For hundreds of centuries, bee products have been used in Russia as a source of he alth, youth and longevity. Among them, propolis is very popular. This is the most famous product for its medicinal properties after honey. In ancient Egypt, it was used for treatment and mummification as a strong preservative. Much has been said about the value of propolis in ancient medical books.
Definition
Propolis is a sticky resinous substance that has a dark green or yellowish color and a bitter taste with the aroma of honey, wax, birch buds. It is produced by bees from the resins they collect from buds, branches, and leaves of trees. Carrying a resinous substance into the hive on their paws, they process it with the secretion of the jaw glands, adding wax and pollen to this mass. Therefore, the prevailing opinion that propolis is bee droppings is fundamentally wrong. A quality product can contain up to 70% plant resins and bee secretion. In Greek, the word "propolis" means "to cover", "to close up". It is for filling cracks,to protect nests from diseases and pathogenic microorganisms, propolis is used by bees, which one family collects in the amount of 30-80 grams per season.
Useful properties
Propolis is effective against a huge number of diseases. Often, preparations from it are much more effective than many modern chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, their combination with pharmaceutical drugs significantly enhances the effect of the latter and removes possible side effects. It is known that when antibiotics are used for a long period, microorganisms begin to get used to them, and this entails the use of increasingly stronger drugs. Influencing the entire microflora, including useful ones, they can cause dysbacteriosis and other negative consequences for the body. Propolis is a natural antibiotic that, unlike pharmacy ones, has no side effects, kills pathogens, while at the same time strengthening the immune system.
Due to the presence of phytoncides in the composition of propolis, flavonoids with powerful antioxidant activity, it is able to delay the aging process and help the body resist cancer. In addition, this product is effective for normalizing blood pressure, improves the function of hematopoiesis, and helps with diseases of the digestive system. In dermatology, dentistry, pediatrics and gynecology, propolis has proven itself as a medicine. Medicinal properties and contraindicationswere known to our great-grandmothers who used this product to treat a huge range of diseases.
Biological properties of propolis
They are due to the presence of a number of compounds and acids, the combination of which provides the incredible effectiveness of propolis for healing the body. This is a powerful radio protector that can protect against radiation. Propolis is known for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties, its effect is detrimental to tuberculosis, salmonella, and typhoid pathogens. The ability to improve human blood counts allows the use of this product in diseases of the circulatory system and heart. Phenolic acids, which are part of propolis, are effective against fungi and parasites, have a choleretic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. One of the important components that endows propolis with beneficial properties is beeswax.
It normalizes digestive processes, has a wound healing and bactericidal effect. In general, it is difficult to say which component of propolis provides its effectiveness to a greater extent. Most likely, this is the interaction of all the components that are present in it.
Propolis to strengthen immunity
All bee products work to strengthen the immune system, but especially propolis. The minerals that make up its composition modulate the protective functions of the body, providing resistance to many diseases. Therefore, the use of propolis-based products is recommended after severe illnesses,during mental and physical stress, before and after surgical operations. Propolis is used in a wide variety of forms - an aqueous solution, alcohol, with milk and honey, with rowan and cranberries.
Propolis in diseases of the cardiovascular system
Even in ancient times, bee products were widely used to treat people with cardiovascular diseases. The property of propolis to lower blood pressure is used to treat hypertension. A 30% alcohol extract of propolis gives a very good result.
In combination with garlic, elecampane and other medicinal plants, the product can help in the fight against atherosclerosis - the main disease of the cardiovascular system. It is also known how effectively it reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood, contributing to its thinning, which prevents the formation of blood clots. Propolis has been successfully used for anemia due to its ability to stimulate the production of red blood cells.
In case of diseases in the acute stage or their severe course, do not immediately use propolis. Its medicinal properties and contraindications must be carefully studied, because in some cases it may not give the expected result, and the time for therapy will be lost.
Propolis for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract have a depressing effect on the nervous and muscular tissue of the digestive system. Treatment with synthetic drugs due to their foreignnessfor a biological organism, sometimes it gives a more detrimental effect than a therapeutic one. Propolis is different in that, in the absence of a harmful effect on the body, it has an anti-inflammatory effect, antibacterial, relieves spasms, lowers the acidity of gastric juice and improves bile secretion.
