Propolis is a natural medicine that has been used since ancient times for all kinds of healing purposes. It was used to heal bruises, ulcers, sores, to help remove splinters and thorns, to relieve tendon pain, and to treat abscesses.
The ancient Persians used it to help with rheumatism, eczema, and myalgia. The ancient Egyptians even used it as an embalming agent. In the 1600s, propolis was used in England as part of a healing salve.
It is a product of bees that contains an amazing variety of different substances that have all kinds of health benefits. Bees make it from collected plant material, such as sap, nectar, and pollen.
This is where the healing benefits come from: the sap of the tree contains most of the components that make it so powerful. It has long been prized for its healing properties and now modern research has shown it to be beneficial.
It contains an extremely high amount of antioxidants, which may help prevent cancer by fighting free radicals in your body.
It contains a substance called galangin that acts as an antibacterial and antiviral, helping your body fight microbes, viruses, and infections. It helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, and is an antifungal and anti-inflammatory.
It can be used on the skin to kill fungus and soothe irritation, and it also helps heal minor burns.
A recent study showed that it can help eliminate intestinal parasites such as giardiasis. Taken orally, it can improve oral health, keep plaque away, and help prevent cavities.
It can soothe a sore throat and shorten the duration of illnesses like the flu, and be used to help prevent getting them in the first place.
It is also known to be an immune booster, working by stimulating your body’s macrophages (large healing cells that help stop infections, kill off malfunctioning cells, and more).
Propolis is believed to protect DNA due to its high levels of antioxidants and a substance it contains called CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester), which has also been shown to cause cancer cell death in in vitro and in vivo animal studies.
I think this is very promising, as cancer is still a disease that is not yet fully curable. I look forward to the future when the efficacy of propolis against tumors in humans is proven.
In any case, it has so many proven health benefits. I feel like it is an essential health item that should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet as a general health booster.