Propolis: what it is, how to use it at home and what to watch out for

The hive is one of the cleanest places in nature, even though several tens of thousands of bees live there in a small space. One of the reasons is propolis. Here is what propolis is, how it is used at home and what to watch out for.

What propolis is

Bees collect sticky resin from the buds and bark of trees, most often poplar, birch, willow and conifers. In the hive they mix it with wax and their own secretions, and the result is propolis: a dark, sticky, aromatic substance.

Bees use it to:

• seal cracks and holes in the hive,
• strengthen the comb,
• line the inside of the hive with a thin layer,
• isolate foreign bodies they cannot carry out of the hive.

The name comes from Greek: “pro” (before) and “polis” (city), because bees also use it to narrow the hive entrance.

How the beekeeper collects propolis

There is not much propolis in a hive, usually a few tens of grams a year per hive. The beekeeper scrapes it off the frames and walls or collects it with special mesh screens that the bees “seal” with propolis. It is then cleaned of wax and impurities.

Forms of propolis

• Raw propolis — small pieces or lumps, dark brown to greenish in colour. This is how we sell it.
• Tincture (drops) — propolis dissolved in alcohol; the most common form for home use.
• Water-based solution — alcohol-free, milder.
• Propolis in honey — honey with added propolis.
• Creams, sprays, lozenges — ready-made products.

How it is traditionally used at home

Propolis is bitter and sticky, so it is rarely eaten on its own. Most often:

1. Drops in water or on honey. A few drops of tincture, following the instructions on the packaging, in a little water or on a teaspoon of honey. The tincture turns milky white in water; that is normal.
2. Chewing raw propolis. A small piece is chewed like gum. It is bitter and sticks to your teeth; not for everyone.
3. Home-made tincture. Raw propolis is crushed, covered with strong alcohol (70% or so), left for a few weeks in a dark place with an occasional shake, then strained.

Propolis is traditionally used in the transitional seasons and as part of a household routine. We make no promises about its effects, because that is not our trade; we are beekeepers, not doctors.

What to watch out for

• Allergy. Propolis is one of the bee products to which hypersensitivity occurs more often, especially on contact with the skin. If you are allergic to bee products or to poplar resin, do not use it. Before using it on skin for the first time, try it on a small area. More in our article on allergies to bee products.
• Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, chronic illnesses. Consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• Stains. Propolis leaves dark stains that are hard to wash out. Keep it away from clothes and furniture.
• Storage. In a dry, dark, cool place, in a sealed container. It keeps for years that way.

Propolis or perga

People often ask which to choose. In short: perga is a food you eat by the spoonful, propolis is a protective substance you use in drops. More in perga or propolis.

Conclusion

Propolis is the bees’ resin for protecting the hive, bitter and aromatic; at home it is used in drops or chewed in small pieces, with care around allergies. You can see raw propolis from our hives in the catalogue.