Propolis Health Benefits Australia Information

The Process

Propolis is created by honeybees. Bees collect a range of plant material and return it to the hive where they combine it with their saliva and beeswax, and use it to reinforce and protect their hive from parasites and germs.

Its properties vary, based on the location where it was made. Although its colour is normally brown, it can also be white, red, black, and green. The reason for the difference in colour is the different ingredients used. Bees will use whatever resources are available.

Conifer and poplar trees are a source of exudate in northern temperate areas. Resin plays a similar role for the tree as it does for the bees – to fend off insects, bacteria, and fungi. It also seals a tree’s wounds.

If it’s from a temperate area it typically contains over 40 ingredients.

In neotropical areas, apart from trees, bees gather exudate from Clusia flowers. The Clusia contains agents that have potential cancer chemopreventive properties.

Variations and Active Ingredients

In Brazilian red propolis, mainly derived from Dalbergia ecastaphyllum plant resin, cinnamic acid is present, which is an anti-microbial and an anti-inflammatory.

Propolis from Henan, China contains isoferulic acid, another antibacterial. It also contains caffeic acid, which in recent research, has been shown to fight cancer. Caffeic acid is also an antioxidant, an immunomodulatory, and an anti-inflammatory. It reduces aflatoxin production by more than 95%. It is a natural fungicide. It also contains the flavonoids galangin and pinocembrin. Galangin is an antibacterial and an antiviral. It has shown to inhibit the growth of breast tumour cells in vitro. Pinocembrin is an antioxidant which studies have shown has potential to treat cerebral ischemia, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and atherosclerosis.

The New Zealand variant also contains caffeic acid. These natural sources explain why there are so many propolis health benefits.

When humans first domesticated bees, they started harvesting all the different kinds of bee products. They discovered many propolis health benefits and started applying it in many human pursuits. Til this day, it remains in use in personal products and remedies.

It is known that ancient Egyptians used it for a variety of ailments and also to embalm their pharaohs.

One of the Egyptian pharaohs was called the Bee King due to the popularity of bees and their bounty. Ancient Jews referred to the propolis medicine as “tzori”. The Greeks used it to create a perfume called polyanthus.

A Greek physician known as Hippocrates (considered the father of modern medicine) was aware of its healing attributes. The Roman, Pliny the Elder, wrote in detail about its workings in the beehive. He also wrote about preserving wine by adding tree resins. That has been attested to with recent studies that show it kills bacteria.

During the Middle Ages, it lost its popularity, and people stopped using it for ointment. However, by the Renaissance, interest returned due to people reacquainting themselves with old and forgotten treatments.

Non-personal or medicinal applications for it emerged during the Antiquarian period. Stradivari utilised it as part of the varnish on his instruments. It is still used today in rosin for stringed instruments and to repair accordions.

Propolis is a powerful weapon against pathogens, amongst other things like infections and bacteria due to the fact that it contains a wide range of flavonoids. It is also a natural antibiotic, even fighting the bacteria known as staph.

It can be used to heal lesser burns – it proves to be more effective than conventional medication. It contains a compound called caffeic acid phenethyl ester, which has shown effectiveness at healing inflammation of the ear.

It has shown to bolster the immune system against funguses like Candida albicans. Lab tests have shown it to be more effective than pharmaceuticals in fighting fungal nail infections.

It is being researched in its effectiveness as an oral cleaner, as an alternative to fluoride. Its antioxidant compounds have a blood sugar stabilising effect, and its enzymes may help to lower blood sugar increase.

It is known to be a carcinogen fighter. Recent research showed its CAPE compounds to be effective in decreasing growth in cervical and prostate tumours. The range of health benefits is awesome!

As we age, factors like free radicals can cause oxidisation of brain cells leading to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, which can lead to dementia.

A recent study confirmed that propolis is able to reduce the damage free radicals cause, thereby helping protect our brains from degeneration.

This is due to the extremely high levels of antioxidants that it contains.

The study confirmed that it won’t just protect your brain from disease, it will also help maintain healthy brain function. This is just scratching the surface of the many health benefits.

Periodontitis, otherwise known as gum disease, is an extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable affliction where the gums are infected and inflamed. It can become a chronic condition for some people. Fortunately, there is hope – a recent study showed an improvement of the condition with the application of propolis.

The same study also looked at how it can improve haemoglobin levels in type 2 diabetics. Today, scientists are discovering validity of the medicinal benefits of this ancient substance. You can find Natures Naturals propolis at the bottom of this page. Why not purchase some and enjoy the many health benefits!