Propolis - this is what? Propolis: medicinal properties and contraindications

For hundreds of centuries, beekeeping products have been used in Russia as a source of health, youth and longevity. Propolis is very popular among them. This is the most well-known product for its medicinal properties after honey. In ancient Egypt, it was used for treatment and mummification as a strong preservative. The value of propolis is told a lot in ancient medical institutions.

Definition

Propolis is a sticky resinous substance that has a dark green or yellowish color and a bitter taste with the aroma of honey, wax, birch buds. It is produced by bees from resins, which they collect from buds, branches, leaves of trees. Moving on their paws resinous substance in the hive, they treat it with the secret of the jaw glands, adding to this mass of wax and pollen. Therefore, the prevailing view that propolis is a bee-droppings is fundamentally wrong. A high-quality product can contain up to 70% of vegetable resins and secretions of glands of bees. In Greek, the word "propolis" means "cover," "seal." It is to cover cracks, to protect nests from diseases and pathogenic microorganisms, bees propolis, which one family collects in the amount of 30-80 grams per season.

Beneficial features

Propolis is effective against a huge number of diseases. Often, the drugs from it are much more effective than many modern chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, combining them with pharmacy drugs significantly enhances the effect of the latter and removes possible side effects. It is known that when antibiotics are used for a long period, microorganisms begin to get used to them, and this entails the use of increasingly strong drugs. Influencing the entire microflora, including useful, they can cause dysbacteriosis and other negative consequences for the body. Propolis is a natural antibiotic that unlike pharmacies has no side effects, kills pathogens, while at the same time strengthening the immune system.

Thanks to the presence in the propolis of phytoncides, flavonoids, which have powerful antioxidant activity, it is able to delay the aging process and help the body resist cancer. In addition, this product is effective for normalizing blood pressure, improves hemopoiesis, helps with diseases of the digestive system. In dermatology, dentistry, pediatrics and gynecology has perfectly proven itself as a medicine propolis. His medicinal properties and contraindications were known to our great-grandmothers, who used this product to treat a huge range of diseases.

Biological properties of propolis

They are due to the presence of a number of compounds and acids, a combination of which provides an incredible effectiveness of propolis for the recovery of the body. It is a powerful radioprotector that can protect against radiation. Propolis is known for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties, its effect is disastrous for the causative agents of tuberculosis, salmonella, typhus. The ability to improve human blood counts makes it possible to use this product in diseases of the circulatory system and the heart. Phenolic acids, which are part of propolis, are effective against fungi and parasites, have choleretic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects. One of the important components that gives propolis useful properties is beeswax. It normalizes digestive processes, has wound healing and bactericidal action. In general it is difficult to say which component of propolis provides its effectiveness to a greater extent. Most likely, this is the interaction of all components that are present in it.

Propolis for strengthening immunity

All beekeeping products work to strengthen immunity, but propolis especially. Mineral substances in its composition, modulate the protective functions of the body, providing resistance against many diseases. Therefore, the use of propolis-based products is recommended after severe illnesses, during mental and physical stress, before and after surgical operations. Propolis is used in a variety of forms - an aqueous solution, alcohol, with milk and honey, with berries of mountain ash and cranberries.

Propolis for diseases of the cardiovascular system

Back in ancient times, beekeeping products were widely used to treat people with cardiovascular diseases. The propolis property to lower blood pressure is used to treat hypertension. A very good result is a 30% alcohol extract of propolis.

In combination with garlic, nine-syllable and other medicinal plants, the product is able to help in the fight against atherosclerosis - the main disease of the cardiovascular system. It is also known how effective it reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood, contributing to its liquefaction, which prevents the formation of blood clots. Successfully applied propolis in anemia due to its property to stimulate the production of red blood cells.

When diseases in the acute stage or their severe course, do not immediately use propolis. Therapeutic properties and contraindications should be carefully studied, since in some cases it may not give the expected result, and the time for the therapy will be missed.

Propolis for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract have a depressing effect on the nervous and muscular tissue of the digestive organs. Treatment with synthetic drugs due to their alienity to the biological organism produces at times more destructive effect than the therapeutic. Propolis differs in that, in the absence of harmful effects on the body has anti-inflammatory effect, antibacterial, relieves spasms, lowers the acidity of gastric juice and improves bile secretion.

