Propolis

What is Propolis?

Similar to the process of making honey, where the bees mix the nectar they collect with their stomach enzymes, propolis is made by mixing the bee’s enzymes with tree sap which they collect. It’s a resin-like material made by bees from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees.

The benefits of propolis (bee glue) have been known for centuries. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians were aware of the healing properties of propolis and made extensive use of it as a medicine. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Modern Medicine” and the Hippocratic Oath, is said to have used propolis to cure wounds and ulcers, both external and internal.
For an in-depth look, visit Historical Aspects of Propolis Research in Modern Times.

While propolis has thousands of years of anecdotal evidence of its efficacy as a medicine, modern science is finally catching up. Numerous pharmaceutical research studies have focused on the propolis produced by stingless bees (Meliponini tribe) and Apis mellifera honeybees as alternative, complementary medicines for the potential treatment of various acute and chronic diseases.

For a summary of recent studies on the role of propolis, visit: NIH .gov “Propolis: Its Role and Efficacy in Human Health and Diseases.”

In these recent lab studies, at least 180 different beneficial compounds have been identified in propolis.  Its antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anesthetic, and healing properties have been confirmed. Propolis has been effectively used in treatment of dermatological, laryngological, and gynecological problems, neurodegenerative diseases, in wound healing, and in treatment of burns and ulcers.

Uses of Propolis

Propolis is valuable both internally and externally. It has excellent antiseptic properties. It can be used either dry or as a tincture. Propolis should be collected carefully to avoid getting bits of wood and hive dirt mixed in with it. It should smell aromatic and pleasant and stored carefully in a clean dry container.

Propolis can be used for a wide range of problems.  

Fresh or powdered propolis can be chewed and swallowed for all types of stomach problems and sore throats.  A small piece of propolis applied directly to the source of an aching tooth will relieve pain. Propolis can be chewed or gently warmed in hot water to become soft then applied to an affected part and covered with a clean dressing. It can be used this way for boils, ringworm, fungal infections, especially on the fingers, and all sorts of wounds and sores.

It is always most effective straight from the hive with no processing other than chewing or gentle warming to soften it.

As well as its well-known effects on stomach problems, especially colitis, all sorts of skin and tooth problems, experiments suggest that propolis may have some effect against arthritis, respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis,  as well as mitigating influenza and maintaining general health and well-being.

Propolis Tinctures:

There are a number of ways that propolis can be processed. The most common way is to use alcohol to extract the key elements of propolis into a tincture. The propolis is soaked in alcohol for three weeks. This gives the maximum extraction of the most significant active elements of the propolis.  If the propolis is for internal consumption the alcohol MUST be of suitable quality for internal consumption.  Denatured alcohol, that is alcohol that has chemicals added to prevent it being drunk, is not suitable as these additives are toxic and may be lethal if taken internally.

 

Only the purest alcohol should be used. In general the higher the concentration of alcohol the more complete the extraction of the most significant active ingredients.  To get the maximum extraction 100% or higher proof alcohol is needed. Four times the quantity of alcohol to propolis is required; i.e. for 250gms of propolis 1 litre of alcohol is required for the extraction.  It is best to avoid the use of heat as this may reduce the quality of the ingredients extracted.

 

You will see many products on the market that use glycerin to extract propolis, however, lab tests have shown that that their biological effect is not remotely as potent as alcohol-extracted material. In addition, oil extraction using high quality oil such as sesame, sunflower, olive or peach oil can also be effective but the soaking must be done for a very long period of time and again will not be as effective as alcohol-based extraction.

Since alcohol is a good preservative the tincture will last for a very long time.

How to Make Propolis Tinctures:

Tools Needed:
  1. Clear grain food grade alcohol (100+ proof)
  2. Scale to measure milligrams
  3. Muslin or fine sieve
  4. Food-grade glass jar with lid
  5. Food Grade, DARK glass tincture bottles
Process:
  1. Mix one part propolis by weight to three parts clear grain alcohol, by weight. (ideally 100+% proof, organic, grain alcohol.) Food grade alcohol (un-denatured alcohol or ethanol) of this strength can be hard to obtain but do not be tempted to use rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol as it should not be ingested. If such high-proof alcohol cannot be found, use the highest proof available. The solution will not be as concentrated as some of the propolis will not be dissolved.
  2. Place the alcohol and propolis in a glass jar or wide-mouthed bottle. Fasten the lid and shake the mixture vigorously.
  3. Store the propolis tincture mix in a dark place. Not too cool, room temperature will suffice.
  4. Shake a couple of times daily for up to three weeks.
  5. Strain the mixture through muslin, coffee filter or a sieve. Pour into a food grade jar or bottle (preferably dark glass) and store in a dark place. The solution should be clear and dark.
  6. The propolis that is left in the filter can be kept and reused to make another propolis tincture if not all has dissolved. Either replace into the glass jar and cover with alcohol straight away or freeze.

DNA Studies of Propolis:

Typically, propolis contains lipid, beeswax, essential oils, pollen, and organic components.

The latter include flavonoids, phenolic compounds, polyphenols, terpenes, terpenoids, coumarins, steroids, amino acids, and aromatic acids. The biologically active constituents of propolis, which include countless organic compounds such as artepillin C, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, apigenin, chrysin, galangin, kaempferol, luteolin, genistein, naringin, pinocembrin, coumaric acid, and quercetin, have a broad spectrum of biological and therapeutic properties such as anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstruct pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract-related diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and immuno-inflammatory agents.

For a summary of recent studies on the role of propolis, its constituents, its biologically active compounds, and their efficacy in the medicinal and pharmaceutical treatment of chronic diseases visit NIH.gov.