Propolis has numerous properties, which is why it has been widely used in medicine. In addition, drops, tincture, ointment or tablets with propolis have good opinions among people who use this type of preparation. What is the he alth effect of propolis? Can children use it? What is its price and is the pharmacy the only place where you can buy it?

Propolis - what is it?

Propolis (bee putty)is a product made by bees from ingredients collected from plants. In fact, it consists of bee putty and pollen balm produced in the organisms of bees from flower pollen.

Propolisis a sticky and thick resin with a characteristic odor. Depending on the area of ​​the bees' occurrence, and therefore the plants from which they collect the raw material, propolis can have a different color: orange, red, gray, dark green, brown or black.

Propolis has a different form depending on the temperature. Below 15 degrees C it is hard and brittle, above 36 degrees C - soft and plastic, and above 90 degrees C it melts.

Bees use propolis as a binder, with which they seal all gaps in the bee's nest and elements that they are unable to remove from it. Propolis is a sealing and disinfecting material for bees.

In Poland, the sources of the secretion used by bees to produce propolis are the buds of deciduous trees, incl. poplar, alder, willow, oak, ash, chestnut and damage to the bark of conifers. The composition of propolis varies depending on environmental conditions. It can be generally assumed that it is composed of:

  • resin substances - approx. 50%
  • beeswax - approx. 30%
  • volatile substances - approx. 10%
  • pollen - approx. 5%
  • mechanical admixtures - approx. 5%

There are about 300 chemical compounds in propolis. The most important of them, which are responsible for the broadpropertiespro-he althpropolisare phenolic acids (e.g. ferulic, salicylic, coumaric, coffee), flavonoids ( kaempferol, apigenin, chrysin, galangin) and terpenoids (including geraniol, nerol, farnesol, cafiophyllene).

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Propolis - properties

Propolis has a broad and well-documented healing effect. It is used in pharmacological and natural medicine. Its action is largely due to its strong antioxidant activity and inhibition of free radicals.

The properties of propolis are:

  • antimicrobial effect,
  • treatment of respiratory infections,
  • regenerative action,
  • stimulating the immune system,
  • treatment of skin diseases,
  • liver protection,
  • use in the prevention and treatment of certain types of cancer.

Antimicrobial action

Propolis has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. It inhibits the growth of numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Esherichia coli.

Alcoholic propolis solutions inhibit the growth of Trichophyton, Microsporum and Candida fungi responsible for the fairly common candidiasis, i.e. yeast overgrowth in the digestive tract and genital tract.

Propolis is effective against the herpes simplex virus, the polio virus, in the treatment of trichomoniasis, fungal and bacterial vaginosis and cervical erosions. Propolis extract also treats parasitic intestinal infection with Giardia protozoa.

New research indicates the possibility of using propolis in the treatment of infections with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, responsible for gastric ulcers, and even its cancer. It is very difficult to eradicate, and the currently used treatment is heavily burdening the body.

Based on the research, it was found that the addition of propolis increases the antibiotic activity of pharmacological agents. Flavonoids and esters of phenolic acids are mainly responsible for the antibiotic effect of propolis.

The most potent antimicrobial substances include pinocembrin, galangin, pinostrobin, apigenin, myrycetin, luteolin, caffeic acid ethyl ester and caffeic acid phenethyl ester.

Treatment of respiratory infections

Propolis is used in the treatment of acute, catarrhal and chronic diseases of the throat and larynx of various origins. It is also very effective in aphthae, thrush, surface glossitis, periodontitis, ulcerativegingivitis and periodontitis.

Regenerative action

Propolis extracts accelerate scarring of wounds, regeneration of soft tissues, connective tissue, cartilage and bone. According to one study, propolis used to heal wounds after obstetric surgeries accelerated healing in nearly 98% of cases.

Immune system stimulation

Ethanol extracts of propolis stimulate the immune system, improve its reaction to the attack of foreign bodies and pathogenic microorganisms. When administered with vaccines, it increases the production of antibodies.

Treatment of skin diseases

Creams, shampoos and soaps with propolis are great for the care of oily skin, which is easily inflamed, blemishes or dandruff.

Clinical trials show 76% effectiveness in the treatment of purulent skin diseases, inflammation of hair follicles, sweat glands, armpit abscesses and seizures.

Propolis is also used to treat mycoses of the skin. Its preparations are successfully used in frostbite, burns, in the treatment of surgical wounds, osteomyelitis, crushing of limbs.

Preparations with propolis lead to quick healing of varicose veins (almost 3 times faster than the so-called Unna shoe), help with haemorrhoids and anal fissures, preventing bleeding and acute relapses.

Liver protection

Propolis may be effective in treating viral hepatitis in its early stages. This was proved by Nakamura and his team in a 2013 study on rats.

Ethanol propolis extracts administered at a dose of 50 mg / kg body weight prevented liver cell damage, cholestasis and significantly reduced blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and other compounds indicating abnormal liver function.

