Hi again.
The truth is I have never heard of the product. However my BS antenna goes up when I see words like alternative medicine or all natural.
I noticed that the partial bibliography quoted by the author of the ad contained articles and studies that were carried out mostly during the 1960's through the 1970's. There was a smattering of references from the 1980's and perhaps four within the last 10 years.
Enzymes are proteins. When swallowed, most will be broken down into their constituent amino acids. Your digestive system doesn't know the difference between proteins from a hamburger or from a plant.
When the enzymes listed are applied directly to a hematoma, they will break it down causing it to clear up faster. It is rather difficult for most materials to cross our skin barriers. In general, the smaller the molecule the easier it might be to cross this barrier. This is why we have a stomach...digestion is (in a simplified way) of breaking down large molecules of food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the specialized lining of the small intestines.
The mouth is covered with either a mucous membrane or a keratinized epithelium. Keratin (on the attached gingiva surrounding the teeth, the hard palate and the upper surface of the tongue) makes it very hard for anything to cross. The mucous membrane (cheeks, under the tongue and the inside of the lips) would be more permeable but the molecules have not been broken down enough to create really small molecules. I would doubt the any substantial absorption occurs here.
You are basically swishing your mouth with enzymes of papaya and pineapple. This is basically meat tenderizer. I don't know the long term effects of this product on the oral tissues but I do know that when meat tenderizer is used for jellyfish stings, it is recommended that it be rinsed away following its use to stop digesting the tissue in and around the wound.
It would NOT surprise me to find that the product breaks up mucous secreations. Under topical circumstances, a digestive enzyme should be able to react and break down something like mucous.
Some people can be allergic to meat tenderizer. So take any remarks by the manufacturer or myself, for that matter, with a grain of salt.
Since I have no first hand knowledge of the efficacy of this product, it would be unfair of me to dismiss it totally. Just because it is an extract of something we are able to eat, doesn't mean that it is safe but neither does it make it unsafe.
There are many things we eat every day that if taken in large quantity or high concentration become harmful. We need vitamins but consumption of high doses of vitamins (especially fat soluble vitamins A,E,D, and K) is toxic.
I hope some of the other docs will see this. Perhaps they have some first hand knowledge.
Right now I would be suspicious of any claims made that this product will help to clear your ears.
You should also keep in mind that if this product is marketed as a food product, it does not have to meet the same standards of the FDA as a drug must.
Bottom line is I don't know if this product is effective but I am suspicious about the claims made. It was a long list so this must be some sort of miracle material. But then we have aspirin doing all sorts of wonderful things.
Be careful.
Larry Stein
No disclaimer this time cause I really don't know what the heck I'm talking about.
