FYI, digestive enzymes are not quite the same thing as "systemic enzymes". Digestive enzymes - as the name implies - should help with digesting food, for example, if you produce too little of a particular enzyme (lipase for fat, amylase for starches, others for protein etc), then the digestive enzymes will help you deal with the food better. Apart from amylase (the one found in saliva, as well as elsewhere), most of these digestive enzymes in tablet form need to have a so-called enteric coating, so that they reach the right part of your digestive system without having been dissolved too early by stomach acid.

Systemic enzymes are meant to be taken at least 30 minutes before eating, and are used for many things, but above all inflammation in many parts of the body. The German product, "Wobenzym", (also on sale in the USA under this name) is used by sportspeople to reduce the effect of contact injuries, for example. It can be used to help with sinus inflammation, arthritis, MS, as an adjunct to cancer therapy - the list is endless. I use it prophylactically and have found that it helps my general well-being and is a good painkiller.

Hope this gives you a bit of an idea of what this is all about!

amanda