Dearest Raider:
I highly recommend Dr Haas' books on enzyme therapy.
Basically, we have a limited supply of enzymes available for A) Digestion and B) our body's metabolism. Most of us use a very large number of enzymes from this pool, due to our heavily cooked and processed diet. When there are too few enzymes to do the metabolic work, the result is impaired function, chronic fatigue, etc.
Vitalzym are very heavily biased towards proteolytic enzymes, which in addition to help in the metabolic and digestive processes they help break down old scar tissue, mucus and other congestive tissues.
Note:
Be aware that Vytalzym plus has added magnesium, which hels people with constipation issues. However, the magnesium replaces some of the enzymes, and you are therefore getting less enzymes per pill (the reason Vitalzm plus is less expensive)
If you want the full strength formula, then you want to buy tha Vitalzym (not the plus)
I am including a list of its ingredients with an explanation of each:
Proteolytic enzyme (Protease)
The term "proteolytic" refers to all enzymes that digest protein. Other classes of enzymes include Amylase a digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates and Lipase a digestive enzyme that breaks down fat during the digestive process. Each of these help in the digestion of food which in turn helps with absorption of those essential nutrients in the diet. In the body, proteolytic digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas, but supplemental forms of enzymes may come from fungal or bacterial sources, extraction from the pancreas of livestock animals (trypsin/chymotrypsin) or extraction from plants (such as papain from the papaya and Bromelain from pineapples). The primary uses of proteolytic enzymes in dietary supplements are used as digestive enzymes, anti-inflammatory agents and pain relievers.
There are a number of clinical trials showing the benefit of using oral proteolytic enzymes as a digestive aid. Proteolytic enzymes are also theorized to help reduce symptoms of
food allergies and as a treatment for
Rheumatoid Arthritis and other autoimmune diseases
Perhaps the strongest evidence for benefits of proteolytic enzyme supplements come from numerous European studies showing various enzyme blends to be effective in accelerating recovery from exercise and injury in sportsmen as well as tissue repair in patients following surgery. In one study of footballers suffering from ankle injuries, proteolytic enzyme supplements accelerated healing and got players back on the field about 50% faster than athletes assigned to receive a placebo tablet(1). A handful of other small trials in athletes have shown enzymes can help reduce inflammation, speed healing of bruises and other tissue injuries (including fractures) and reduce overall recovery time when compared to athletes taking a placebo(2-8). In patients recovering from facial and various reconstructive surgeries, treatment with proteolytic enzymes significantly reduced swelling, bruising and stiffness compared to placebo groups (9-11).
Serrapeptase
Serrapeptase, also known as Serratia peptidase, is a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the non-pathogenic enterobacteria Serratia E15. The enzyme is found naturally in the intestine of the silkworm, which is used by the silkworm to dissolve the cocoon and emerge as a moth. When consumed in unprotected tablets or capsules, the enzyme is destroyed by acid in the stomach. However, when enterically coated the enzyme passes through the stomach unchanged, and can be absorbed in the intestine.
It has many clinical uses including:
as an anti-inflammatory agent (particularly for post traumatic swelling)
for Fibrocystic breast disease
for Bronchitis (Serrapeptase loosens and expels mucous)
Serrapeptase digests dead tissue, blood clots, cysts, and arterial plaque. The late German physician Dr. Hans Nieper, used serrapeptase to treat arterial blockage in his coronary patients. Clinical studies show that serrapeptase induces fibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edemic (prevents swelling and fluid retention) activity in a number of tissues, and that its anti-inflammatory effects are superior to other proteolytic enzymes(12). Besides reducing inflammation, one of serrapeptase's most profound benefits is reduction of pain, due to its ability to block the release of pain-inducing amines from inflamed tissues(13) Physicians throughout Europe and Asia have recognized the anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking benefits of this naturally occurring substance and are using it in treatment as an alternative to salicylates, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs(14).
Bromelain & Papain
Both Bromelain and Papain are plant derived proteolytic enzymes. Bromelain, also known as bromelin, is a protein-digesting enzyme extracted from the flesh and stem of the pineapple plant, Ananas comosus. Papain, is a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the papaya plant, Carica papaya. Bromelain is most notable for its effectiveness in the reduction of inflammation and decreasing swelling, but the scope of its benefits continues to increase. As a natural anti-inflammatory enzyme, bromelain has many uses.
Arthritis patients may reduce the swelling that causes joint pain by taking bromelain. Bromelain may also be helpful for the pain, numbness, tingling, aching, and loss of motor and sensory function in the fingers resulting from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (15,16). Prevention of the adhesiveness of platelets to endothelial cell walls was accomplished with 0.1 mcg/ml of Bromelian(16a). Thus the benefit of bromelain occurs over a broad range of doses, and even small amounts may be beneficial to anyone at risk to thrombotic heart attack or stroke. Papain has been shown to be effective in preventing burn wound infection and helping remove dead cells(17). Papain is also used for the following:
Defibrinating wounds in hospitals
Preventing cornea scar deformation
Used in treatments of jellyfish and insect stings
To treat edemas, inflammatory processes, and in the acceleration of wound healing
In low doses as an indigestion medicine
Papain has been used to treat ulcers, dissolve membranes in diphtheria and reduce swelling, fever and adhesions after surgery
Amla
Also known as Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) is the richest source of Vitamin C. It also contains tannic acid, glucose, protein, cellulose and Calcium. Amla is useful for stomach problems, it is antipyretic, hair tonic and nerve brain tonic. It's also useful in anemia, hyperacidity and in gynecological problems and epistaxis. Amla is considered to have restorative and preventive properties
Rutin
Is one of the many existing Flavonoids. Flavonoids are a class of water-soluble plant pigments. Flavonoids support health by strengthening capillaries and other connective tissue, and some function as anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and antiviral agents. Rutin and several other flavonoids may also protect blood vessels. Rutin was shown to stimulate wound healing in rats and augment the tensile strength of scar tissue significantly(18).