Propolis is especially attractive in the treatment of peptic ulcer. It covers the ulcer with a protective film, which excludes the entry of harmful microorganisms responsible for the occurrence of this disease into it. Under the influence of propolis, they die rather quickly.
For treatment, a 20% propolis tincture is used, but it is advisable to move on to it smoothly, starting with 5%. You can also use propolis in vegetable or animal oil. It helps in the treatment of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, giardiasis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. With the help of suppositories made from propolis, rectal fissures are treated.
Propolis in dermatology
Recipes using this bee product for the treatment of skin diseases are known to many. The most popular are those that use native propolis. What it is? Photos of him can be seen in the hospitals. In other words, this propolis is natural, natural, not processed and purified. Cakes from it are applied to boils, calluses, help to quickly get rid of them.
Means based on propolis (alcohol tinctures, ointments, etc.) relieve many skin diseases: fungal infections, corns, herpetic eruptions,acne vulgaris, eczema, anthrax and skin cancer. For hair loss and seborrheic eczema, a 30% propolis ointment or its alcohol extract is used.
In pediatrics
Propolis is simply a unique treatment for children due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. It is recommended literally from the first days of a baby's life, but before using it, you should make sure that the child has no allergies. For babies, propolis mixed with honey can be applied to a pacifier. It helps to restore the gastrointestinal epithelium after the use of antibiotics and fungal infections. Promotes rapid regeneration of the skin with diaper rash propolis oil, if you treat reddened areas with it, and also use it for prevention purposes.
Propolis increases the defenses of the child's body, is effective in the treatment of colds. In some cases, it makes it possible to exclude the use of pharmacy antibiotics that have side effects that are undesirable for the child.
Treatment of other diseases
Propolis, like all other bee products, is effective in the treatment of oral diseases such as stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and other viral and fungal diseases. For this, 10% alcohol propolis is used orally or rinsed with an aqueous solution. A small propolis ball glued to the tooth from its inside is able to kill pathogenic microflora, and at the same time prevent infection during epidemics. In the old days instead of synthetic chewing gumused honeycombs - these are propolis, wax, pollen. Together, these products helped prevent the occurrence of various oral diseases.
Propolis preparations are successfully used for the treatment of myopia, cataracts, conjunctivitis, etc. These are mainly aqueous solutions and ointments. Their anti-inflammatory action promotes rapid tissue healing.
Colds, runny noses and coughs can also be treated with propolis. For this, infusions and decoctions are taken, inhalations are made. With a runny nose, turundas with propolis oil are recommended, as well as instillation of a 5% solution of propolis.
Folk remedies
For the preparation of medicines, native propolis is usually used (what it is is described a little higher). They are cooked in a variety of forms.
- Propolis water. To obtain it, you need to place the beekeeping product in boiled water (two parts of water for one part of it) and heat it in a water bath for 10-15 minutes (do not boil). After filtration, we get a light brown aqueous solution.
- Alcohol solution. Mix the crushed propolis in the amount of 10 g with 100 g of alcohol and leave to infuse in a dark place for 7 days. If the alcohol solution needs to be prepared quickly, you can heat the mixture of propolis and alcohol in a water bath to 40⁰С.
- Propolis ointment. Place 100 g of animal fat in an enamel bowl and bring it to a boil, after whichcool, add 10-15 g of propolis and heat again to 80 degrees, stirring for 10 minutes. Filter the resulting mixture and cool.
Contraindications
Allergic reactions to propolis are extremely rare. But people who are allergic to bee products should be careful when using it. The reaction may be itching, headache or swelling.
It is not recommended to take more than 5 grams of propolis per day. This is how much it should be taken without weighing? It can be defined as follows: sprinkle the crushed product on the surface of the table. 5 grams - the amount of propolis, occupying an area of 2-3 square meters. see
People with pancreatitis, biliary tract disease, liver disease should consult a doctor to determine the dosage of drugs with propolis.
