Nature has given man a large number of various useful products, among which there is beeswax. This is a unique substance that can have a complex effect on the body. There are legends about the benefits and harms of wax. The composition of the wax allows it to be used in medicine and cosmetology. Nature always provides us with everything we need to maintain he alth, and wax is one of those components that have no analogues. The natural product is unique, has many useful properties. It is safe for children, pregnant and lactating women. What is so special about this bee product?
How wax is made
Wax is a unique product of beekeeping. Like honey, nectar, propolis, it has miraculous properties. It is produced in the body of worker bees and is released on the surface of wax mirrors, where it solidifies in the form of wax scales, which serve as material for honeycombs. At different times of the year, the product has a different color. In the spring hewhite, and by autumn it becomes yellow, sometimes dark brown.
In its pure form, wax is obtained by melting. For this, bee raw materials are used: wax trimmings, honeycombs, comb residues after forcing honey, zabrus. Various methods are used to obtain wax: water, extraction, steam and dry. Regardless of the method chosen, wax retains all the beneficial ingredients that make it so highly regarded.
What it consists of
The product has a complex composition, in which there are more than fifty components and compounds. The composition of the wax includes the following substances:
- esters - over 70%;
- fatty acids - about 15%;
- minerals, carotenoids, vitamins - about 2%;
- saturated hydrocarbons - about 10%;
- other components (water, propolis, pollen, etc.) - up to 5%.
The percentage of components depends on the time of year and the variety of bees.
The wax contains essential oils. They allow the product to be preserved for a long time without changing its structure.
The chemical composition of beeswax contains a small amount of substances that color the product and give it a fragrance.
Free fatty acids are represented by lemon balm, cerotinic and neocerotinic, montanoic, oleic. They help dissolve metals and react with alkalis.
As a result of the interaction of fatty acids and alcohols, esters are formed. Of the alcohols, the esters include cetyl,myricyl and others.
When an alkaline solution is boiled with wax, esters are saponified and decomposed. As a result, free fatty acids and alcohols with one atom are released.
The chemical composition of beeswax also includes carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The product contains a small amount of oxygen compared to other substances. Because of this, a small amount of heat is released during combustion and oxidation.
The chemical composition of the wax changes, but only slightly. It depends on the breed of bees, the place of detention. The stingless bee product contains about 40% resin, about 1% ash, and the ash content of stingless bees is about 0.03%.
How to distinguish a real product from a fake
Often unscrupulous beekeepers offer a fake under the guise of wax. To distinguish it from the real product is simple:
- look at the color - in a real product it ranges from white to dark brown, it smells like honey or propolis;
- has a matte finish when cut;
- when heated, beeswax does not change its color;
- if you take a piece of wax in your hands and knead it, you will leave greasy traces;
- if you put wax in water or alcohol, the wax sinks to the bottom and the fake floats to the surface;
- some test the real product by chewing it: the real one doesn't stick to the teeth.
Because of the unique composition of the wax is expensive. If the costproduct is lower than other beekeepers, then this is a fake or low-quality product.
What is the use of
The composition of beeswax determines its benefits. This substance has a pronounced bactericidal effect, which is why it is recommended for inflammatory pathologies, burns, wounds, ulcers. Chewing the bee product helps to relieve inflammation in the oral cavity and pharynx.
Wax is considered a good natural sorbent that cleanses the body no worse than activated carbon. When used internally, it helps to activate the digestive system, improves intestinal motility, and also normalizes the intestinal microflora, treats dysbacteriosis.
It is safest to buy wax in specialized stores selling bee products. Natural beeswax is also sold in a pharmacy. But you should refuse to buy a product in the markets.
Where used
Due to its composition, beeswax has been widely used in a wide variety of human activities: cosmetology, electrical and food industries, and pharmaceuticals.
In folk medicine, it is valued for its anti-inflammatory properties. On the basis of wax, ointments are made to help overcome colds and dermatological diseases. In cosmetology, wax is used in its pure form, and it is also included in the composition of masks, lotions, shampoos, creams.
Physical properties
Due to the components of the chemical composition of the wax, it can be of very different colors: white, yellow, grayish,dark yellow. Wax does not sink in water. At a temperature of +15 degrees, the specific gravity of the product is about 0.97. The melting point of the product is 65 degrees, and the solidification point is 61 degrees.
Natural beeswax is a solid (at room temperature). At 30-35 degrees it softens, and at 50 it loses its solid structure. At 100 degrees, the bee product melts, and the water emulsion breaks down, forming a white foam on the surface. Boiling wax occurs at temperatures above 300 degrees.
Wax pests
The bee product contains a large amount of thermal energy necessary for some types of insects that have the ability to break down fats and wax. This unique ability has, for example, wax moth. It develops in nesting combs, in apiary land, merv. These pests get carbohydrate substances from wax, and nitrogenous food from perga, pupal cocoons and bee brood.
Use, medicinal properties
The unique composition and application of wax has been known for a long time. Thousands of years ago, people already knew about the benefits of this product. In ancient Egypt, priests and nobles were known to be embalmed. The bodies were thoroughly washed and wrapped in linen sheets, wide linen strips soaked in gum and resins. For this work, at least fifteen different substances were required, including beeswax - they covered the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and incision made by the embalmer. Recipes for the use of beeswax were passed down from onegeneration to another. Now the product of beekeeping is used in a variety of industries.
Cosmetology
The use of beeswax in cosmetology is wide. The properties of this substance made it possible to create useful products that can remove skin rashes, improve the appearance of the skin, and maintain youth. With it, face masks are made to improve the appearance of the skin, as well as various balms and creams that remove acne. On an industrial scale, hand creams are produced based on beeswax. Body products help keep skin youthful.
