I have been taking a favorite cough syrup lately, as the cold weather is officially here. I love this brand 'Broncolin', you can get it at many Latino Supermarkets in the U.S. One of the ingredients got me thinking. It's called Propolis. I thought I'd shed a little light on this little known supplement that comes from the sap of tree bark and coneflower pollens and nectars. There are more specific origins of Propolis, but this article is more about the medicinal properties than the origins. I want to talk about the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Propolis. There is a very nice article on some of the research done on the origins and physical properties of Propolis and I have included it in the link.
Bee's use this resin like substance to seal off the hive in places where other predatory insects might sneak in, but also to disinfect. This substance also has a reputation in history for healing battle wounds, ulcers, etc. Now, the reason that I take it in the cough syrup is to fight infections and help expel phlegm, treat coughing and the like. There are so many good things in Propolis! Flavonoids, Ketones, Quinones, Amino Acids...what a great supplement! It even shows and effect of Candida?! NICE. It would seem that one of the primary uses would be for pulmonary health. That is why it is so great in cough syrup preparations. There are many preparations for propolis on the market, some are free from fumigation chemicals that would be used on bee hives, and some are alcohol free throat sprays(for example) Either way, this is a great addition to the winter remedy cabinet. Remember that alcohol preparations last longer than 12 months, but store them properly. Non-commercial varieties that are crafted by hand are not as shelf stable as most extracted versions are.
So, take in small quantities and have an extract on hand for the medicine chest, or buy it hand crafted for use right away!
Bee's use this resin like substance to seal off the hive in places where other predatory insects might sneak in, but also to disinfect. This substance also has a reputation in history for healing battle wounds, ulcers, etc. Now, the reason that I take it in the cough syrup is to fight infections and help expel phlegm, treat coughing and the like. There are so many good things in Propolis! Flavonoids, Ketones, Quinones, Amino Acids...what a great supplement! It even shows and effect of Candida?! NICE. It would seem that one of the primary uses would be for pulmonary health. That is why it is so great in cough syrup preparations. There are many preparations for propolis on the market, some are free from fumigation chemicals that would be used on bee hives, and some are alcohol free throat sprays(for example) Either way, this is a great addition to the winter remedy cabinet. Remember that alcohol preparations last longer than 12 months, but store them properly. Non-commercial varieties that are crafted by hand are not as shelf stable as most extracted versions are.
So, take in small quantities and have an extract on hand for the medicine chest, or buy it hand crafted for use right away!
