The benefits, harms and uses of propolis

Nature helps humans not only maintain youth and beauty but also get rid of many serious diseases. Many beekeeping products are used by people for treatment. Propolis is very popular. The exact nature of its origin is still not known to scientists today. Some believe that the main component of the product is bee saliva, while others are inclined to believe that propolis is a processed wax with various plants and pollen. But despite all the controversy, the benefits of the drug have been proven for centuries.

The benefits of propolis

Even in ancient times, healers used this excellent remedy to treat various wounds. Tinctures were made for oral administration, which were prescribed for almost any disease. Studying the composition more thoroughly, experts have discovered more than 50 different components. Including:

• flavonoids;
• wax;
• pollen;
• essential oils
• vitamins A, PP, H, B3, B2;
• various minerals and amino acids and other ingredients.

Studying the properties of propolis, one can see firsthand how great its benefits are for the human body. Today it is successfully used as a drug that has the following effects:

• anti-inflammatory;
• regenerating;
• anesthetic;
• antibacterial;
• fortifying;
• cleaning;
• immunostimulating;
• astringent;
• antioxidant;
• diuretic;
• choleretic.

In addition, this beekeeping product helps to cleanse the body at the cellular level, removes toxins and cholesterol, accelerates metabolic processes, acts as a prophylactic agent against cancer, and also as an excellent anti-aging drug.

Propolis is very popular with nutritionists. It is recommended to add it to cocktails and other drinks. After all, it normalizes appetite, regulates metabolism, improves the penetration of various nutrients into cells and, as a result, contributes to healthy weight loss.

In cosmetology, this product also won pride of place, in addition to serious skin diseases, it helps the skin to rejuvenate, relieves it of fine wrinkles, improves turgor, and returns a healthy color. It is quite often found in the composition of various cosmetic preparations. Also known is the unique quality of propolis, which prevents hair loss and accelerates hair growth.

Propolis harm

Propolis can harm people with allergies. A negative reaction can be expressed not only in the form of skin rashes, but also more seriously. After all, beekeeping products act as the strongest allergen. With extreme caution, the drug should be used by those who have liver problems.

Contraindication of propolis

But despite all the advantages of the drug, it still has contraindications. The most important thing is the presence of an allergic reaction to the constituent ingredients. People with this feature are not recommended to use propolis-based products. Shampoos and other cosmetics can cause itching, redness, flaking, and ulceration.

The remedy has no other contraindications.

Propolis treatment

Propolis is prescribed both in folk medicine and in modern clinics. There are many recipes for preparing various tinctures that help fight various diseases. For example, when a woman's problems are detected, a specialist prescribes douching with the following solution:

Grind 20 g of propolis and add one liter of vodka. Let it stand for 48 hours, then mix a spoonful of the resulting composition with 250 g of warm water. Procedures with such a remedy help to quickly solve many female ailments.

Propolis is useful for people who have problems with hormonal disorders. The constant use of this unique product allows you to eliminate the symptoms of thyroid disease, the balance of hormones in the body.

Today, medicine can determine a person's predisposition to oncology long before the onset of the disease itself. The use of propolis can successfully prevent the development of bad cells.

It is also actively prescribed for the treatment of skin diseases, burns, or in the presence of problems with veins. Basically, it is recommended to make lotions with tincture, but with pronounced symptoms or in advanced cases, it is recommended to use it inside.

Propolis is known among people who have problems with the digestive system. Scarring of ulcers is much faster and less painful if you regularly drink propolis.

The use of propolis

In medicine, propolis is used to treat various diseases:

• inflammation of the hearing or respiratory system;
• female gynecological problems;
• radiculitis;
• any skin diseases;
• visual impairment;
• prostatitis;
• diabetes mellitus and other serious problems.

The unique quality of the drug, which helps to stop inflammatory processes, is used in medicine for the treatment of joints. A good effect is achieved when applying a compress based on propolis to the affected area. And the antifungal effect allows you to eliminate the fungus in the shortest possible time.

