Honeybee Propolis

Of all of the hive products it is propolis that is probably the least understood. Propolis is a resin-ous substance collected by the foraging honeybee from the bark and buds of specific trees and plants. This resin is mixed with the saliva of the honeybee and packed away into her hip pockets or pollen bas-kets. It is here that the mystery begins. And what a mystery! Literally millions of dollars have been spent trying to discover exactly what makes up propolis and how mankind might synthesize this "bee glue".

But try as we might, it cannot be done. Propolis is just too complex. A virtual cocktail of organic compounds including caffeic acid, acacetin, ketone and benzoic acid, all of which are known fighters of inflammation and infection and histamine reactions. Propolis also is rich in vitamin P or Bioflavanoids. These remark-able compounds are being found to heal leaking capillaries and blood vessels among a multitude of other benefits including attacking viruses and tough medically resistant bacteria. Studies from around the world have shown propolis to be healing to teeth and gums, healing to burns and infections and even, to be a killer of cancer cells!

Honeybees use this wonder within their own hive as a building material and a tool for sterilization within the hive. For smaller gaps and cracks in the structure of their hive, these are filled in by the worker bees with propolis. Propolis is used to "glue" the boxes together making them impervious to wind and is also used to "glue" the frames of comb in place making them permanent structures in the mind of the hive.

But perhaps the most remarkable use of propolis by the honeybee is how she uses this amazing substance for sterilization of the hive. Worker honeybees literally line the inside of the hive with propolis and polish the insides of the comb cells there by leaving the cells operating room sterile! Sterility within the hive is of upmost importance and the queen will not lay any eggs unless the cells within the brood comb are sterilized by propolis. The worker bees will also put down a layer of propolis on the "landing pad", where the foraging bees will enter the hive. This is designed to disinfect the feet of the bees as they enter the clean confines of the hive and minimize the risk of infection from the outside world!

It was my father who first taught me the benefits of propolis to the mouth. He began experiencing pain in several teeth and was eventually told by his dentist that he needed to have five root canals. Not one to be excited about visiting dentists or doctors, he began to suck on the propolis which he would scrape from his hives during hive inspections. He had learned from one of his farmer's market customers, a research doctor visiting from Poland and working at one of Chicago's premier hospitals.

This doctor informed my dad that in Eastern Europe, persons suffering from tooth pain packed their problem tooth with propolis to not only provide relief but to heal the tooth. His experience was no different than what the folklore reme-dies relating to propolis promised. When he went back to his dentist one year later for a cleaning, the dentist, remembering the sad state of dad's teeth, was amazed that he had never received the root canals prescribed. In fact, the dentist was utterly amazed that dad's gums did not even bleed when the dental hygienist cleaned his teeth!

When the dentist asked what dad was doing differently, dad told him about his propolis and always having some in his mouth. This angered the dentist particularly since dad told him that he sleeps with propolis stuck to his teeth at night. The problem with using hive products medicinally is that it flies in the face of modern and sophisticated medicine. What has worked for centuries, the readily available and inexpensive, folk-lore remedies, just don't excite the elitist modern medical movement, results be hanged!

When I first began studying propolis and the other hive products, I came across an article in a main stream bee journal describing a scientist studying honeybees opening up a hive and finding a dead mouse. Knowing how obsessive compulsive our beloved friends are when it comes to cleanliness within their hives, the scientist left the dead rodent to see what the bees would do to compensate for the source for decay and bacteria now laying on the bottom board of their hive.

On the next visit to the hive, our intrepid scientist discovered that the honeybees had completely em-balmed the mouse in propolis. The propolis sealed the mouse completely from the hive. After in-vestigating her observations, the scientist found similar stories from old timer beekeepers and then, after digging around in her research found that the ancient Egyptians not only incorporated the use of propolis into their embalming process, but first learned this art from the honeybee and her use of that natural preservative that is propolis. And Propolis is a great preserver, hence the embalmed mouse and pharos. It has also been discovered that propolis was used by a seventeenth century instrument maker named Antonio Stradivari. It seemed Mr. Stradivari understood propolis to be a superb preservative resin and added it to the finish for his famed instruments.

