Propolis is a resinous substance, which bees collect from flowers and floral buttons, buds, barks of trees. It is used as a type of cement in the construction of the beehive, to close off small openings and cracks in the hive, welding honeycombs and sealing off the hive from cold winds.
Propolis contains antibacterial and antibiotic properties.
It is also used to prevent fungus and bacteria invasions. Over 200 chemical compounds have already been identified in the Brazilian Propolis including flavonoids, terpenoids, aldehydes, aromatic acids, aliphatic alcohols and ethers, amino acids, steroids, sugars etc. These compounds permit various physiological activities, including anti-microbiotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and anti-tumor actions
Brazilian Propolis
Brazilian propolis is quite different from others for 2 reasons:
- Type of bees. The Africanized Honey Bee (apis melifera scutelata) is special, they have different way to collect propolis in the plants as compared with the European Honey Bees. They will produce different kinds of propolis.
- Bio diversity of Brazilian flora. In North Hemisphere propolis is produced mainly by 2 types of plants. In Brazil, The substances found in the Propolis come from more than 300 different types of plants.
Caution: Do not use propolis if you have asthma, because it contains allergens that aggravate the condition.