Bee Propolis: Nature's Antibiotic

Although fear is the most common reaction to bees, most people deal with them because they are aware of the benefits and natural services they provide. Gardeners love bees because they will pollinate their crops and vegetables which is required for most fruits and vegetables to begin their cycle of growth. Food lovers tolerate bees because of the sweet substance of honey is just so very tasty. What most people don't know, is that bees produce other natural products that have been used for centuries in treating infections and the spread of disease. Bee propolis, is just one of those products.

Propolis is a resinous substance occurring naturally in the buds and barks of many trees. This sticky ooze, is gathered by bees and blended with their own wax and used with the construction and building of their hives. Propolis can be golden in color, but also range from reds, browns, greens, and blacks. It depends on the actual raw material being used. Bees use this material in much the same way we use caulk in our homes. Because of its stickiness it is used to seal gaps in the hive, but its strength also makes it an excellent reinforcement.

Propolis has been harvested and used by humans for centuries, mostly in the world of medicine. Among its uses have been to treat burns, a remedy for sore throats, and to treat canker sores. The most notable use, however, depends on the natural anti-microbial properties of bee propolis. As an antibiotic, its effectiveness has stood up to even the scrutiny of traditional medicine.

Bee propolis can be bought in several forms. Tablet and capsules for oral ingestion are popular, but even more so are the topical ointments, creams, and lotions. The ointment is especially effective for treating wounds and preventing infections. It is said to work by preventing bacteria from reproducing and breaking down their cell walls. It is also shown as effective against viruses, but the exact mechanism for this is not yet verified.

Propolis can be harvested and used raw, but this is a difficult process. It must first be found, recognized, and carefully removed from the wax structures of the hive. But once you have a raw propolis, it can be used orally by rolling small pieces into small ball-shaped pellets that can be swallowed. Because of it's stickiness, it can also be applied directly to open cuts and wounds. It is recommended, however, that the refined and cleaned propolis in store-bought pills and ointments be used instead. These preparations have been prepared especially for their ease of application. These products can be bought online or at nearly every health-food store in the country.

If you are trying to watch your chemical intake and are untrusting of many pharmaceuticals, bee propolis is a step in the right direction. If you are sensitive to honey or other bee products, do not use propolis. Negative reactions are often stronger than with other bee products. If you have no known sensitivity, then by all means use it in both the oral forms, for health maintenance, and topical forms for more immediate concerns for infection.