Stan on Price Edward Island wrote:
 
> I wonder what method they use to separate
>the propolis.  I have been keeping my cover scrapings and any big lumps of
>pure propolis separate as I find it a wonderful cure for sore throat.  The
>beekeeper from Surinam who visited me used propolis mats under his covers
>and sold propolis to a Dutch pharmaceutical company for $15 a pound.  Their
>beekeeper's coop also makes a tincture of propolis (15%) that they market
>locally.
 
   Some time ago I posted a message on this network to the effect that
propolis dissolves very well in ethyl alcohol (ethanol).  In the United
States we have a hard time finding an inexpensive source of ethanol (the
taxes are high), but people in some other countries have no such trouble.
 
   Be careful, though; 100% ethanol in the U.S. is poisonous (a processing
problem), but 95% (190 proof) or lower will not be if they are not
"denatured" (also a poisonous liquid, due to an addition of a substance to
discourage one from drinking it).
 
   Vodka perhaps comes closest to an acceptable source of ethanol (though
expensive due to taxes).  [By the way, did anyone see the ABSOLUT WENNER
vodka ad in September and October magazines?  The artist in the background
is our son --- hence the title of the painting.]
 
                                                        Adrian
 
Adrian M. Wenner                         (805) 893-2838 (UCSB office)
Ecol., Evol., & Marine Biology           (805) 893-8062  (UCSB FAX)
Univ. of Calif., Santa Barbara           (805) 963-8508 (home office & FAX)
Santa Barbara, CA  93106
 
*************************************************************************
*  "The difference between real and unreal things is that unreal things *
*   usually last much longer."                          Pot-Shots #6728 *
*          Copyright, Ashleigh Brilliant --- used with permission       *
*************************************************************************