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Propolis is a vegetable mastic made by honeybees from resins
collected on the bark and buds of certain trees and balsamic
plants. Bees bring the resins back to the hive and appear to
partially modify them by mixing in some of their own secretions
(mainly wax and salivary secretions) .
Historic
Renowned and appreciated for its medicinal properties since antiquity,
its name originates from Greek - "pro" meaning "in
front of" and "polis" meaning "city or town".
The name was probably chosen because of the way bees reduce their
entrance with propolis to make the hive easier to defend. The
writings of Aristotle, Pline and the Iranian doctor, Ibn Sina,
all describe the healing properties of propolis for suppurating
wounds, abscesses and boils..
During the Boer War (1899 - 1902), it was used, along with honey,
to treat the soldiers' wounds. However, after this, it fell into
obscurity due to all the new chemical healing salves.
Origin
A variety of
trees produce resins for honeybees to transform into propolis,
the main source is sticky buds. In our regions, bees collect
this precious raw material from the following trees: pine, Norway
spruce, alder, willow, horse-chestnut, birch, plum, ash, oak,
poplar.
Properties
The consistency
of propolis varies with changes in temperature.
15°C - hard and brittle
30°C - soft and malleable
30°C to 60°C - sticky and gluey
It has a melting point of about 70°C
When heated in a bain-marie it separates into two parts:
- a viscous mass which sinks to the bottom
- a waxy liquid known as propolis wax, which floats to the surface,
and which is useful in many areas of beekeeping.
Propolis is insoluble in water
It is partially soluble in alcohol, acetone, ammoniac, benzene,
chloroform, ether, trichlorethylene, etc..
The many components in propolis can be almost fully dissolved
by using a judicious mixture of various solvents.
Color
The color of
propolis varies greatly, depending on its plant source, from
light-yellow through the whole range of browns to almost black.
Flavor
It has a bitter,
pungent taste.
Odor
Its fragrance
depends on the plant source but is generally pleasant and sweetish,
a mixture of honey, wax and other fragrances such as cinnamon,
vanilla, etc.. When burnt, it gives off an exquisite and refined
scent, due to its high content of aromatic resins.
Uses
of propolis
1 - In the hive
Bees use propolis in two different ways:
- as mastic to fill up holes or cracks or to fix moveable sections
(brood and super frames, etc.)
- as a thin antiseptic paint to protect the hive (walls, cells,
frames, etc.) Everything in the hive that is in contact with
the bees is covered with this substance. Any enemies killed in
the hive which are too big for the bees to throw out, are mummified
in a coating of propolis.
2 - For medicinal purposes
Propolis is known to have:
- important and wide-spectrum antibiotic properties covering
numerous bacterial groups
- powerful anesthetic properties, superior to many others, including
cocaine, without the harmful secondary effects associated with
these drugs.
- remarkable healing properties due to its stimulating effect
on tissue growth.
- anti-inflammatory properties and a positive influence on the
immune system.
Note
Beside these
well known medicinal properties, propolis is also used in agriculture
to fight plant viruses for crops such as tobacco and cucumber.
It also contains growth inhibiting substance, this has been observed
with hemp, lettuces, potatoes, garlic, onions, shallots, etc..
How
bees harvest propolis
Propolis is gathered
by the oldest bees. The harvest is carried out in the following
way.
- The forager uses its antennae first to determine the most interesting
part of the plant, which it then attacks with its mandibles.
- Then, its lifts its head and pulls back on the resin particle
until it forms a thin thread which finally snaps.
- The bee packs this thread of resin into one of the baskets
on its hind legs using its other legs as tools and gradually
accumulates a pellet in each basket to take back to the hive
(somewhat smaller than a pollen pellet, as pollen is lighter
than propolis).
This foraging
task is very time consuming but it is carried out with such dexterity
that the bee never gets upset or tangled up in the sticky load
it handles (this suggests that the bee is able to protect itself
during the harvest by special secretions).
Once back in the hive, the propolis forager is unloaded by other
worker bees, either at the hive entrance or more often at the
actual spot where the glue is needed. It is a long process, which
can take from one to several hours.
How
beekeepers harvest propolis
There are two
ways of harvesting propolis.
1 - By scraping it off the frames and walls of the supers.
It is best to do this in low temperatures when the propolis is
hard and brittle and comes away easily.
2 - The most productive method is with special plastic
or metal screens. These are placed on the hive in place of frame
covers. As honeybees hate draughts and cracks they will hasten
to fill the holes with propolis. The best time to present the
bees with a propolis screen is after the last summer harvest,
the bees undertake propolising with greater enthusiasm knowing
that winter is only round the corner.
Quantity
Varies greatly,
depending on the colony and the environment. A hive usually produces
between 100 and 300 grams per year. It should be pointed out
that bee-glue in the hive contains impurities and cannot be employed
as such for most therapeutic uses.
Storage
Propolis should
be stored in opaque, well-sealed containers in a cool place.
It appears that it can be kept for an indefinite period under
these conditions without losing any of its antibacterial properties.
Practical
uses
In its raw state,
propolis can be chewed straight after harvesting, but it is usually
presented in other forms for general use. It goes without saying
that it should be perfectly clean before being used in any kind
of preparation .
1 - Tincture of propolis
(tincture in alcohol)
Take 1 to 2 parts of ground propolis for 10 parts of ethyl alcohol
70°. Place the mixture into a well-sealed, opaque recipient
. Let it macerate at room temperature for several days (generally
8 to 10). Shake the mixture well several times a day. On the
last day, filter it carefully to obtain the extract of propolis.
It is preferable to use 70° ethyl alcohol as it draws out
more of the active ingredients in propolis. This method produces
a soft extract as well as the tincture of propolis.
A wonderful way of speeding up the healing of scratches and light
burns.
2 - Healing ointment (external
use)
Recipe 1
soft propolis extract 10g
lanolin 10g
petroleum jelly (Vaseline) 80g
Recipe 2
soft propolis extract 10g
lanolin 10g
yellow wax 5 g
lard 100 g
3 - Varnish
1. linseed oil varnish for treating wood
linseed oil 800 g
beeswax 250 g
propolis 400 g
2 - Russian varnish
For very exposed or antique woodwork
linseed oil 200 g
beeswax 50 g
propolis 100 g
Heat carefully
to obtain homogeneous mixture. Leave to settle for fifteen days,
then reheat and apply a warm coat to the wood. Let dry and polish.
4 - Miscellaneous
4.1. Cough syrup
thyme infusion 150 ml
soft propolis extract 20g
honey (to taste)
lemon juice (to taste)
Dissolve the ingredients in the 70° tincture of propolis
and filter .
Take 1 large spoon three times a day .
4.2. Solution for inhalation
Melt 60g propolis and 40g wax in a bain-marie
Inhale for 10 minutes morning and evening.
4.3. Propolis honey
Grind 10g of cold , perfectly clean propolis
Mix it with a 500g honey pot
4.4. Propolis butter for
stomach ulcers
Dissolve propolis in 60° alcohol
Incorporate it little by little into butter until saturation
is reached.
4.5. Commercialization
Currently, there is a strong demand for propolis, especially
from the cosmetic and dietary industries. However, they require
top-grade clean propolis obtained by professional harvesting
methods and not scrapings from frames and supers.
Dietary and cosmetic products containing propolis commercialized
by these same firms are now available in many stores and pharmacies.
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