How to Take Bromelain for Surgical Healing & Swelling

Bromelain is a class of protease enzyme that is derived from the stem and fruit of members of the pineapple family (Bromeliacae). Since 1957, bromelain has been marketed as a dietary supplement with many therapeutic benefits, including treatment of inflammation, burns, rheumatoid arthritis, and urinary tract infections.

According to the National Institute of Health, there is good scientific evidence that Bromelain is an effective treatment for inflammation, pain associated with inflammation, and sinus inflammation. Few side effects are associated with use of Bromelain for these therapeutic purposes.

You should consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any treatment regimen.

Instructions

Taking Bromelain for Inflammation

• 1

  Talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications that may interact with bromelain:

  Blood-thinning medication: Use of bromelain in conjunction with blood-thinning medication may impair your blood's ability to clot.

  Antibiotics: Taking bromelain may result in more antibiotics being absorbed by the body.

  Sedatives: Bromelain may intensify the effect of many sedatives.

• 2

  Verify that you are unlikely to be allergic to bromelain. If you are allergic to pineapples, honeybee venom, latex, birch pollen, carrot, celery, fennel, cypress pollen, grass pollen, papain, rye flour, or wheat flour then it is possible that you may be allergic to bromelain. Consult with your doctor before taking bromelain.

• 3

  Purchase bromelain from your local supplement store or from an Internet vendor. As of late 2009, 500mg tablets of bromelain were available from Internet vendors for as low as $3.04 for 60 tablets.

• 4

  Take bromelain daily to relieve inflammation and swelling. The National Institute of Health recommends a dosage of between 500 and 1,000mg of bromelain per day, although effects may be seen at lower dosages.