Alan B Tremblay wrote:

> Freeze about one pound of propolis (gleaned from cleanings or whatever)
> and use a nut or coffee grinder to grind to powder.
> Soak propolis powder in ethanol for about two weeks, shaking
> occaisionally
> Decant the coffee coloured extract off of the grounds - discard grounds
> Take propolis extract and dilute 50/50 with distilled water - mixture
> will initially turn milky white in an exothermic reaction
> After 2-3 weeks a pale yellow liquid will remain above a tarry residue.
> This is propolis tincture. Decant and bottle.

One thing to be careful about is the ethanol used - it must *not* be
denatured alcohol, but pure ethanol (absolute ethanol is best, but
probably 95% would work just as well).  If the use to which the tincture
is put is anything internal - sore throat, mouth sores, etc. - one must
remember that denatured alcohol has toxic compounds (often methanol) added
which would make the resulting tincture dangerous to use.  The same
cautions apply to any other alchohol - wood alcohol (methanol) is deadly
poisonous, and rubbing alcohol (propanol) is meant only for external use
as well.

Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA