The major benefit of propolis is that it is strongly antiseptic and antiviral; bees make it to seal their hives and protect them from disease. It works. Scientists claim that bees keep their hives more sterile than hospital operating theaters, because of propolis. Bees are doing something right to ensure their survival, because the energetic little creatures have been found fossilized in amber millions of years old.

To make propolis, bees harvest resinous sap from selected trees, then mix the resin with other plant substances and beeswax. They line their hives with this blend, ensuring that no microbes, bacteria or viruses can infect the hive.

Propolis contains a bonanza of some 180 natural compounds. These include terpenes, widely used for medicinal purposes, benzoic acid, a natural preservative, and caffeic acid, currently being studied for its anti-tumor properties. Propolis also contains flavonoids.

Good things in propolis

Propolis contains medicinal terpenes

The medicinal benefits of terpenes have been known for centuries. Terpenes are widely found in nature. Menthol, for example, is a terpene which is isolated from various varieties of mints like spearmint and peppermint. Menthol gives topical pain relief and is also antipuretic - that is, it relieves itching. Taxol is a diterpene which is isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew; it is widely used as an anticancer drug.

Propolis contains caffeic acid: a cancer fighter

In tissue cultures, caffeic acid inhibits the development of human breast cancer cells, and of melanoma skin cancer cells. Many different studies have confirmed this response to caffeic acid. The medical journal, Cancer Research, has proposed that the caffeic acids in propolis could even help to prevent colon cancer, because in experiments, propolis stopped the formation of cancerous growths in rats which had been exposed to carcinogens. Much study continues to be done with caffeic acid and propolis.

Propolis contains flavonoids, which are protective against heart disease and cancer

Flavonoids are complex chemicals which found in fruit, tea, soy and propolis. Flavonoids are responsible for the colors of plants, and are antioxidants which protect plants from harmful free radicals. Flavonoids are a huge mix of chemicals, much more complex than vitamins. They've been studied because foods containing flavonoids are protective against illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

What can propolis do for you?

Propolis boosts and rejuvenates your immune system

Your immune system determines the state of your health. With a strong immune system, you're fighting fit. When your immune system is compromised, by stress or by any illness, you're correspondingly less able to fight off infection, and your body ages faster because cells aren't repaired properly.

In a Polish study, a double-blind trial of propolis found that propolis stimulates the immune system. This stimulation protects against cellular deterioration, fights off harmful bacteria, and stimulates the formation of antibodies to fight disease-causing agents.

Propolis boosts antibiotics, helping them to fight super bugs

Propolis has been found to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus, a deadly bacteria, which is now resistant to all but one pharmaceutical antibiotic. It's estimated that up to ten per cent of all US hospital patients become infected with S. aureas, which causes surgical infections, blood poisoning, and a form of pneumonia. If you're taking an antibiotic, propolis can work synergistic with it.