Man has used propolis both internally & externally as a healing agent for over a thousand years. From the Greek word, "pro," meaning "in defense of," &"Polis," meaning "city," propolis describes the protection it provides to the beehive. Hypocrites, the renowned Greek physician, prescribed propolis to heal wounds, sores, skin conditions, & internal ulcers. Propolis is a sticky, dark, resinous substance collected by bees from twigs, tree bark, & leaf buds. Propolis is made up of 55% resins and balsams, 10% etheric oils, 5% pollen, & 30% beeswax.

Carried back to their hives & mixed with salivary gland secretions & wax flakes, bees use this for two specific purposes. A beehive is a hot, moist, enclosed unit - a perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. Bees coat every inch of the internal walls of their hive with a thin layer of Propolis. This acts as a sterilizing agent & keeps the hive free of bacteria, mold, and mildew. An antiseptic lining of propolis is also used to line the breeder cells before the queen lays eggs in them. Occasional intruders to a hive, are stung to death & then encased with a protective layer of propolis to guard the hive against viral & bacterial infections that may be generated by the intruder's decay. Propolis is important to the hive, as it also reinforces the unit by sealing cracks & crevices against the elements.

Propolis has been found to work against bacteria in several ways. Studies have shown that it prevents the cell division of bacteria while destroying cytoplasm & cell membrane of the bacteria. This is how some prescription drugs work! Propolis is an extremely complex substance rich in minerals, vitamins C, E, provitamin A, & B-C complexes. It contains amino acids, fats, trace minerals such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc, & bioflavonoids. Propolis contains 21 different flavonoids, a superior class of antioxidants, to help control free radicals. These are what our bodies produce when under stress, fighting infection, & coping with environmental contaminants & toxins. When not neutralized, free radicals cause cell damage & death. Antioxidants found in propolis may neutralize free radicals & promote healthy cells. Propolis is claimed to stimulate phagocytosis, the process in which white blood cells destroy bacteria. It is believed that propolis may provide our bodies with the same health promotion & protective mechanisms that it has provided bees with for thousands of years. It has been claimed to help reduce pain, reduce fever & inflammation, speed cell growth, aid in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, acne, control free radicals, assist in the absorption of nutrients, heal cuts, burns & skin irritations, promote healing, heal damaged skin from radiation, enhance the immune system, act as a natural antibiotic.

As with any bee product, beeswax, propolis, honey, royal jelly, pollen, & bee venom may provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual. We recommend you do not use products containing these ingredients if you suffer from asthma or anaphylaxis.