DIY Painkilling Extract From a Pineapple

The bromelain in pineapple is an enzyme that has many medicinal benefits. Pineapples have been used in traditional medicine in Central and South America for centuries and possibly even longer. It is used to reduce inflammation, dress wounds, and aid digestion. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that bromelain itself was isolated.

Today, bromelain is used in a wide variety of treatments to help reduce pain and treat certain ailments. While bromelain is found in the fleshy fruit and juice of pineapples, it’s more highly concentrated in the inner core. Bromelain can be taken and used in a number of ways. It can be used topically in the form of a cream to heal wounds and burns or taken orally to reduce pain and treat and/or prevent certain medical conditions. When taken orally, it’s often taken in the form of tablets, powder, or capsules.

Today, I’ll show you how to make a DIY painkilling extract from pineapple to benefit from the bromelain. First, let’s look at how it can reduce pain and what other medical conditions it can help with.

The Painkilling Effect of Bromelain

Bromelain has analgesic properties, making it a great natural painkiller. It also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling and hence reduce pain and symptoms of many conditions. For this reason, it’s sometimes used to relieve sporting-related injuries. It’s also been used as a post-surgery pain remedy although studies have been mixed on this. Some surgeries where it did provide relief include foot, nasal, and dental surgery.

Here are some of the most common medical conditions where it’s used to help treat pain.

• Arthritis & Osteoarthritis – it can help people living with arthritis or osteoarthritis by reducing swelling and joint pain. While studies have shown various results, many indicate that the benefits increase after steady treatment for weeks.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – it can also help relieve pain in the fingers of people living with carpal tunnel syndrome as well as tingling, numbing, and other symptoms experienced.

The Medicinal Benefits of Bromelain

Bromelain can also be used to treat or prevent a number of medical conditions.

• Cancer – it can help protect against or fight some forms of cancer such as breast cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells. It may also help people with leukemia, sarcoma, and lung cancer.
• Sinusitis – it can reduce the nasal inflammation patients experience and make breathing easier. It may also reduce the time that people experience acute symptoms related to sinusitis.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – it can suppress inflammation caused by IBD.
• Asthma – it can help treat asthma by reducing inflammation of the airway. Bromelain also reduces the mucus that collects in the respiratory systems of people with asthma.
• Strokes – it has anti-clotting properties which can help prevent strokes. Bromelain supports the health of cardiac tissue and prevents inflammation caused by plaque build-up in blood vessels.
• Digestion – it aids in digestion by breaking down proteins like collagen into amino acids. It also speeds up slow digestion so can help reduce cramping and other side effects.
• Cardiovascular Disease – it reduces systolic blood pressure which can help fight cardiovascular disease.
• Colitis – it can help reduce inflammation and treat mucosal ulcers.

Bromelain is considered safe for most people to take and is classified as a dietary supplement by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, there are some drugs it may interfere with such as blood-thinning medication. It also enhances the effect of some types of drugs such as antibiotics, anti-seizure medications, and sedatives. If you take any medication, check with your doctor before taking bromelain to make sure that it’s safe for you. It’s also not recommended for pregnant women.

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How to Extract Bromelain from a Pineapple

Making this extract is very simple but will require six weeks from the time you mix the ingredients to the time your extract is ready. There will be approximately 4 calories per 1 ml of extract.

Ingredients

• 1 x Pineapple
• Vodka (minimum 40% alcohol)

Utensils

• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Glass jar
• Fine strainer
• Cheesecloth
• Container / bowl
• Dropper bottles

Method

Step 1. Cut off the pineapple skin* and then cut around the inner core of the pineapple. You might like to cut the fruit up at this stage and place it in a container so it’s ready to eat later as a snack or for breakfast etc.( *If you’re interested, you can make tepache using the pineapple skin. It’s a fermented Mexican drink that’s a probiotic and helps promote friendly gut bacteria. It’s quick to prepare and then just requires around three days for the fermentation process to take place.)

Step 2. Take your core and cut it into small rings.

Step 3. Place the pineapple core chunks into your glass jar. Take your vodka and pour it over, making sure that you cover all of the pineapple pieces completely.

Step 4. Close the lid tight and place your jar in a cupboard so that it’s away from heat and light and you’re going to keep it there for around six weeks.

Step 5. Once six weeks is up, remove your jar from the cupboard and take a container or bowl to catch the liquid you’re about to strain. Place a fine strainer over the container. Wrap a few layers of cheesecloth over itself and place this over your strainer.

Step 6. Remove the lid from your jar and pour all of the contents over the cheesecloth. You can discard your used pineapple core pieces.

Step 7. Pour your bromelain extract into a dropper bottle or bottles, depending on how much liquid you have and how big your dropper bottles are. Your extract is now ready.

You can take 1ml up to three times a day (spread them out so you take one in the morning, afternoon, and evening). Some studies have suggested that bromelain is most effective when taken on an empty stomach to fight inflammation, so you could try taking a dose before or in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want to take it to aid digestion, it’s recommended to take it with meals. Store your bromelain extract in a cool dark cupboard and it will keep for up to six months.

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DIY Painkilling Extract From A Pineapple

Making this extract is very simple but will require six weeks from the time you mix the ingredients to the time your extract is ready. There will be approximately 4 calories per 1 ml of extract.

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Equipment

• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Glass jar
• Fine strainer
• Cheesecloth
• Container/bowl
• Dropper bottles

Ingredients

  

• 1 Pineapple
• Vodka (minimum 40% alcohol)

Instructions

 

• Cut off the pineapple skin and then cut around the core of the pineapple. You might like to cut the fruit up at this stage and place it in a container so it’s ready to eat later as a snack or for breakfast etc.
• Take your core and cut it into small rings.
• Place the pineapple core chunks into your glass jar. Take your vodka and pour it over, making sure that you cover all of the pineapple pieces completely.
• Close the lid tight and place your jar in a cupboard so that it’s away from heat and light and you’re going to keep it there for around six weeks.
• Once six weeks is up, remove your jar from the cupboard and take a container or bowl to catch the liquid you’re about to strain. Place a fine strainer over the container. Wrap a few layers of cheesecloth over itself and place this over your strainer.
• Remove the lid from your jar and pour all of the contents over the cheesecloth. You can discard your used pineapple core pieces.
• Pour your bromelain extract into a dropper bottle or bottles, depending on how much liquid you have and how big your dropper bottles are. Your extract is now ready.
• You can take 1ml up to three times a day (spread them out so you take one in the morning, afternoon, and evening). Some studies have suggested that bromelain is most effective when taken on an empty stomach to fight inflammation, so you could try taking a dose before or in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want to take it to aid digestion, it’s recommended to take it with meals. Store your bromelain extract in a cool dark cupboard and it will keep for up to six months.