Evidence supporting the use of: Bromelain
For the health condition: Injuries

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes derived from pineapple (Ananas comosus) stems and fruit. Its use in supporting or treating injuries, particularly soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and bruises, is primarily justified by a combination of traditional use and scientific investigation, although the scientific evidence is moderate rather than definitive.

Several studies suggest that bromelain may help reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain following trauma or surgery. The proposed mechanism is its ability to modulate inflammatory mediators, decrease neutrophil migration, and help break down fibrin and other debris at the injury site, potentially speeding up healing. A 2012 systematic review (Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine) found that bromelain supplementation was associated with reduced pain and swelling after surgical procedures and injuries, though the number of high-quality randomized controlled trials is limited. Additional studies have shown positive effects for bromelain in reducing bruising and improving recovery time in sports injuries and dental surgery.

Despite these findings, many studies suffer from methodological limitations such as small sample sizes, lack of blinding, or inadequate controls. While the evidence is supportive and bromelain is widely used in Europe for these purposes, larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy. Overall, bromelain’s use in injury recovery is scientifically plausible and moderately supported by existing research, but it should be seen as adjunctive rather than primary therapy.

More about bromelain
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Other ingredients used for Injuries

Aloe vera
amino acids
bamboo
bayberry
beeswax
Indian frankincense
bovine
bromelain
chymotrypsin
collagen
Coptis chinensis
turmeric
dandelion
dog rose
dyer’s woad root
endo-peptidase
exo-peptidase
fungal protease
ginger
L-alanyl-L-glutamine
L-glutamine
L-proline
licorice root
spruce
ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate
papain
protease
protein
purified silver
reishi mushroom
serratiopeptidase
silicon
Trypsin
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
Zinc
chickweed
typhonium
Clerodendrum indicum
Hedychium spicatum
chaff flower
boxthorne
Yarrow
Moss
Myrrh
solomon's seal
amber
sheep's sorrel
Wintergreen
fungal enzymes blend (proprietary)
Abies spectabilis
geranium
arnica
red root
Aralia
avens
Asclepias cordifolia
Akebia
animal Tissue
antler
Aquilegia viridiflora
asiaticoside
Ardisia
Agave
Agrimony
Achyranthes
anamu
Abrus
Albizia
Aconite
Ajuga
aucubin
Anserina
Albumin
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Asam gelugor
Allantoin
Ampelopsis
Agonandra
Agrimonia pilosa
Acemannan
Abuta
Alkanna
Alstonia macrophylla
Amor seco
Arani
animal protein
bee propolis
Biopeptide
bai ji
Baliospermum
Black spruce
blackthorn
Bulnesia sarmientoi
blubber oil
Blepharis
black-eyed Susan
Boswellic Acid
Beef Protein
Barleria
bone marrow
bovine protein
benzoin
Begonia fimbristipula
bindweed
banyan
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black root
comfrey
Centella triterpenes
Calendula
Casearia esculenta
Monkey flower
Calotropis gigantea
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cinquefoil
Cyathula
Ceylon leadwort
cedar
Campylandra fimbriata
Centipeda
cypress
cranesbill
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Carlina
carrapichinho
Cedrus libani
Ceanothus integerrimus
Connective tissue growth factor
cocklebur
Collinsonia
castor oil
Calyptridium umbellatum
Casearia sylvestris
Didymocarpus
deer root
Damulin A
deer velvet
dragon\'s blood
devil\'s club
dianthrone
Dwarf Nettle
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
Davilla rugosa
deerbrush
Epidermal Growth Factor
Erythropalum scandens
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elephant vine
Erodium cicutarium
Evodia
elk antler
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emu oil
Euphorbia
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elastase
fiesta flower
Flueggea suffruticosa
fang-feng
Formosan sweet-gum
ficin
fibrinase
frankincense
fireweed
four-leaved grass
genipap
Gleditsia
Glutamine
Gumweed
Gambir
Genipa americana
golden eye-grass
giant blazingstar
giant trillium
golden ragwort
golden shower tree
Golden Willow
Guazuma ulmifolia
Homalomena
Hydrocolloid
hound\'s tongue
hairy arnica
Hyaluronidase
Indian nightshade
iridoid glycosides
Immortelle
joe-pye
Jatoba
Kigelia africana
Kochia
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lacquertree
Ledebouriella
Levant cotton
Lophira lanceolata
lysozyme
Lygodium
Leptospermum scoparium
Mezoneuron benthamianum
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Monardella odoratissima
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Matapalo Tree
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Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Marking Nut Tree
Manchurian thorn
Nasturtium
Night jessamine
Oak
Ocotillo
Oxytropis falcata
purple Tephrosia
Psacalium peltatum
Peptidase
Phlebodium decumanum
Peptidohydrolase
proteolytic enzymes
Pellitory
Pentatropis capensis
Plumbago zeylanica
Pacific madrone
Pedra hume
Potentilla
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red alder
red spiderling
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Products containing bromelain

Pure Encapsulations A.C. Formula II
Pure Encapsulations A.I. Enzymes
Pure Encapsulations AI Formula
Designs For Health AllerGzyme™
Integrative Therapeutics Bio-Zyme
Pure Encapsulations Bromelain 2400 500 mg
Pure Encapsulations Bromelain 2400 500 mg
Douglas Laboratories Bromelain 500 mg
Douglas Laboratories Cysto Renew ®
Integrative Therapeutics EHB
Douglas Laboratories Glucosamine + MSM Forte ™
Douglas Laboratories Glucosamine Plus ™
Pure Encapsulations Hist Reset
Designs For Health HistaEze™
Thorne Joint Support Nutrients AR-Encap
Vitabase Life's Essentials Plus
Designs For Health Pancreatic Enzymes Plus
Designs For Health Pulmonary Revive™
Vitabase Quercetin Plus
Douglas Laboratories Quercetin-Bromelain Complex
Thorne Quercetin Complex Quercenase
Metagenics Sinuplex®
Vitabase Super Fat Burner
Vitabase SuperZymes
Pure Encapsulations Systemic Enzyme Complex
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ®-EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive® X
Vitabase Ultra Veggie Enzymes
Pure Encapsulations Uric Acid Formula
Thorne Whey Protein Isolate Chocolate NSF
Thorne Whey Protein Isolate Vanilla NSF
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® N
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® N
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® N
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® Plus
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® Plus
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® Plus
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® PS
Douglas Laboratories Wobenzym ® PS