At home, propolis can be added to various creams, tonics, shampoos. After all, the ability of the drug, which accelerates the penetration of nutrients into cells, will help enhance the effect of any cosmetic product and nourishes the skin with numerous trace elements. The vitamin and mineral complex included in the preparation makes the skin smooth, even, velvety, healthy, toned and youthful.

By regularly adding it to shampoo, you can achieve beautiful and lush hair, stop hair loss and get rid of porosity and dandruff.

At home, you always need to have at least a little bee resin. In case of a sharp toothache, put a small piece of the product on the gum, this will calm it down.

But for problems with the ears or throat, it is enough just to chew on a small wedge of sticky substance.

Propolis relieves hangover syndrome well, restores the liver, relieves intoxication. However, in this case, you should use a tincture in water or chew pure propolis.

The vitamin and mineral complex included in the preparation compensates for the lack of many vitamins, increases vitality, and soothes. This remedy is prescribed by doctors to people who have been in a depressed state for a long time.

Propolis during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a condition when a woman should already take care not only of herself, but also of her future baby. Propolis will help the expectant mother to bear a healthy and strong baby. After all, the components that make up the product help not only to eliminate the threat of miscarriage at any time, but also the reasons that negatively affect the development of the fetus.

Everyone knows that in an interesting position, many medications cannot be taken by the expectant mother. Therefore, in the case of a cold, propolis is simply irreplaceable helpers in the fight against the disease. Of course, it is better to use it, either in pure form or in the form of a tincture in water. Once inside, it helps the unborn baby to resist various infections that threaten his health. Below we give examples of how best to use this remedy.

Many women experience extreme emotional excitement during pregnancy. Drug treatment in this case is undesirable. Beekeeping products have a calming effect on both the mother's and the baby's body without causing any side effects. With regular use of the product, insomnia disappears and the functioning of the digestive system improves.

In general, propolis for women expecting a baby is a real vitamin and mineral complex of natural origin. It helps to protect the expectant mother and her baby from numerous infections, removes free radicals, radiation from the body, and strengthens the immune system.

However, not all "capricious" ladies are ready to chew this unique product every day. Then you can do the following. Chop a few peas of the product into honey, and use at least two tablespoons a day as a preventive measure.

If you take propolis in combination with royal jelly, then the very process of childbirth will pass quickly and without complications, and the woman after childbirth will quickly get in shape and remain beautiful and unique. In addition, this composition has a positive effect on the formation of the baby's brain.

Quite often during pregnancy, various diseases are exacerbated in women, including hemorrhoids... For the treatment of which, doctors mainly prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory suppositories. But a woman in an interesting position cannot afford such treatment. Then propolis comes to the rescue. You can make candles at home. To do this, dilute 15 g of the product in 150 ml of warm water, then add a little cocoa butter, pour the composition into molds and cool. There will be no harmful consequences for either mommy or baby, but you will notice relief pretty quickly. You can use this recipe not only during pregnancy, but also in any other case, because the candles made have pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial effects.

The benefits of propolis tincture

The useful qualities of the tincture are quite high. Even bone fractures heal much faster if you apply compresses with the prepared tincture. Moreover, a single application will help to significantly remove the tumor in the sore spot.

When treating herpes, the alcohol solution must be diluted with water, bringing it to 25-30%, and only then applied to the sore spot.

Propolis tincture has unique beneficial qualities, it cleanses the blood, removes cholesterol, strengthens blood vessels, thereby improving the work of the heart muscle, acts as a powerful antioxidant drug.

Propolis is the main ingredient in many toothpastes. An additional rinse of the mouth with the addition of bee products to the water helps to get rid of or protect against inflammation, tooth decay and even caries.

