As someone who has been helping people with digestion for over 30 years, I’m inherently interested in nutrition and anything that goes in the mouth and through the digestive track. For my own health, I constantly consider everything that I am putting into my body. One area that I feel is often overlooked when thinking about health is over the counter medicines. Most people assume that these items are too mild and well tested that they don’t think much about them. But, I’m very reluctant to take anything to help me that also might hurt my body; one of those items is aspirin and any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
I’ve been following Dr. David Williams for decades now and he introduced me to the negative impacts these over the counter medications can have. For example, they can cause damage to the intestinal lining and potentially contribute to causes of blindness in the elderly. In the same newsletter he introduced a natural alternative, bromelian, that has been used for different ailments for thousands of year.
Bromelain is an enzyme extracted from the stem of a pineapple plant. This enzyme is able to break down proteins. It is one of the safest and best natural anti-inflammatory agents to use regularly.
Research shows that blood clots formed in arteries are largely composed of a protein called fibrin, as well as fats and cholesterol.. Bromelain aids in breaking down the fibrin protein to clear these clots. Many people take daily aspirin to block the production of all prostaglandins/ hormones that make your blood more “sticky,” which can also prevent clotting. Bromelain does something similar by blocking prostaglandins that make blood too “sticky” and promoting production of prostaglandins that promote circulation.
Additionally, bromelain is effective in treating inflammation without the negative side effects associated with NSAIDs. For therapeutic purposes like treating rheumatoid arthritis, between 2,000 mg – 4,000 mg are suggested daily. For preventative purposes, just 100 mg daily is sufficient.
I hope you find this information helpful. All information here was summarized from a 2002 article An Aspirin, It’s Not by Dr. David Williams. I always enjoy sharing natural alternatives for everyday health concerns that work with your body to promote health.
Cassandra Orjala has been practicing colon hydrotherapy and nutritional guidance for over 30 years. She currently works and resides in Post Falls, Idaho.