Propolis is especially attractive in the treatment of peptic ulcer. It covers the ulcer with a protective film, which excludes the entry into it of harmful microorganisms guilty of the occurrence of this disease. Under the influence of propolis, they quickly die.

For treatment, a 20% propolis tincture is used, but it is advisable to go smoothly to it, starting with a 5% percentage. Propolis can also be used in vegetable or animal oil. It helps in the treatment of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, giardiasis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. With the help of candles made from propolis, cracks of the rectum are treated .

Propolis in dermatology

Recipes using this beekeeping product for the treatment of skin diseases are known to many. The most popular are those using native propolis. What it is? Photo can be seen in the hospitals. In other words, this propolis is natural, natural, not recycled and purified. Lepechechki from it are applied to furuncles, calluses, help quickly to get rid of them.

Propolis-based products (alcohol tinctures, ointments, etc.) relieve many skin diseases: fungal infection, corns, herpes rashes, youth acne, eczema, anthrax and skin cancer. With hair loss and seborrheic eczema, a 30% ointment with propolis or its alcohol extract is used.

In Pediatrics

Propolis is just a unique tool for treating children due to its anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating properties. It is recommended literally from the first days of life of the baby, but before using it, you should make sure that the child does not have allergies. Breasts mixed with honey propolis can be applied to the pacifier. This helps to restore the gastrointestinal epithelium after using antibiotics and for fungal infections. Prompts the rapid regeneration of the skin at diaper rims oil propolisnoe, if you treat it reddened areas, as well as use it for prevention.

Propolis increases the protective power of the child's body, is effective in treating colds. In some cases, it makes it possible to exclude the use of pharmacy antibiotics that have side effects that are undesirable to the child.

Treatment of other diseases

Propolis, like all other bee products, is effective in treating oral diseases such as stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other viral and fungal diseases. To do this, apply 10 percent alcohol propolis inside or rinse with an aqueous solution. A small propolis ball, glued to the tooth from its inner side, is capable of killing a pathogenic microflora, and at the same time preventing infection during epidemics. In the old days instead of synthetic chewing gum used honeycomb - it's propolis, wax, pollen. In the complex, these products helped prevent the occurrence of all kinds of diseases of the oral cavity.

Propolis preparations are successfully used for the treatment of myopia, cataracts, conjunctivitis, etc. In general, these are aqueous solutions and ointments. Their anti-inflammatory effect promotes the rapid healing of tissues.

Catarrhal diseases, runny nose and cough can also be treated with propolis. For this, infusions and decoctions are taken, inhalations are made. With a cold, turundas with propolis oil are recommended, as well as instillation of a 5% propolis solution.

Folk remedies

For the preparation of medicines, usually native propolis (what it is, described just above) is used. They are prepared in a variety of forms.

• Propolis water. To get it, put the beekeeping product in boiled water (one part of it is two parts of water) and heat it in a water bath for 10-15 minutes (do not boil). After filtration, we obtain an aqueous solution of light brown color.
• Alcohol solution. Shredded propolis in an amount of 10 grams mixed with 100 g of alcohol and put in a dark place for 7 days. If the alcohol solution needs to be prepared quickly, a mixture of propolis and alcohol can be heated in a water bath to 40 ° C.
• Propolis ointment. In enameled dishes put 100 g of animal fat and bring it to a boil, then cool, add 10-15 g propolis and reheat to 80 degrees, stirring for 10 minutes. The resulting mixture is filtered and cooled.

Contraindications

Propolis allergic reactions are extremely rare. But people who are allergic to bee products should be more careful when using it. The reaction can be expressed in the appearance of itching, headache or swelling.

It is not recommended to take more than 5 grams of propolis within one day. This is how much it should be taken without weighing it? You can define this way: scatter the shredded product on the surface of the table. 5 grams - the amount of propolis occupying a plot of 2-3 square meters. cm.

People with pancreatitis, bile duct disease, liver need to consult a doctor to determine the dosage of drugs with propolis.