The making of honey is indeed a tedious process that takes the team spirit of thousands of bees in a hive. Of the numerous varieties of available honey, of them stands out; the propolis honey. Research indicates that this kind of honey is made up of up to 50% resins, 30% wax, 10% essential oils, 5% pollen, and debris each. This intricate process involves the worker bees collecting leaf buds, tree barks, sap, and plant resins, among others.
How propolis is made and what are the benefits to the bees?
It is believed that the bees then proceed to blend the resins with their saliva by chewing to ensure that they are pliable prior to storing it in the pollen basket. Upon returning to the hive, the bees work as a team to extract propolis by mixing the resins with honey, enzymes, and wax.
Researchers estimate that propolis contains at least 300 different compounds, mostly polyphenols known as flavonoids, which are antioxidants responsible for fighting infections from the body. They are especially available in plants and plant parts such as fruits, vegetables, red wine, and green tea.
The main reason why bees go through the propolis with the honey-making process is to use the substance for repairing beehives such as fixing cracks, seal holes, or just to ensure that the beehive’s inner surface is smooth. It is further essential in the maintenance of beehive’s internal temperatures, keep predators at bay, strengthen their walls, and possibly just make it smell good.
Are there any benefits of propolis honey to humans?
According to some studies, propolis has numerous applications and benefits. First, it is believed to contain anti-inflammatory properties that can be used to relieve the chronic and acute pain caused by various medical conditions or even accidents. It is especially useful for various types of infections, inflammations, torsions, and rheumatism. Experts argue that propolis spray and other derived products are rich in antioxidant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antimycotic, immunomodulatory, and anticancer properties, among others. Kindly note that some of these findings are in preliminary stages, and more research is needed to draw firm conclusions on the subject.
Ancient applications of propolis
The medical properties of propolis honey have been used from ancient times. The Assyrians, for example, used to apply it to tumors and wounds to expedite the healing process and cushion them from infections. The Egyptians, on the other hand, used propolis for embalming their mummies while the Greeks used it for the treatment of abscesses.
Modern-day applications of propolis
With all the aforementioned characteristics, propolis-infused products such as propolis candy and propolis powder online have become very popular? Their demand has been soaring as most people prefer conventional natural remedies to conditions as opposed to pharmaceutical alternatives. It is especially common to find some cosmetic products enriched with propolis due to one or more of the aforementioned benefits.
According to various user reviews, many people buy and use propolis powder online for topical applications to treat cold sores, burns, or wounds. A number of others have confirmed using propolis spray for rinsing wounds after surgical applications while others use it to manage serious medical complications caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens.
How do you effectively use propolis?
In as much as most people buy honey online for various applications, the truth is that there is very minimal scientific proof that it helps manage symptoms of all the conditions that marketers want you to believe. It is therefore advisable that you consult your physician or specialist on the effectiveness of their use for any condition. Nonetheless, stick to the prescription drugs and in most cases, since there are no known severe side effects of natural remedies such as propolis with honey, you can only use it to complement the pharmaceutical remedies and not as a replacement.
At the moment, the propolis spray is believed to be one of the most popular because it is used by people to boost their immunity and guard them against the different viruses responsible for causing sore throats. Medical experts have actually recommended the spray for people dealing with stress, insomnia, flu, and cold. Even though humans have found numerous benefits from propolis, the fact remains that, the bees create them for their own use as earlier mentioned.
How safe is propolis?
Generally, propolis-infused products such as propolis candy are considered safe, but there is no sufficient evidence to ascertain their safety levels. That said, individuals with a history of allergies to bees, honey, and honey products risk experiencing some side effects upon using propolis. One of the most common allergic reactions that have been reported so far is skin breakout similar to eczema. You are therefore encouraged to talk to your doctor before using these products especially if you have pre-existing allergies or conditions such as asthma.
How to and where to buy propolis
You can easily purchase propolis powder online or select pharmacies and food supplement stores. Please read and understand the label use instructions even though there is no known recommended dosage. Always purchase from a reputable brand for the best results.