Propolis – bee resin for a stronger immune system

To strengthen our immune system, promote healthy digestion or prevent colds, a healthy and balanced diet is the key, but not only that.

We also like to use nutritional supplements, pills and drops on a herbal basis to prepare us for the cold season. One of these meanwhile very often advertised remedies is propolis.

But what is it, what are the special properties of the bee resin and how can it help our body in the prevention of diseases and the healing process?

What is propolis?

We owe the propolis to our bees. They collect not only pollen, but also from the buds and barks of deciduous trees the substance propolis. They enrich them with wax, salivary secretions and pollen and use them as building material for their hives.

Propolis bee resin serves not only as a glue, but also as a defense against fungi and bacteria. And that’s exactly what also makes the substance so interesting and valuable to us humans.

Origin and composition

The germ-inhibiting property of the also as bee resin, bee glue, plugging wax or Kittharz called substance, is extremely estimated in the alternative medicine. In order to obtain a sufficient amount of propolis, beekeepers use fine-meshed nets or nets with a special coating. Plastic grid in the sticks.

The bees fill the spaces they create in this way with wax for plugging. To harvest the bee’s resin, beekeepers then remove the grids. Frozen it is then pounded and ground into powder. This is then found in dietary supplements such as drops, tablets, ointments, tinctures and sprays.

Propolis consists mostly of waxes and resins. The most effective components are based on flavonoids. This is followed by hydroxycinnamic acids such as coffee or. Ferulic acid. In addition, water-soluble components such as sugar, vitamins, bee enzymes, trace elements and minerals.

Properties

Depending on the exact composition of bee putty as a multi-substance mixture, it is said to have different properties. Studies on the effects and properties of propolis have shown that the substance has antibiotic, wound healing and antidepressant effects.

For an overview of the best propolis products, we recommend this page: https://www.bee gold.net/propolis.

What can propolis help?

Due to the special properties of the bee resin, propolis can be used especially for the following symptoms and skin irritations:

• Skin impurities,
• skin inflammations and irritations,
• Sunburn and small burns of the skin,
• eczema,
• Irritation of the lips,
• minor injuries of the mucous membranes,
• Gum inflammation,
• rheumatic complaints,
• small cuts and abrasions,
• necrotic wounds.

Antioxidant effect

Propolis is supposed to counteract antioxidative stress. It is said to trap free radicals, which has been confirmed by studies on rats. Responsible for this are mainly the contained flavonoids.

Virostatic and anitmikrobielle effect

The ingredients of the bee resin, here also especially the flavonoids and caffeic acid esters show a bactericidal, antifungal and virostatic effect.

Aqueous and alcoholic propolis extracts have an antibiotic effect. In addition, an antiviral effect, for example, against herpes viruses has also been proven. In addition, the bee putty can be growth-inhibiting for skin fungi.

bee resin to promote wound healing

The substances apigenin and luteolin present in bee resin can promote wound healing. Smaller abrasions or cuts and brittle and chapped lips are treated with an ointment made of the substance.

How to use propolis?

The preparations are found in different dosage forms. For external application, for example for wound healing, there are ointments and creams or also sprays. Do not use it on open wounds that are oozing or still bleeding. Otherwise, the preparations can be applied to the skin several times a day to support the healing process.

Furthermore, there are products for ingestion such as capsules, powders or solutions. Here the antioxidant effect and the general health-promoting effect are in the foreground. These include gargle solutions, which can support dental health and oral hygiene.

Note: Propolis and its extracts and products are not approved as medicines, but are a form of nutritional supplement or food supplement. Supporting the self-healing powers of our body as an alternative remedy. The effects have not yet been scientifically proven in humans. Only the homeopathic preparations such as highly potentized propolis tinctures, drops or globules have drug status.

What to consider when using?

In principle, propolis and its various products do no harm to humans and have very few side effects, but it has been proven that about 4 percent of the population is highly allergic to the natural product.

For example, if you have an allergy to wasps or bee stings, you probably belong to this population group, which should rather refrain from using bee putty products.

Pollen allergy sufferers should also be careful when taking or using propolis products. After all, bee resin consists of about ten percent pollen. It is not uncommon for this to be poplar pollen, which causes allergic reactions in many people.

The risks and side effects of bee putty have not yet been sufficiently researched. therefore pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised not to use such products.

Where to buy propolis?

In many states in Germany and Austria you can buy propolis and the tinctures, ointments or gargle solutions directly from beekeepers. But this is not regulated everywhere in the same way.

If you don’t have a beekeeper nearby, however, feel free to look around at health food stores, organic food stores, and pharmacies. Also online you can find more and more propolis products.