One of the amazing qualities of propolis is that samples from areas of varying flora yield unique products. In recent years, a growing number of apiaries in Brazil have turned away from honey production and toward propolis production in order to feed a ravenous Japanese market. It seems that the Japanese have been studying the effects of propolis on cancer cells and have been impressed with the results. According to their published results, propolis from the jungles around Sao Paulo in Brazil is among the most potent. Known as Brazilian Green this special concoction of rainforest and honeybee goodness has a sweet and pungent aroma that can quickly give even the most ardent admirer a splitting headache. It is only collected by the Africanized honeybee of Brazil. Hives that have been set up near coniferous forests also yield a propolis with plenty of chutzpa. When I first began my research in developing a better tool for harvesting propolis, I noticed that one particular apiary of my father's produced a propolis that was so hot in flavor that it was difficult to keep a small piece in one's mouth.

This sample came from hives located along the Rock River in South Central Wisconsin where pine trees abounded as well as nettles, scrub brush, honey-suckle and virgin Oak trees. Propolis samples from these hives tended to clear one's sinuses much quicker than samples from most any other location. In spite of its peppery flavor, the propolis had an earthy, sweet and floral bouquet that was truly a delight to the pallet. The hot taste of this propo-lis is due to the presence of a large amounts of bioflavonoids within the propolis. This is a very good thing and makes propolis from this location that much more potent!

The beauty of propolis is that unlike the synthetic treatments of modern medicine which do not necessarily only target sickness but will often lead to damage in surrounding tissues and sys-tems, damages that we are told are "only mere side-effects, and nothing to worry about". Propolis is known for its nourishing and support of healthy cells and tissues while at the same time, some of its components are actually capable of inhibiting growth of malignant cells and can even stop the proliferation of these same cells.

Propolis has been trusted and depended upon for thousands of years by even the most re-veared of medical practitioners. One noted European doctor wrote that western medicine would take the gifts from the honey bee more serious were they simply not so tasty! Another famed doctor who relied upon the healing powers of propolis wrote, "Pollen is for health and propolis is for life!" This noted physician was none other than Hypocrites, author of the Hipocratic Oath and father to modern medicine! None of the information contained in this paper has been verified by the FDA nor is it intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Bee Propolis

The beneficial effects of bee pollen are familiar, and many of us are already taking advantage of this "superfood" by regularly consuming bee pollen as a food supplement. However, bees produce several other byproducts that can be equally beneficial.

Propolis is one such byproduct; this is a resinous substance that honey bees collect from various sources, including tree buds and sap flows. Bees use this resin as a sealant in their hives, usually to fill in small gaps that are 6 millimeters wide or less. (Bees use beeswax to plug larger gaps.) Propolis can be sticky at room temperatures, when it's cold out, propolis gets hard and brittle.

Bees themselves derive tremendous benefit from propolis. It reinforces the structural stability of their beehives. It makes the hives more easily defended, preventing parasites from entering. It reduces vibrations within the hive. The chemical content of propolis can vary depending on region; generally, it is 55 percent resins and balms (such as flavenoids), 30 percent fatty acids and waxes, 10 percent essential oils, and 5 percent protein, in the form of bee pollen. There are various trace elements and other nutrients present as well.

For humans, the primary benefit of propolis is as an antibiotic. The bioflavenoids present in propolis strengthen the body's immune system, enhancing our resistance to disease; propolis supplements the effectiveness of vitamin C and stimulates enzyme formation. Some research suggests that propolis can act against the various bacteria that cause pneumonia, salmonellosis, influenza, herpes, tuberculosis, and other diseases. It can also act as an antifungal agent.

Chemically, propolis works in a fashion similar to prescription antibiotics, by breaking down the walls and cytoplasm of bacteria cells and preventing bacterial cell division. However, because it is a natural substance, propolis can be part of a preventative health care program and can be taken daily. There are no known side effects, though if you are allergic to bee stings or tree resin, consult with a health care practitioner before taking propolis. The body cannot build up natural resistance to propolis as it can to prescription medications. And propolis has been shown to counteract some viruses and fungi as well as bacteria.