Bee products have been used in cosmetology for a long time. It is valued for its high content of vitamin A and other trace elements, which have a complex beneficial effect on skin cells.
Various masks are prepared at home with wax. To prevent wrinkles, you need to take the juice of half a lemon, two tablespoons of honey and the same amount of wax. The composition is applied to the skin of the face before going to bed. The mask is kept for twenty minutes, then removed with warm water.
Pure wax helps with blackheads. To remove them, the product is heated and applied to the skin in a thin layer.
To whiten the skin, wax is mixed with lemon juice and blue clay in equal proportions. And a remedy made from lemon juice and bee products helps to moisturize the skin.
Home use
The unique composition and properties of beeswax allow it to be used not only for industrial purposes, but also at home. There are many recipes for its use, here are some of them:
- Nursing mothers are advised to rub the wax into the area of the mammary glands. This improves milk production.
- In the event of pathologies of the oral cavity, inflammatory diseases of the gums, it is recommended to chew small portions of wax. They help relieve pain, and the components included in the composition have an antibacterial effect on pathogenic microorganisms. Also, the bee product has a positive effect on the condition of the enamel, whitening it.
- For pain in the back, lower back, wax is rubbed into problem areas. For this, special formulations are prepared, which include additional components.
There are other ways to use the product. It is even used to treat shoes, to give shine to vehicles, to protect metal from corrosion. Candles are made from it. With the help of wax, the treatment of certain types of pathologies is faster.
Harm to bee products
Wax has no contraindications for use, except in cases of individual intolerance. It contains a small amount of pollen, nectarine. If a person is allergic to these substances, then a reaction to the wax is likely. To find out if there will be an allergy, it is recommended to apply a little wax or a substance with its content on the back of the hand. In the event of an allergic reaction, the skin will become hyperemic.
Storage features
Wax retains its condition and useful properties for a long time. For cosmetic purposes, it is recommended to use it for no more than three years,but in everyday life, the shelf life of the product is not limited. Store it in a dry, dark place. Best without air and odors, as the product is able to absorb them.
Medical use
Since the time of the famous Persian scientist and healer Avicenna, it has been known about the use of beeswax in medicine. In those days, it was recommended to children, women and men, regardless of age and for the treatment of a variety of diseases, as well as a means of increasing immunity. Due to its special physical and chemical properties and composition, wax has found its way into almost every industry.
Preparation of ointments
In folk medicine, a variety of ointments are prepared on the basis of a bee product to help heal wounds. There are many recipes for preparing funds, and here are some of them:
- For the product you will need 100 grams of olive oil, 20 grams of pine resin, 15 grams of wax, a spoonful of butter. Everything is mixed and heated over low heat. The composition is stored in the refrigerator in a glass container. If there are wounds, ointment is applied to the affected area.
- Fifty grams of wax and one hundred grams of olive oil are simmered. The finished composition is cooled. Stored in the refrigerator. Used to heal abrasions, wounds.
There are ointments that help with corns. To prepare such a remedy, you need to take 50 grams of propolis, freshly squeezed juice of one medium lemon and 40 grams of wax. The composition is heated until the wax is completely dissolved. The product is applied to the corns daily.
For polyarthritisprepare a remedy from heated wax and honey. The composition is applied to gauze and applied to the sore spot. Cellophane, a warm scarf, is applied on top of the gauze. The compress is kept for half an hour. It is enough to do this procedure once a day. The duration of treatment is two weeks, then a break is taken.
What is the benefit of chewing the product
It is known about the use of beeswax in folk medicine for the treatment of sinusitis, hay fever, asthma, for cleaning the respiratory system, and for pathologies of the oral cavity. Usually in the treatment it is recommended to chew honey or honeycomb wax. With this method of use, metabolism increases, salivation increases, the secretory and motor function of the gastrointestinal tract increases. The respiratory organs are also cleansed, plaque is removed from the teeth, the gums are strengthened, and the common cold disappears.
In case of pathologies, it is recommended to chew pieces of wax every half an hour. After chewing, the wax is spit out.
Benefits of wax for children
For the treatment of whooping cough, the following medicine is recommended for children: 2 drops of fennel, 50 grams of goose fat and the same amount of wax are mixed. The composition is applied to the chest area and held for 15 minutes.
Wax also helps with juvenile acne. To prepare the product, a mass is prepared from 20 grams of wax, two tablespoons of crushed celandine and a spoonful of glycerin.
Bee product and weight loss
Wax has the ability to cause increased production of intestinal juice, which is necessary for the digestion of food. Because of this feature, wax pieces are recommended to be chewed at night for 15-20 minutes. It is especially useful to do this after a hearty dinner.
Gastrointestinal benefits
The product contains a large number of sorbents useful for the intestines. Eating wax helps to stimulate the digestive glands and helps to contract the intestinal wall. Its use favorably affects the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.
With wax, candles are made to treat rectal fissures. To prepare them, you need to mix three parts of wax with one part of honey and two parts of crushed calendula flowers. After emptying the intestines (required after hygiene procedures), the finished candle is inserted into the rectum.
How to melt
The peculiarity of the physical properties of wax does not allow it to dissolve in water, alcohol. But in fats, oils, it melts well. For the preparation of funds from wax, it must be melted. At home, this is done in a water bath. After 15-20 minutes the product starts to melt. When liquid, it is easy to mix with other ingredients.
Not only folk, but also traditional medicine speaks about the benefits of wax. The unique composition of the product allows it to be used in a variety of ways, not only for the treatment of diseases, but also as a prophylactic.
Reproducing wax while maintaining its composition is beyond the power of even employees of scientific and technical institutes. This suggests that even advanced technologies cannot surpass the natural sources of he alth, longevity and beauty.
