Sorry if this is confused - my mail system just
crashed, and I'm trying to resend this message.
Someone let me know if it is garbled beyond
recognition!!  Thanks
 
--------------------------------------
Date: 4/7/94 10:51 AM
From: Rick Hough
Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de Toledo <[log in to unmask]>
 
recently wrote on BEE-L:
 
>TO ALL,
>
>I would like the chemical composition and properties of propolis.
>indications for use
>AND WHEN NO USE.
>
>THANKS,
>VAGNER
>
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Vagner,
 
Propolis is a substance gathered by the bees. It is very sticky and
tar-like - sometimes it is called "bee glue" because the bees will
use it to plug holes and cracks in the hive, and they often "glue"
the frames to the hive body. The propolis I have seen is usually
a dark brown, although it seems more yellow in small quantities
(such as residue left after scraping a bunch of propolis off a frame).
At colder temperatures propoplis becomes very brittle.
In terms of chemical composition,  I'm afraid I can't help you.
 
I'm also not sure what you mean by "indications for use
and when not to use" - as a beekeeper, I let the bees
gather the propolis they need - I have never had to give
a hive propolis. If you mean eating propolis yourself, to
improve your health, I think this falls under the category of
"health food folklore" - there are stories about the benefits
of propolis, but to the best of my knowledge, no scientific
research has been done on the topic. To be honest, I'm not
even sure what benefits have been attributed to propolis -
it isn't an area I have looked into.
 
Hope this helps!
 
Rick Hough, a beekeeper from Hamilton, MA, USA
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