Propolis tincture recipe

To get a good quality tincture, you need to choose the right ingredients. It is better to take fresh propolis. If possible, visit the nearest apiary and purchase it there. But in extreme cases, the base for the tincture can be bought in the pharmacy chain. Before preparing the composition, decide what concentration of the composition you will prepare. For example, to make 20% of the product, take 200 g of propolis and a liter of clean, preferably melt water.

Dissolve the product in water and heat the mixture in a water bath for about 45 minutes, but make sure it does not boil. Then let the solution sit for about six hours and strain. The composition is ready for use. Store it in a dark container in a cool place.

Propolis on water

For quite a long time, only alcoholic tinctures were made from propolis, since it was believed that propolis could not be diluted in pure water. However, later it was found that when heated, the beekeeping product not only does not lose its useful qualities, but also dissolves in an aqueous medium, which made it possible to insist propolis on water and expanded the range of its application.

The introductory solution is recommended for adults in the following dosage:

• 30% composition - from 80 to 120 drops;
• 20% composition - from 30 to 180 drops;
• 10% composition - from 60 to 360 drops.

The child's norm is calculated based on his age:

• up to 12 months - 1/20 of the adult norm;
• up to 6 years old - 1/10 part;
• up to 14 years old - ½ part
• from the age of 14, the tincture can be consumed according to the adult scheme.

Application of propolis tincture

We have already written about how to use the tincture in the treatment of female diseases. But the scope of its application is quite wide. Tincture is used in the treatment of throat, as a gargle. It not only quickly relieves the inflammatory process, but also has the strongest analgesic effect.

In addition to its pronounced therapeutic effect, propolis regulates the functioning of the immune system. Regular use of the tincture allows you to resist various respiratory diseases during an epidemic.

This miraculous tincture will help to get rid of migraines for a long enough time. True, a lasting positive effect can be expected somewhere in 26-27 days after the start of regular use. But its effect can last quite a long time.

Experts prescribe a tincture even in the treatment of depressive conditions of a person and, as practice shows, it is quite successful.

Do not forget to dilute it in warm water, in a proportion of 30 drops per 0.5 glass of water, before using alcohol tincture inside or gargling it.

How to take propolis

To achieve the required therapeutic effect, it is necessary to use the agent correctly. Here are some options:

• With milk drinks. This option is used if you need to take the product orally. Bad taste and odor sometimes create a negative sensation when consumed. Milk not only softens the taste, but also enhances the positive effect of the drug for diseases of the throat and respiratory tract in general. To do this, dilute 60 g of propolis in hot milk, mix until smooth. The composition is ready for use.
• As a tincture. In most cases, this method is used for external use, as various lotions and compresses, for joint diseases, or skin problems. To prepare the drug, dilute 220 g of propolis in a liter of pure medical alcohol. Let stand for 14 days in a dark place. It is recommended to store the tincture in a glass container.
• In the form of an ointment. This option can be used in the treatment of various diseases with an external method. You can cook it at home. To do this, combine 140 g of petroleum jelly with 40 g of lanolin and 30 g of propolis. Place the container with the mixture in a water bath. Mix thoroughly for 10-15 minutes. Now all that remains is to filter the composition and cool it.
• In its purest form. This option is available for both indoor and outdoor use. You can simply chew it if you have problems with the throat or put it on a sore tooth in case of acute pain, or you can simply knead it and apply it to the sore spot.

Propolis can be used at home to make a variety of face masks. They have a rather strong positive effect on the skin. Here's one of those recipes:

Rejuvenating mask for combination skin

To make it, prepare:

• 2 tablespoons of honey;
• 1 teaspoon of pure olive oil
• 1 spoon of 10% propolis tincture.

Melt the honey over low heat, add the rest of the ingredients to it. Mix everything gently, let the mask cool and apply on the face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

This recipe has such a strong effect on the skin that it helps fight not only fine wrinkles, but also deep ones.

Propolis, of course, is a fairly useful drug, but it should be used carefully, observing the required dosages. Only he will bring invaluable benefits to your body.