Propolis is a sticky resinous product that bees collect from
variety of tree saps.  Even the word is interesting:  from the
Greek 'pro' and 'polis', literally 'in front of the city'.  The
bees collect the stuff to plug cracks and gaps in their hive (be
it manmade or hollow tree) and use it around the hive entrance
('in front of the city'), using it to reduce the size of the
opening to a manageable, defendable aperture.  Its also involved
in hive hygiene.  It's antibiotic, antibacterial and antiseptic -
it helps to keep bee diseases at bay, presumably.  It is even
used to completely embalm things (such as a dead mouse...) that
might be too large for the bees to remove from the hive!
 
I am always quite cynical and loathe to back 'miracle cures', but
I have had enough success with propolis to recommend it for a
variety of uses.
 
I have found it excellent for mouth ulcers, taking away the pain
almost immediately and healing the ulcer within just a day or
two.  I also use it for sore throats and impending colds.  In
both these cases, I just roll a small piece (pea sized) around in
my mouth, sucking on it.  Its most certainly something of a
acquired taste (in other words, most people think it looks and
initially tastes revolting.  I actually like the flavour, myself)
and you have to keep it moving to avoid having it stick to your
teeth.  Once you get it warmed up a bit, you can leave it tucked
into your lower lip and the 'juice' will permeate your mouth.
You can, with absolutely no fears at all, leave it there for
hours, and ultimately swallow it if you wish.  Its effect on
mouth ulcers is almost instant!  Within minutes it takes away the
pain and starts the healing process.
 
I also have made a tincture by placing propolis in alcohol (or
even meths, if you can't get ahold of methyl alcohol or rectified
spirits).  After about a day or so, the propolis will have
dissolved.  It won't stay in solution; it will tend to separate
out, with the propolis solids sinking to the bottom.  It's no
problem; you just need to shake before use.  I have tried pouring
it through filter paper and ended up with a clear yellow/brown
liquid which looked more acceptable, but for my own use I tend to
use the original mixture.  I have used it on all sorts of
external cuts, skin disorders and insect bites, usually with
great success.  I imagine the alcohol alone would probably be of
some help, but I really feel the propolis is effective.
 
As the tincture is coloured, you have to be a bit careful with
it.  I don't doubt that it would stain clothes, and be fairly
difficult to remove.  Once it has dried, with the alcohol
evaporating away, it seems to leave a sort of plastic 'skin' of
propolis.  I re-apply it once or twice a day.
 
I have also used a piece of propolis, warmed to make it workable,
directly on a skin infection, held in place with a sticking
plaster.  In my most memorable use of propolis, I applied it to a
thumb that I had hit with a hammer.  I had tried to ignore it and
it had gone quite septic, begun to throb and swell and cause
considerable pain.  The propolis worked within a day!  The pain
was gone and within just a few days, the infection was completely
gone.
 
No, that is not a controlled experiment.  I know that.  But on
the other hand, I feel confident from repeated personal and
anecdotal experience to recommend it widely.  Note I am referring
primarily to the external or oral use; I don't know much about
larger doses internally.
 
Propolis has never really caught on in the West, though there has
been considerable amounts of research in Eastern Europe in the
past.  In New Zealand, there are a few products available,
including (I think) tincture and throat lozenges.
 
Propolis is purchased by at least one bee/honey/health food
product manufacturer.  The price is related to 'grade' - how
clean, quantity of beeswax contained in it, etc.  And just
recently there has been a problem with the identification of some
lead contamination.  Still not sure where its come from - wires,
nails or maybe lead based paint used to paint supers that were
scraped to collect the propolis?
 
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          Nick Wallingford
      Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
 (East coast, N Island, New Zealand)
     Internet [log in to unmask]
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