In the group of animals treated with vitamin E, no damage to the hepatocytes was also found, but other lesions were visible.

Cancer prevention and treatment

There are chemical compounds in propolis that inhibit the initiated process of tumor formation and prevent the formation of a neoplasm. These include: caffeic and ferulic acid ester, chrysin, artepilin C, galangin and cardanol, the mechanism of which is based on initiating the process of apoptosis, i.e. cell death.

A typical feature of cancer cells is that they are immortal - they do not undergo apoptosis themselves. Thus, treatment focuses on inducing this cell death, and propolis has this ability.

In vitro studies show effectivenesspropolis in inhibiting development and treatment:

  • malignant melanoma,
  • glioblastoma multiforme,
  • colorectal cancer,
  • lung cancer, breast cancer,
  • head and neck tumors,
  • cholangiocarcinoma,
  • breast cancer.

Propolis is not currently used in cancer therapies. However, it seems advisable to use its substances in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Worth knowing

Propolis - price

Propolis is not the cheapest raw material - 50 g costs about PLN 15, which means that 1 kg costs about PLN 300.

The price of propolis-based products depends on its amount in the composition. Propolis ointment (20 g) with a content of 7 percent. of propolis costs about PLN 8, and the one with the content of 20 percent. propolis - about PLN 20.

Propolis drops (20 ml) cost about PLN 10 (propolis content: 7%). Propolis tincture (20 ml) costs about PLN 20 (25% of propolis concentration).

Propolis - where to buy?

Propolis is best bought directly from a beekeeper or in a beekeeping shop.

Propolis - application

Propolis is a very valuable natural medicinal substance with a broad and powerful effect. Bear in mind that it can cause allergies. This is especially true for people who are allergic to other bee products.

Therefore, before starting the treatment, spread propolis on the bend of the elbow and observe the body's reaction. If there is redness, swelling or itching of the skin, do not use propolis-based agents.

If you are taking solid medications, consult your doctor and analyze the possibility of using the drug and propolis at the same time.

The most popular forms of propolis at home are tincture and ointment.

Propolis - propolis tincture. How to make it?

Pour 350 cm3 of spirit and 150 cm3 of lukewarm, boiled water into a bottle with 50 grams of propolis.

Leave the tincture tightly closed at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. In order to dissolve the propolis more thoroughly, mix the bottle every day.

After filtering through cotton wool, gauze or a coffee filter, pour the tincture into a dark bottle, preferably with a dropper. We turn off tightly.

Application in diseases of the respiratory system

  • 15-20 drops per teaspoon of sugar 3 times a day
  • 30 drops per 200 ml of warm chamomile tea to gargle and sip
  • Pour 40-50 drops of tincture into a plate with hot water, use for inhalation under a towel for 10 minutes.

Use in diseases of the digestive system

  • 40 drops of tincture for half a glass of lukewarm water. Rinse the mouth several times a day in the event of periodontitis and inflammation of the mouth.

  • For half a glass of water, tea or other liquid, 20-40 drops of tincture. Drink 2-3 times a day 20-30 minutes before eating in case of gastroenteritis and the initial stage of gastric ulcer disease

  • 20 drops of tincture per teaspoon of honey. Consume 3 times a day 20 minutes before eating in case of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Use in skin diseases, wounds and burns

  • Pour 1 ml of the tincture into 100 ml of boiled, warm water. Use for washing wounds, bruises, burns and for compresses applied to the sick areas and bruises.

  • Wash the fingers of the toes in the case of interdigital mycosis with diluted 1:50 tincture

  • Apply compresses soaked in tincture diluted 1: 50 to varicose wounds

Propolis - propolis ointment. Recipe

Evaporate 100 ml of propolis tincture in a water bath (the vessel with the tincture is placed in the other with hot water) until a thick liquid is obtained.

Then add about 100 grams of petroleum jelly and mix well until ingredients are combined. Instead of a tincture, you can use crushed propolis, adding it directly to the petroleum jelly, then using a water bath until the ointment is of the desired uniform consistency.

Application in skin diseases, wounds, burns: apply a thin layer of ointment twice a day to sick places (burns, frostbites, cuts, wounds, ulcers, boils, bedsores).

Worth knowing

Propolis for kids

You can most often meet the recommendations regarding the use of propolis tincture, because the ethanol extracts of bee putty are the strongest and most biologically active.

Propolis can also be used in children. The tincture is served on honey in an amount of no more than 10 drops twice a day.

On the basis of propolis, butter and milk are also made. Pharmacies offer alcohol-free propolis drops, dragees, suppositories and mixtures with honey.

Honey is mixed with propolis in a proportion of 1: 100. You can prepare a jar of honey with propolis and use it, for example, for a sandwich or for milk in case of colds and to strengthen immunity.

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