Ancient Secrets of Propolis

Normally one would assume that bees only make honey but that is not true. Bees have the ability to produce a substance known as propolis which is a combination of sap derived from evergreens and needle sap along with beeswax and bee’s discharges. This combination is propolis and is greenish brown in color and sticky by nature.

People have been using this substance for a thousand years for many reasons. The Egyptians used this to embalm their mummies, the Assyrians would apply it on their tumors and wounds as it was believed to have healing properties and the Greeks used this substance when it came to treating abscesses.  The propolis composition varies from place to place as it is dependent on the bees, the flowers and the trees that are accessible to the bees. For example, the propolis from Brazil will not be the same kind as found in Europe and therefore makes it tough for scientists to come up with a list of general health benefits from propolis. Propolis is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal. It is believed to be able to cure certain types of cancers.  The substance is used in several beauty treatments and is used for treating injuries that occur on the skin, helps in fighting infections, after a dental surgery it helps in healing the mouth, helps in increasing one’s immunity and helps cure sores and genital infections.

Propolis is available over the counter and is usually found in topical creams like ointments, lotions and creams.  It is available in liquid extracts, tablets, capsules and therefore can also be taken orally.  The dosage is written on the medicine by the manufacturer and there are no prescribed dosages since the research is still ongoing regarding what is the best dosage of this substance. Moreover, specialists are still trying to find out how propolis works to protect the body from certain virus, bacteria and fungi. In experiments on rats that are suffering from diabetes, it worked to cure them, but the research work is still continuing. Ointments like Coldsore-FX and Herstat contain around three percent of propolis and help in healing sores that occur from genital herpes and cold sores. Research says that propolis can be considered a viable option when it comes to healing the herpes virus.

Propolis and its products are not considered unsafe to use but there is not enough proof to show whether they are safe or not. One should keep in mind that if you are allergic to bees or honey then this product will not be safe for you to use. Propolis has a tendency to produce its own allergic reaction if it is used for a considerable time period. You should consult a doctor if you are planning to use propolis and are prone to certain allergies or are suffering from asthma.

Although propolis has properties that have been proven to have healing properties, there is still a lot of research that is needed to make sure that it is safe to use.