Propolis is readily available in capsules or tablets. However, you can consume propolis in its raw state by purchasing chunks, which have usually been cold processed to remove beeswax and impurities; chew the raw propolis and wash it down with some water. (This can also help relieve a sore throat.) The taste is strong and bitter, so it might be easier to mix propolis with fruit juice, honey, or milk. Do NOT mix propolis with coffee, tea, or a carbonated beverage; these drinks may impede the effectiveness of propolis.

Propolis is sold in various other forms, for other purposes. Propolis cream provides both the germ killing properties of propolis and the healing properties of aloe vera; you can apply propolis cream as a skin moisturizer or to heal skin irritations, cuts, and burns. Propolis mouthwash can help prevent bad breath and gum problems, and shorten healing time after oral surgery. Usually, propolis mouthwash is heavily concentrated and sold in small vials; mix a few drops in a half-glass of water and drink.

While bee pollen is primarily seen as a source of supplementary nutrition, propolis is consumed for prevention and treatment of disease, as an antibiotic. They share some ingredients, but these two bee byproducts are complementary and can be taken simultaneously. There are several products on the market, in fact, that combine bee pollen with propolis in capsule form. While easy to consume, the process of encapsulation may compromise the full effectiveness of bee pollen.

Bee Propolis a Natural Antibiotic

So is bee propolis a natural antibiotic? Here's some research to help you judge for yourself!

Did you know that propolis is used so extensively in Russia that it has been labelled the 'Russian Penicillin'? I certainly didn't, until very recently. But I was aware that knowledge about the antibiotic and healing properties of propolis dates back over 2000 years.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used it as a salve to treat wounds, while during the days of Aristotle propolis was taken internally to relieve ulcers. In his classic 'Natural History', Pliny wrote about the healing powers of propolis.

So what is propolis? It's a resinous substance that bees gather from leaf buds and the bark of trees such as poplars. After adding their own glandular substance, they use it as a kind of cement to seal and tighten the hive to protect it. Any invader that wanders in is encased in the resin, so the bees avoid contamination.

Perhaps this insight seems uninspiring in terms of how it might help our health! Yet propolis has been revealed to be a natural antibiotic for man - and beneficial to the immune system against the onslaught of infectious disorders.

To quote Dr Arnold Pike D.C, Director of the Academy of Nutritional Sciences and member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Task Force on Nutrition:

'Nature has given bees a natural antibacterial substance in the form of the sap-like propolis to keep their hives free of infection. No strain of bacteria has developed immunity to it. Propolis is resistant even to bacteria that are immune to antibiotic drugs.'

And Soviet doctors A.I. Tichonov and D.P. Salvo, in 'The Healing Properties of Propolis' reported on their successful use of propolis in more than 70 different studies over 20 years in Russia.

Highlighting the beneficial effects of propolis on the thymus gland, they stated: 'When propolis is taken internally, the rate of metabolism is increased and the resistance of the organism is raised. Propolis, in contrast to antibiotics, intensifies the whole immunological reactive capability of the macro-organism.'

Dr Reny Chauvin, of the Sorbonne in Paris, a European researcher studying propolis, had this final word to say on the subject:

Scientists have long believed that nature has an answer for every disease. It is just a matter of finding it. Bee propolis boosts your powers of resistance and even immunity against such problems as viral infections, colds, flu, coughs, tonsillitis and cystitis. It works by a unique method, raising your body's natural resistance to infection by stimulating your own immune system.

Propolis The Most Natural Antibiotic

It is said that Propolis is the most natural antibiotic man has ever discovered. The remarkable thing about this statement is the fact that this discovery took place some 2000 years ago. A lot of people probably haven't even heard about Propolis, and yet, ancient herbal books prescribed Propolis for numerous complaints. The bactericidal qualities of this medicine have been known since the beginning of written history.

