Propolis, the precious substance that has been extracted from beehives for centuries, is used successfully for countless ailments. Let's discover its characteristics and how it can help us with seasonal illnesses.
The word propolis derives from the Greek "pro", meaning before, and "polis", city. The very meaning of the term points to the important function it serves for bees: to close off access to their own "city" — the beehive — to foreign bodies and unwanted insects. Propolis is composed of a wax-resinous substance collected by bees from the buds and bark of various plants, including poplars, elms, firs, oaks and birches.
Inside the hive, it is used to coat the walls, seal holes and cracks, fix the frames, polish and sterilise the empty cells where the queen bee will lay her eggs, and to embalm any unwanted guests before their process of putrefaction begins. Described by the celebrated naturalist Pliny the Elder in his treatise "Naturalis Historia", its remarkable properties — which make it a well-rounded curative product capable of acting effectively on many conditions — were already well known at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Since time immemorial, propolis has been widely used as a primary remedy for seasonal respiratory illnesses and especially in cases of sore throat, although it is well worth getting to know and using it for all the properties attributed to it.
Its aroma is intense, pleasant and aromatic, and can range from notes of vanilla to those typical of products of a phenolic nature. Its colour ranges from yellow-green when collected predominantly from pines, tends towards red when it comes from elm bark, and reaches black when obtained from birch, spanning a full range that includes every conceivable shade. Propolis is composed of approximately 50 per cent resins and balsams — in particular terpenes, polysaccharides, and organic and aromatic acids — roughly 25 per cent waxes, and volatile molecules, pollen and substances that include flavonoids, among which galangin stands out, as well as pollen, minerals including calcium, copper, iron and manganese, B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E.
There are, however, multiple factors that can alter the composition of propolis, such as the time of collection, the area of origin, the different plants, the climate and the breed of the collecting bees.
Propolis is one of the most powerful natural antibacterials, as well as being antifungal, antiviral, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It demonstrates its potent action against various gram-positive bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, salmonella and streptococci, and has also shown efficacy against gastric problems linked to the presence of Helicobacter pylori. Not to be overlooked is the use of propolis in inhibiting the growth of fungi, and in particular in cases of infection by Candida albicans, saccharomycetes and microspores capable of triggering significant mycoses in the body — which are difficult to eradicate if not controlled at the outset. Excellent results have been observed in the use of propolis against certain types of herpes, rhinovirus and coronavirus, and against various influenza and parainfluenza strains. Propolis has proven to be a cornerstone in the treatment of all cold-related illnesses typical of the winter season, not only through symptomatic action, but above all thanks to its capacity to increase the body's resistance against viruses and bacteria.
It has long been recognised for its marked vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity: it is used in the treatment of varicose veins, haemorrhoids and inflamed eczema, and in all cases where strengthening of the capillaries is necessary. Propolis also possesses properties that promote and activate the proliferation of epithelial tissues, which is why it is widely used in all situations where regeneration and scarring are needed — in cases of burns and sores, for example, which heal more quickly with the application of an ointment or cream. Its antioxidant action is excellent, thanks to the presence of phenols, which bind to free radicals and neutralise their damaging power, thus slowing down the process of premature cell ageing. And it is by virtue of its antioxidant power that propolis can be used in the preservation of certain fats and oils (preventing them from turning rancid) and in certain foods or cosmetic products, in place of the synthetic chemical additives normally used.
Natural Point, one of the best-known names in the field of food supplements, offers Propolife, a powdered product based on concentrated propolis, blended in a base of vitamin C and with the addition of freeze-dried beetroot, orange, carrot, spinach and asparagus. This formula is suitable for sublingual administration, so as to encourage an initial absorption that allows certain nutrients to pass quickly into the bloodstream, with the aim of achieving a much faster action.
The product's efficacy is also valid when one chooses to dissolve it in water or fruit juice, but its action will be slightly less rapid as it must necessarily pass through the digestive route. Propolife is suitable for all ages and contains no gluten, lactose, added sugars, colourings or preservatives. Its pleasantly flavoured formulation is also suitable for those following a vegetarian diet. Taking Propolife is recommended when we need to strengthen the immune system, so as to be able to face seasonal ailments in the best possible way. At the first signs of a cold, cough or sore throat, we can turn to Propolife as the right product, capable of blocking symptoms or causing them to subside when influenza syndrome has already taken hold. For its antibacterial and antiviral action, it is also recommended to use Propolife in cases of influenza affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
The recommended dose is 1 or 2 teaspoons twice a day, to be dissolved slowly under the tongue in order to achieve a faster action, preferably between meals.
Propolife can be purchased at the best herbalist shops, parapharmacies or pharmacies in a 50 g pack (powder) at a cost of €15.80. No contraindications to the use of propolis are known. Make sure you have no allergic reactions to bee-derived products before consuming the product.