5 Applications of Pure Propolis That You Should Know

Propolis, also known as bee glue, is a natural substance proven to have numerous outstanding health benefits. This resin-like material taken straight from the beehive is perceived as both a medicine and a beauty product. Would you like to learn more about it? See the top properties of propolis!

Already in ancient times people knew propolis and treated it as a medical remedy. Presumably, Persians or Greeks were the first ones who used bee glue to disinfect and dress wounds with. They kept using this natural substance without even knowing what properties are responsible for its marvelous wound healing properties. Today you will learn the health benefits of propolis, how it works and what you can do to take the most of it.

Propolis, or bee glue. What’s that?

In nature propolis can be found in every single beehive. This is a thick and sticky mass used by bees to line the inside of their hives as well as to strengthen the structure of their hives and honeycombs. What’s interesting, bee glue isn’t only a building block of a hive because this very substance protects bees from pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that may possibly enter their home and rampage through it.

If you’re still wondering what makes propolis so marvelous, it’s time to find it out! Propolis is a combination of bee (or wasp) saliva and plant exudates collected from flower buds and shoots of trees. In most cases, the exudate is the resin taken from aspen, birch, willow, oak or chestnut, but also from other threes and green plants (it all depends on the sources growing in the near surroundings of the hive).

Each gram of propolis contains over 300 various substances including beeswax, essential oils, flavonoides, tanning, plant sterols, pollen, vitamins A, C, D, E and B-group vitamins. It also brims with numerous elements such like calcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, tin, copper, silicon, iron and other.

Properties and benefits of propolis

Most published research findings prove the health benefits of propolis – it’s antibacterial, antiviral and fungicidal. There is also a branch of the alternative medicine – apitherapy – known for using only bee products such as beeswax and propolis to treat ailments. Perhaps almost everybody has heard that propolis honey boosts the immune system – this is a well- and long-known fact. For that reason it’s recommended using the honey not only to combat a common cold, but also take advantage of the marvelous benefits of propolis that since being a natural antibiotic it:

• helps deal with perleche, acne and other similar skin conditions.
• soothes folliculitis.
• relieves sunburns and frostbites.
• handles various dental problems.
• is perfect for oily and sensitive skin care.
• helps deal with cold sore and numerous fungal infections.

Application of Propolis: What can you use it for?

Products containing propolis are available in various forms: pills, granules, tinctures, ointments and even suppositories. However, honey with propolis seems to be the most popular among all products containing this brilliant bee glue. Honey enriched with propolis can be used internally to boost the immune system as well as externally in the form of natural beauty products that have antibacterial, moisturizing and soothing effects.

If you’re still hesitating whether to buy bee glue or not, here are 5 most common applications of propolis:

1. To boost the immune system – just a drop of a homemade propolis tincture of propolis honey added to each cup of tea you drink is an easy way to improve your immune system and protect yourself from bacterial and viral infections.
2. To deal with acne – a propolis ointment or propolis-based home remedies fast-track your way to eliminate various skin concerns such as acne, cold sore or psoriasis because such products aid in skin’s self-healing processes and soothing irritations.
3. To relieve sunburns, scalds and other wounds – similar positive effects can be achieved when treating sunburned, scalded, frostbitten and scarred skin with propolis. Bee glue aids in and speeds up wound healing, repairs and strengthens skin, and prevents scarring.
4. To combat fungal infection and cold sore – a propolis ointment is also recommended for treating fungal infections (including those affecting the intimate parts) because the royal jelly that such a product contains shows strong fungicidal action. Propolis also deals with viral infections, thus it can help you say goodbye to cold sore or various infections that occur in your oral cavity.
5. To reduce inflammations – obviously, pure propolis and all known propolis-based products are proven to be effective in bringing relief to numerous skin inflammations, no matter if this condition affects the scalp, oral cavity or complexion.