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Bee Propolis
All About Propolis
What does propolis do?
Propolis is a sticky resin
that seeps from the buds of some trees and oozes from the bark of other trees,
chiefly conifers. The bees gather propolis, sometimes called bee glue, and carry
it home in their pollen baskets. They blend it with wax flakes secreted from
special glands on their abdomens. Propolis is used to slickly line the interior
of brood cells in preparation for the queen's laying of eggs, a most important
procedure. With its antiseptic properties, this propolis lining insures a
hospital-clean environment for the rearing of brood.
Chemically speaking,
propolis is a very complex mixture. Its chemical elements vary according to its
source. Colors range from golden brown to brownish green to reddish brown to
blackish brown. A broad analysis reveals approximately 55 percent resinous
compounds and balsam, 30 percent beeswax, 10 percent ethereal and aromatic oils,
and 5 percent bee pollen. Many flavonols contribute to propolis. Other
components include cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, vanillin, caffeic acid,
tetochrysin, isalpinin, pinocembrin, chrysin, galangin, and ferulic acid.
Propolis
contains protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids. For this reason, some people use propolis as a
general nutritional supplement, although it would take large amounts of propolis
to supply meaningful amounts of these nutrients. Propolis may stimulate the
body’s immune system, according to preliminary human studies, and a controlled trial
found propolis-containing mouthwash effective in healing surgical wounds
in the mouth. In test tube studies propolis has shown considerable activity against bacteria
and yeast associated with dental cavities gingivitis, and periodontal disease
but one human study showed that propolis was no better than a placebo in inhibiting dental plaque formation.
The above information should
not be seen as a claim for any remedial properties, it is entirely based on
experience of propolis users, therefore it is advisable to consult your
physician or homeopath regarding treatment).
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