Propolis and Manuka Honey

Friday 25th September 2009 10:30am

bee on flower

The use of propolis for medicinal use dates back to ancient times. Combined with manuka honey it becomes a powerful therapeutic food.

Propolis is the yellow - brown sticky resinous substance that is found in beehives. Bees collect it from plants such as birch or elm and together with bees wax use it to protect and repair their hives. The bees alter the resin composition to use it as a sealing agent and to keep the growth of microbes in their hive under control. The beehive is said to be one of the most sterile environments in nature.

The use of propolis for medicinal uses dates back to ancient times.

Hippocrates in 400 B.C used propolis as a natural antibiotic.
In Egypt priests used propolis to mummify pharoahs.
The Ancient Greeks and Roman soldiers used propolis to disinfect their battle wounds.
Later in the 20th Century the Russians gargled it with olive oil as a remedy for sore throats or tooth aches.
In South Africa in the Boer was propolis was the only available treatment for wounds.

After the discovery of penicillin, propolis fell out of favour. It is now recieving a resurgance in popularity particularly in natural medicine.

Propolis has many active ingredients, including hydroxyacids, aldehydes, aromatic alcohols, terpens, and flavanoids. Vitamins in the propolis are B1, B2, B6, folic acid, nicotinic acid and minerals including iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminium, cobalt, vandium, stronium, silicon and calcium.

These ingredients have antibacterial and antiinflammatory effects. Propolis is also known to stimulate the immune system.

Propolis is believed to

Work as an anti inflammatory in joint soreness
Soothe skin and inflammation
Have an antibacterial action
Stimulates tissue repair
Act as a diuretic
Aids calcium absorption
Fights intestinal worms
Increases absorption of Vitamin C
Works as an antifungal
Acts as an anaesthetic

MANUKA HONEY

Honey is the carbohydrate secretion deposited in honeycomb by bees. The worker bees collect the nectar of flowers and convert sucrose into fructose and glucose. The liquid is regurgitated as honey and is deposited into the honeycomb.

Manuka honey is rich in carbohydrates, (fructose and sucrose), enzymes, and the minerals boron and potassium.

Manuka honey is believed to

Inhibit bacterial growth
Accelerate the healing of burns
Accelerate the healing of skin ulcers
Alleviate Tinea
Accelarates wound healing

Together Propolis and Manuka Honey make a potent formula for many different conditions.

Herb Valley Propolis Drops with Manuka Honey are formulated as a lozenge and has a soothing effect.

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.