Bee Propolis

What is Bee Propolis?

Bee propolis is nature’s resilient protector. It’s made up of over 300 natural compounds, consisting of approximately: 50% resins, 30% wax, 10% oils, 5% bee pollen, and 5% vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

The beehive is one of the cleanest environments in nature because it is protected from bacteria and viruses by this extraordinary concoction called propolis – which means “defender of the city.”

This sticky brown resin-like mixture is produced by honey bees when they combine their own saliva and beeswax with conifer or poplar trees and plant resins, tree waxes, tree and flower sap, pollen, and enzymes. Just like honey, the color and composition of propolis vary widely from plant sources, collection time, collection location, and even from hive to hive.

Worker honey bees use propolis to seal small unwanted gaps and holes in the hive while larger unwanted gaps are filled with beeswax. Propolis is also used to strengthen the honeycomb and guard the hive against intruders.

If the hive is invaded by a large enemy, like a beetle snake or lizard, then killed in the hive, the honeybees use propolis to wrap the invader. This mummification protects the hive from infection due to its potent antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Honeybees are very meticulous and fastidious and will promptly remove any waste produced inside the colony.

Benefits of Bee Propolis

Bee propolis is a superfood, rich in bioflavonoids, and amino acids, and is a good source of trace minerals, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. It’s very useful as both an ingestible and a topical, depending on what you need.

Bee propolis as an Ingestible

Bee propolis can be used as an ingestible or food supplement to help fend off and treat a variety of health conditions. Propolis stimulates the thymus gland, a small organ behind the breastbone that plays an important role in both the immune and endocrine systems. Propolis can be very effective for respiratory issues such as the sore throat or cough. Built by Bees makes an all-raw honey product called “Fit For a Queen” which includes propolis. To learn more about this healthy product, please visit here.

Bee propolis as a Topical

With a wide range of healing properties, it’s also used as a topical healing agent for burns, minor wounds, and infections.  Propolis can aid rashes or infections and is also effective in reducing inflammation. This mixture of tree resins, beeswax, and pollen has lavish amounts of healing antioxidants, and is renowned for softening, healing, and restoring problem skin.

Allergies and Risks

People who are allergic to bee stings, bee pollen, honey, conifer or poplar trees should not use propolis unless first tested by an allergy specialist.