Bee Propolis Benefits

Bees make honey and wax, carry out pollination, so flowers can grow and have an organized work and social structure, something that has influenced human society since ages. Bees are one of nature's busiest workers. They work day and night and fly long distances, in the interest of their hive. A less known but useful bee product is propolis. Bee propolis benefits are largely medicinal in nature. Let's take a look at bee propolis and its benefits.

What is Bee Propolis?
A beehive is made up of millions of honeycombs, which are tiny hexagonal sections that divide the hive into small cubicles. In construction, one uses cement to bind the bricks together. In a beehive, propolis is used by the bees to seal open spaces and cracks. Tree sap collected from conifers, pines, flowers and small buds, along with small amounts of bee saliva, make up propolis. The exact content of propolis cannot be determined as bees visit a lot of trees during a pollination drive, and it's difficult to trace their path from tree to tree. Propolis differs from hive to hive and region to region, as well as season to season.

Propolis should not be confused with beeswax, which is wax produced by natural secretions of the female worker bees. Beeswax is used to create the actual honeycomb cells. A mixture of beeswax and propolis is used to cement larger openings in the hive and seal brood cells.

Propolis Extract Benefits
Both humans and bees enjoy the benefits of bee propolis. Bees use propolis to increase the hive's defenses by sealing off extra entrances and holes. Propolis is thought to reduce vibration and structurally enhance the hive's architecture. It is used to line the nest, due to its bacterial properties, which helps in cutting down infections and diseases among the larvae and grown bees. When a lizard or foreign insect enters the hive and dies, the body is too large for the bees to carry outside, and so propolis is used to cover the body and mummify it.

Propolis is the bee's version of a sanitizer. But for humans, the benefits are tenfold. It is often prescribed as a natural remedy or traditional medicine. Some proven bee propolis benefits are:

• Used as topical cream, it can be applied to small wounds.
• Used to treat sores in the mouth and sore throats.
• Used to treat second degree burns, helps in reducing inflammation
• Used as a mouthwash, reduces infection after surgery

In other studies:

• Research conducted by Professor S. Scheller and his team at the Institute for Microbiology at the Medical Academy in Poland, found that propolis is able to stimulate the immune system.
• Propolis helps in strengthening the liver against alcohol and tetrachloride, according to studies done in 1986 and 1987.
• Bee propolis increases the effects of penicillin and other antibiotics, in research conducted by scientist E.L. Ghisalberti of the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Western Australia.
• In veterinary research, propolis is found to improve milk-fed calves weight gain and reduce diarrhea.

Nowadays, propolis is being investigated as a possible treatment for cancer, bowel problems and reducing blood pressure.

Side Effects
The benefits are many but side effects have been observed in some groups of people. People who can be sensitive to propolis are:

• Those allergic to bee stings
• Those allergic to bee pollen
• Pregnant women. Due to lack of research conducted in this area, pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using propolis
• Asthma patients
• Those allergic to balsam of Peru (also called black popular)

If you are allergic to propolis, you may experience eczema, swelling and develop rashes. With propolis intake, it is best to start gradually. Start with small quantities, slowly increasing your intake to its full dosage.

Bee propolis benefits are another reason why bee conservation is important. The role that bees play in our lives has just become larger, thanks to propolis, their by-product that helps us health-wise. If you find a beehive in your garden, don't squash it or spray it with pesticide. Think of the hard work it took to make the hive and how every little product of the bee (honey, wax, propolis) is good for you. Be good to bees because everything they do is good for you.