We should be grateful to the bees. They pollinate the plants and they give us honey. But propolis, created in the hive, is also a wealth. It is a wax that the bees create to ensure that the hive is impervious to bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Propolis is a mixture of resin from coniferous trees and a resinous coating found on the buds of deciduous trees. The bees use their own saliva, seeds, and pollen to create small pieces that they use to seal the hive. So it is a completely natural product.
Propolis has a long history. In ancient Egypt, propolis was used in embalming dead bodies and for its healing properties. In ancient Greece, propolis was used in wound care. Today we know that propolis is rich in antioxidants and that it is very nice to use on, for example, dry and chapped skin. A beeswax ointment with propolis is a lovely ointment for the skin. It works especially well to make a tincture of propolis, as the alcohol more easily dissolves the active substances from the resinous consistency. See recipe below.
I have been to Latvia a lot and have fallen in love with their folk traditions. Beekeeping is still an important occupation and Latvians use a lot of honey, beeswax and propolis. According to folk tradition, propolis has been used as a wound treatment in the Baltic countries. It is also common to use propolis in skin care.
In Latvia, people even use bees and their hives for healing, by meditating with the bees or lying on a couch above the hive. It is believed that bees and their buzzing frequencies are beneficial for us humans. I have not tested this myself, but I have definitely experienced that the bees' sound frequencies have a positive and relaxing effect. I hope to try this myself soon. Then I will write more about it!
Recipe – Tincture with propolis
Take the desired amount of propolis. The basic idea is one part propolis and three parts liquid (alcohol. Soak in water for three to seven days to clean and soften it. Put in a well-cleaned jar and pour alcohol over it so that it covers. Because you have softened the propolis, it works to use the alcohol you find at Systembolaget (37.5%). Ideally, you want to use a stronger alcohol, but you take what you have and then 37.5% will do just fine.
Store your jar of propolis and alcohol in a dark place. After about a month, strain the propolis through a fine filter, such as a coffee filter. You may need to strain a few times. Now you have your tincture! Label it and don't forget to write the date on the tincture (the years go by quickly). Continue to store your jar of tincture in a dark place and it will remain strong and potent for a long time. Since alcohol is such a good preservative, it will last for many years.
At Örtfabriken you will find propolis in our tincture Happy Immunity .
Use propolis externally and internally
Apply a few drops of propolis tincture externally to skin conditions (not on open wounds) or take a few drops internally. You can also take a few drops to increase your intake of
antioxidants. Some people use propolis to chew on for oral hygiene. In other words, it is possible to eat propolis.
