Propolis

Propolis is one of nature’s most remarkable substances. It’s produced by honey bees from tree and plant resins combined with wax. The bees use propolis to block up holes in their hives – it’s very sticky! But propolis also has many health benefits. It acts as a kind of external immune system, protecting the colony from infection and disease.

Propolis Being Made by Honey Bees

Many beekeepers consider propolis a nuisance – being unaware of its healing properties. However, propolis has been used as a natural remedy by humans all over the world for millennia.

Harvested in its raw state, propolis first goes through a refining process. This removes most of the wax, along with bits of wood and other debris. Generally, for every 100g of raw propolis, around 40g of refined propolis can be produced.

Propolis is high in flavonoids. This is a group of chemicals known for their antioxidant effects. An interesting fact about propolis is that depending on where it is harvested its chemical make-up varies. This is because the trees bees use to make this precious resin vary from location to location. As a result, some propolis appears to be more antiviral, whilst other propolis may be more anti-fungal or anti-inflammatory.

The refined propolis can then be used in various ways. For example, for capsules and tablets the propolis is ground into a fine powder before encapsulation. For liquid products such the refined propolis is combined with alcohol or glycol. This process causes the flavonoids to be extracted into the liquid. Alcohol is highly bioavailable – meaning it is quickly absorbed by the body. Subsequently, Propolis Tincture has been one of the primary methods of consuming propolis.

Propolis products vary, and so do their application. Propolis can be applied topically – directly to the skin. This can be especially helpful for treating things like acne, where the anti-inflammatory properties of propolis can help reduce inflammation. For example, our Propolis Cream contains propolis extract and can be applied directly to the skin. Our Propolis Lip Balm contains propolis extract along with Vitamin E which is known to promote skin health. Propolis can also be found in oral health products. These include Propolis Toothpaste, Propolis Mouthwash and our ground-breaking B-Gel. All of these products are efficient ways to apply propolis directly to the area needing treatment.

Alternatively, Propolis Tablets and Propolis Capsules are great ways of consuming propolis regularly. Propolis has a strong taste, so being able to swallow propolis in the form of a capsule is preferable for some.

In recent years propolis has transitioned from being a folk remedy to something which is the subject of much scientific research. In many nations around the globe propolis is a regular part of healthcare. It is particularly well used in Brazil, South East Asia and Japan, for example. But now, with much ground-breaking research being undertaken into its medicinal properties, propolis is becoming far better known in other parts of the world.

In recent years antibiotic resistance has become a major concern for healthcare professionals. Research demonstrates that propolis has the potential to reverse this trend. Research has also been undertaken into the use of propolis to treating patients with respiritory illnesses with promising results.

We have compiled a selection of scientific research papers which demonstrate the power of propolis. These are all peer-reviewed projects undertaken by some of the world’s leading researchers. We encourage you to have a look at some of the evidence for yourself.

Bee Propolis Research Papers

Below are a small selection of research papers exploring the health benefits of propolis:

Evidence on the Health Benefits of Supplemental Propolis

Propolis and its potential against SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and COVID-19 disease

Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiparasitic Properties of Propolis: A Review

The use of propolis in dentistry, oral health, and medicine: A review

For more papers please explore Google Scholar or other sources of high quality research papers.

What is bee propolis?

The word propolis was coined by Aristotle from the Greek words Pro (before) and Polis (City), meaning ‘before the city’ or ‘defender of the city’. This is because our friends, the bees, are extremely keen on cleanliness and security in their hives. Bees go to extreme lengths to defend against intruders, bacteria and other foreign bodies. In fact, beehives are said to be one of the most sterile environments in nature! And propolis is their weapon of choice.

Decline in use

With the advent of modern synthetic drug-based medicines, around 100 years ago in the West, the use of propolis along with other natural products began to decline in favour of the New Medicine. Much of modern medicine is derived from plant sources but now based on single active ingredients designed to target specific health problems.

Only in Eastern Europe - Russia, Romania, the old Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Poland, did propolis continue to be used and its scientific basis researched. Medical institutes in Russia since the 1930's have carried out a great deal of practical research into the chemical structure and in particular the antibiotic function of propolis.

Synergy of Propolis

Many attempts have been made to isolate those particular chemicals in propolis thought to be the 'actives', but in general researchers agree that it is the combined and synergistic effect of propolis which remains most effective.

Pharmacological studies - studies which have looked at propolis in vitro i.e. not in humans - have illustrated, amongst others, the antibiotic, anti inflammatory, anti viral, antifungal, antioxidant and antiseptic properties of propolis.

The fact that propolis has so many different properties makes it able to work in a whole or 'holistic' way - that is, through its ability to trigger the body's own fighting mechanisms rather than by killing or destroying specific bacteria, viruses or fungi.

“I've spent much of my career researching the use of propolis as a health supplement for humans. I'm delighted to have helped create BeeVital propolis products and hope that propolis grows in use - it's one of nature's most amazing natural remedies!”

By Debbie Hadley

Updated on February 09, 2019

Honey bees are best known for making honey, and to a lesser degree, for making beeswax. But honey bees also make another product—bee propolis.

Bee Glue

Bee propolis is a sticky, brown substance sometimes known as bee glue. The honey bees gather tree resin, the main ingredient in propolis, from buds and cracks in the bark. The bees add salivary secretions to the resin by chewing on it and add beeswax to the mix. Propolis has a little pollen in it, too. When analyzed, propolis contains about 50% resin, 30% wax and oils, 10% salivary secretions, 5% pollen, and 5% amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

The honey bee workers use propolis as a construction material, similar to plaster or caulk. They cover the interior surfaces of the hive with it and fill any gaps and cracks. Bees also use it to strengthen their honeycomb. In a man-made hive box, the bees will use propolis to seal the lid and hive boxes together. The beekeeper uses a special hive tool to break the propolis seal and remove the lid.

Propolis May Have Therapeutic Qualities

Propolis is known to have antimicrobial properties, and many scientists are studying the potential uses of propolis as a therapy for certain diseases. Propolis is particularly effective at killing the microorganisms that cause gum disease. It has also been shown to be effective at inhibiting the growth of certain cancers.

Sources

Beekeepers' Association Newsletter, Mississippi State University (Jan. 2006).
Understanding the Honey Bee, Purdue University.