Raena Morgan: Hi, I’m Raena Morgan with iHealthTube, visiting Nena Dockery, our enzyme expert. We’re talking about systemic enzymes. Do systemic enzymes help aid the body’s natural metabolic enzymes? Nena Dockery: Yes they do. They work along with—I’m not sure the mechanism—but they work along with the body’s own enzymes that function this way, such as plasmin, which is the body’s enzyme. They seem to work with that enzyme to resolve the inflammatory condition. Raena Morgan: How should these enzymes be taken and would they interfere with other medications? Nena Dockery: Right. They should be taken between meals—these are usually quite high activity proteolytic enzymes, so they have a lot of activity. They should be taken between meals—so not with food of any sort. The thing about anytime we’re using a natural product for a systemic condition, they should probably be taken with advice and guidance of a health care professional. I’m saying that because a lot of people who have—particularly who already have cardiovascular issues, they may be on blood thinners perhaps— Raena Morgan: Right, that’s what I was concerned about. Nena Dockery: Yes. Proteolytic enzymes can function somewhat because they resolve fibrin, can function as a blood thinner themselves. So there could be some intensification of the effects of the blood thinners—Coumadin, Warfarin, those type of pharmaceutical preparations. It is very important that the use of these enzymes be done with the support and guidance of a health care professional. Raena Morgan: Okay, so there could be interference is what you’re saying so we really to be safe, we need to talk with our health care provider. Nena Dockery: Yes, yes. Other medications, such as antibiotics, there could be some interference with the functioning of an antibiotic as well that has to get through the system, into circulation. So because of that it is just best and definitely recommended that they be under the guidance of a health care professional. Raena Morgan: Just so there isn’t any conflict. Nena Dockery: Right. Exactly. Raena Morgan: All right, well, thank you very much, Nena. Nena Dockery: Thank you.