The Best Kept Flu Season Secret Weapon. Bee Propolis<\/p>\n

With flu season in full swing, now is the perfect time to talk about a powerful, immune-boosting tool to add to your arsenal. Enter bees.<\/p>\n

Bees are an absolutely essential part of life on earth. The most important role bees play is in the process of pollination, by which they assist in the transport of pollen between plants, allowing the plants to reproduce. The small size of these special insects belies their incredible efficiency as pollinators. Animals and insects such as bees are responsible for pollinating 30% of the world\u2019s food crops, and 90% of wild plants! The honey bee (Apis mellifera), was introduced by European settlers to North America. This species of bee assists in the pollination of numerous flowering plants, including many plants that humans use for food. By participating in pollination, honey bees contribute to biodiversity of plant life, and also to human survival. Without their pollination efforts, many of our staple foods simply could not exist!<\/p>\n

While honey bees\u2019 claim to fame is their crucial role in pollination, these special insects also produce certain health-promoting substances that are of great use to humans. Many people have heard of the health benefits of consuming real raw honey \u2013 it has been found to boost the immune system, speed wound healing when applied topically, and combat certain infections. However, in this post I would like to talk about a lesser-known, but no less beneficial substance produced by bees \u2014 propolis.<\/p>\n

What Is Propolis?
\nSo, what is propolis? Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honey bees when they mix their saliva and beeswax with nectar or sap from plant sources such as flowers and tree buds. The resulting mixture serves as a sort of \u201cglue\u201d that the bees use for sealing open spaces in their beehive. Chemical analysis of propolis has revealed that it is composed of more than 300 different chemical compounds, a number of which have been found to be beneficial for human health. Flavonoids, terpenes, and essential oils are several examples of compounds in propolis that may offer significant health-promoting effects.<\/p>\n

All together, the various compounds in propolis pack quite a punch when it comes to promoting health. Propolis has antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, the bacterium responsible for causing staph infections, as well as against E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both of which can cause disease in humans. In addition to its antibacterial effects, propolis also has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, and antioxidant properties. <\/p>\n

Historically, propolis was used by the Incas to reduce fever, by the Greeks and Romans as a mouth disinfectant and antibiotic for wound treatment, by the British in the 17th century as a medicine, and during World War II by the Soviets as a treatment for tuberculosis. Currently, propolis is used as a natural medicine for upper respiratory tract infections, the common cold, the flu, wound healing, acne, and skin infections. Investigations are also being carried out on the potential use of propolis as a treatment for asthma and allergies. This is quite an extensive and impressive resume for propolis!<\/p>\n

I personally became interested in propolis after hearing about yet another benefit it has to offer, as an antifungal agent. Fascinatingly, propolis has also been found to exert very strong antifungal activity. In fact, researchers have discovered that bees \u201cself-medicate\u201d themselves against fungal infection by lining their hives with propolis.<\/p>\n

As a strong antifungal, propolis has the ability to kill fungi such as Candida albicans, which is attributed with causing yeast infections both on the skin and within the digestive tract. Propolis has also demonstrated an ability to kill other types of fungi such as Trichosporon asahii, which is responsible for causing a very serious fungal illness called Trichosporonosis. The antifungal properties of propolis indicate its value as a supplement for those suffering from fungal illnesses, and even toxic mold exposure. In fact, the antifungal activity of propolis has been the most important health benefit it has offered me. Propolis has become a staple supplement in my personal health protocol.<\/p>\n

A little bit about me and why I am so interested in propolis: I developed a \u201cmystery\u201d chronic illness when I was 19 years old and was very ill for several years, until I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease at age 22. However, Lyme disease treatment alone did not make me better. It took me two more years to reach a diagnosis of mold-induced illness \u2013 I had been exposed to a number of environments containing toxic mold in my young adulthood, and it was believed that this exposure, along with chronic Lyme disease, was what had made me so sick. Propolis has been a key player in my recovery from toxic mold symptoms because it is such a strong antifungal. I have taken propolis in a tincture form, as a nasal spray, as an aerosol via a nebulizer, and I also use a special little machine to diffuse propolis in my apartment. The various propolis treatments have significantly reduced the sinus inflammation I developed as a result of toxic mold exposure, and I feel like I can breathe better than I have in years. I also feel that it is quite effective at reducing inflammation in my body, and it has helped improve my allergies. As a bonus, propolis smells wonderful. It is truly a pleasure to have it diffused through the air in my living spaces at home.<\/p>\n

If you are suffering from Lyme disease symptoms or any sort of bacterial or fungal infection, I highly recommend looking into adding propolis to your treatment protocol. Now that you are in on the bees\u2019 \u201cbest kept secret,\u201d use it to your advantage! You might be surprised by just how great an effect propolis could have on your health. This article was first published on ProHealth.com on July 15, 2016<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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