On Mon, 26 Jun 1995, Jeff Boyle (803) 250-8265 wrote:
 
>     I am fairly new to bee keeping and I have some questions on propolis.
>     On a trip to Brazil a few years ago my wife had a cough and she was
>     give a stuff call Extract of Propolis.  It worked very well for her and
>     eliminated the cough.  I have not seen any of this stuff in the US.
>     Being I have two hives I would like to learn a little more about
>     propolis and how to harvest it.
>
>     I understand that it is a plant resin modified by bees and used like a
>     glue.  Where in the hive would you find propolis and how do you
>     identify it as being propolis.  In what quanities could you expect to
>     find it in the hive.  Are there ways of incouraging bees to produce
>     more of it.
>
>     I noticed a posting earlier asking how to distill it and I am
>     interested in seeing the responses.
>
>     Thanks in advance for your help.
>
>     Jeff Boyle
>     Greenville, SC
>     [log in to unmask]
>
You could try separating the supers a little with some twigs.  The bees
will usually fill in spaces, at least ours will.
Some people also place a plastic screen over the top bars and later place
it in a freezer.  Once cold it is easy to wring the propolis peices out.
 
 
The propolis extract is used locally a lot for coughs etc., but not
pure, usually a fews drops, about 10-20 are placed in a third of a glass
of water, and that is consumed or gargled (with the latter it is OK to make
it a little stronger).  I do not say this as a recommendation, but that is
how it is done here.
 
David De Jong
Brazil