Propolis (sometimes called bee glue or bee propolis, but different from bee pollen) is a resin-like brown substance made by bees from material collected from trees and shrubs.
Bees make propolis by collecting resin secreted by plants to protect leaf buds and trunk wounds, and by combining it with beeswax and enzymes,make propolis.
Despite what many people believe, propolis is not bee pollen. Propolis is however, carried by bees on their hind legs in the same way pollen from flowers is transported.
Bees use propolis to seal gaps in the hive, to sterilise the nest, and also use propolis to embalm intruding insects and animals too large to move out.
Propolis has the same antibacterial and antifungal properties as the plant resins which form its base. Bees make use of these antibacterial properties to protect their hives, especially from the Bacillus larvae, an organism which causes disease in bees.
However, all propolis is definitely not created equal. The properties of propolis vary widely depending on location, reflecting the variability of plant material available to bees.
For humans, the benefits of propolis extend far beyond use as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. A growing body of scientific research shows propolis, especially propolis from particular countries, is effective in combating viruses and halting the growth of certain types of cancer.
Propolis is collected by commercial beekeepers by scraping hive parts or on special propolis collection mats. Raw propolis is processed to remove beeswax and other impurities, before being used in products as varied as propolis liquid, tincture, and even a propolis toothpaste
http://www.bio30.com/what_is_propolis.cfm
No comments:
Post a Comment