History

The use of Propolis in popular medicine goes back all the way to ancient times. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans reported the use of Propolis for its general healing qualities and for the cure of some lesions of the skin. Since the 12th century in Europe, folk remedy has attributed an important place to Propolis for certain preparations for external use. However, it has only been in the last twenty years that scientists have been able to prove that Propolis is as active and important as our forefathers thought.

Recognized by science

Propolis is now considered an important part of dietetics and a natural cure by the World Health Organization. Its popularity is ever increasing, due to its many possibilities. The concentrations of flavonoids seem to be responsible for the great antibiotic effects of Propolis. Flavonoids possess many potent curative effects. Forty-one of these substances have been recognized by science.

What does it do

Flavonoids stimulate hair growth, and improve the circulation of the blood. They also stimulate elimination of urine, bile secretion, and endocrine secretion. It is a well known fact that endocrine secretion, from places such as the thymus, the thyroid gland, the pancreas and the adrenals has a beneficial effect on the organism in general. Flavonoids are not only antibacterial substances, they are also active for the treatment of ulcers, rheumatism, flu and cold syndromes, irritated stomachs and certain breathing problems.

The same products are also beneficial for some chronic ailments, such as stress and joint problems. This gives an extra dimension to the performance of the product. Propolis, by nature, gives us a most powerful and versatile complement to supplement our food intake. All over the world, physicians have been astonished by the power of Propolis. We are only at the beginning of the story because the healing possibilities of Propolis seem to be unlimited.

Origin of Propolis

Our honeybees collect resins as a basic material on the buds of poplars, birches, pine trees etc. After the resin is chewed by the honeybee, and with the addition of saliva, other substances are formed. The finished product is called Propolis. Propolis is of vital importance for the survival of the bees. Not only does it protect them against diseases, but also against climatic changes, such as wind and cold.

Propolis consists of more than 100 substances

Propolis is composed of 50-55% resin and balms, 30% wax, 5% fixed substances such as clump, greases, amino acids, organic acids, composed ethers of alcohol, elements of spores and microelements such as iron, copper manganese, zinc, aminocids, phytoncides, and antibiotics, plus a high content of vitamins B,E,C,H and P, as well as pro-vitamin A. Pollens make up 4 to 10% in the composition of the product.

Remedies

Propolis is an age-old remedy that has been receiving a lot of attention lately. It is used extensively in the now defunct Warsaw Pact countries and Propolis is well known in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium. It is not yet as well known overseas.

The following problems treated by Propolis showed satisfactory improvements all over the world:

* Acne
* Asthma
* Arthritis
* Burns
* Boils
* Bleeding gums
* Bedsores and Blisters
* Burning tongues
* Callused feet
* Canker sores (aphtha)
* Common cold
* Corns
* Diaper rash
* Diarrhea
* Eczema
* Flu
* Female complaints
* Gastritis
* Gout
* Hay-fever
* Hair loss
* Insect bites
* Inflammation of the nasal passage
* Inflammation of the gums
* Inflammation of the ears
* Inflammation of the prostate gland
* Moles
* Psoriasis
* Sore throats
* Swollen glands
* Stomach ulcers
* Toothaches
* Tennis elbow
* Warts

(source: elements.nb.ca)

Propolis For Beauty

Propolis, one of the oldest and successful medicines of the world.

It has given beauty to Egyptian Pharaos, and was known in ancient times to Romans and Greeks as a rare but highly effective bee product to stay healthy and maintain beauty.

The bees are using the secretion to protect their sweet homes from attack of fungus and bacteria.

50 thousand bees can produce only 5 g of propolis, hence, the product has always been available to queens and emperors, only. More than 300 natural ingredients have been found in propolis making it a very rich natural medicine.

It is only lately that the effects of Propolis on cancer, fungus, and viruses is studied and verified. Among the many other functions of propolis are:
nourishes face, postpones senility, softens blood vessels, purifies the blood, promotes reproduction of tissue, accelerates healing of injuries, refreshes vital energy, improves function of stomach and intestines, overcomes constipation, decreases blood fat and blood sugar, kills bacteria, fungus, and virus, improves capillary circulation, eliminates toxins. (natureproducts.net)