (overheating)
- Tumor (swelling)
- Dolor (pain)
- Functio laesa (function restriction)
However, the processes that take place within the body during the various phases that an inflammation goes through have only been fully recognized in the course of research into the HIV virus, so they are relatively young: there are cells that, for example, produce messenger substances called cytokines when an injury occurs. Cytokines are a whole group of proteins, e.g. interleukins, growth factors and interferons. These are so-called messenger proteins, which then dock onto other cells and activate them to fight the injury, minimize it and finally heal it. This binding to the cell surface triggers various biological reactions, e.g. the cells are stimulated to produce other cytokines or even antibodies or to divide.
Cytokines are generally differentiated into TH1 and TH2 cells. The so-called TH1 cells are pro-inflammatory, whereas the TH2 cells are anti-inflammatory. If these two are balanced, we speak of the immune balance of the cells and the organism is healthy.
If one side of the cytokines is raised (called switch or shift), the other side is automatically lowered and the balance is levered out.
A dominance of TH2 cytokines is found, for example, in allergies, atopic dermatitis (the word ending -itis always refers to an inflammatory process, here skin inflammation), sinusitis (sinusitis), food intolerances, mycoses (infection caused by fungal infestation), excess histamine, but also in tumors (especially gyn. tumors) and HIV.
A dominance of TH1 cytokines is found, for example, in autoimmune diseases, sarcoidosis (formation of small nodules in the tissue), Sjoegren syndrome (inflammatory immune disease), multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.
We have heard in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic that many severe cases are triggered by a cytokine storm. The body’s reaction to the virus is therefore such that too many cytokines are released and our immune system collapses.
Bromelain and papain are two plant enzymes extracted from pineapple and papaya, which are able to accelerate the process of inflammation until healing, so that the immune balance is restored faster.
The effect of bromelain in particular has been known and well studied for decades. There are many products on the market that contain bromelain, both as drugs and as dietary supplements.
What should you know if you want to take a bromelain supplement because of an inflammation, e.g. a sports injury, a surgical intervention or an aesthetic intervention (e.g. injection lipolysis or laser treatment)?
First and foremost, you need to know that at least two enzymes are needed to accelerate and thus speed up healing. So bromelain as the only substance does not really help. That’s why we have listed here the most optimal combination of two enzymes in our eyes, namely bromelain and papain.
Another important point is the quality and purity of the raw materials used. You can buy 1 kg of bromelain powder in China for just a few dollars, but you can also have 1 kg of the highly purified substance produced in Germany for more than 1,000 euros, as there are huge differences in the degree of activity.
Then one must know that the “packing” of the enzymes must be arranged in such a way that it does not dissolve already in the stomach, but only in the intestine, because only there the enzymes can work correctly taken up, in the stomach however their effect evaporates. Tablets or capsules should therefore be resistant to gastric juice.
Here we recommend Degozym, a dietary supplement in capsule form developed by the doctors of the Globalhealth network. It fulfills all above mentioned criteria. Additionally, it is lactose-free and contains no animal ingredients even in the capsule shell, so it is also suitable for vegans or people who for religious reasons do not want to consume animal substances.
If you want to support us, you can get the Degozym via the following link. There are no additional costs for you, but we will be supported.