Contents:
- Medical Video: What Is BEE PROPOLIS Health Benefits of Bee Propolis
- What is propolis?
- What are the nutrients contained in propolis?
- The benefits of propolis for health are based on research by experts
- 1. Treating wounds
- 2. Relieve pain due to genital herpes
- 3. Anticancer
- 4. Skin care
- 5. Other benefits of propolis
- What are the possible side effects of this herb?
- Which must be considered before consuming honey propolis
- Where can I get this herb?
Medical Video: What Is BEE PROPOLIS Health Benefits of Bee Propolis
You may have no doubt about the myriad of benefits of honey for health. Unfortunately, honey is not the only product produced by bees that has efficacious efficacy for health. Propolis, which has now begun to rise as a drug used for health reasons. So, what is propolis and what are the benefits of propolis that we can get?
Check out the complete information about the properties of propolis and the side effects of propolis in this article.
What is propolis?
What do bees produce? Most of you will definitely answer honey, a food that is well known for its benefits. However, do you know that honey is not the only product produced by bees? In addition to honey, bees also produce another very useful product called propolis.
Propolis is a sticky substance or natural sap produced by honey bees. This sticky substance is a mixture of bee saliva, beeswax, and several other ingredients. Kethics of bees mix tree sap with substances they remove from the body, they will produce a sticky greenish brown substance that is useful for coating their nests. Now this is what is called propolis.
Honey bees collect sap from various plants to fill gaps and holes in their nests. This is done to protect the nest from external threats, such as microbes.
The word propolis itself comes from Greek, namely, 'pro' (front) and 'policy' (city). This substance is used by bee colonies to maintain their nest environment from free radicals by reducing microbial growth in the nest walls, preventing uncontrolled air flow to the nest, and maintaining the humidity of the nest walls, and protecting predators.
Propolis is one of the herbal medicines that has been known for thousands of years ago and is believed to be good for the health of the body. Even humans in the days of ancient civilization have used this herbal medicine to help heal and prevent various kinds of health problems and certain diseases.
The Greeks used it to treat abscesses. The Assyrians applied this herb over wounds and tumors to fight infection and speed up the healing process. The Egyptian nation used it for the mummy embalming process. This herb is now increasingly popular as a therapeutic treatment in the form of drugs or cosmetic products.
What are the nutrients contained in propolis?
The content of this herb varies greatly depending on the location of the bee and the type of tree or flower that the bee sucks. For example, propolis honey from Europe will not contain the same composition as Brazilian propolis honey. This mattercause the difficulty of doing research to give the right conclusions about the benefits of propolis.
Even so in general pfig researchers have found at least 300 types of compounds contained in this herb. Some of the chemical compounds found in honey propolis include wax, resin, balm, aromatic oil, pollen, and other organic ingredients.
Most of these compounds are in the form polyphenol, an antioxidant form that can fight disease and damage to the body.
More typically, this herb contains polyphenol which name is flavonoids. Flavonoids is a substance produced by plants as a form of protection. This substance is commonly found in foods that are thought to have antioxidant effects such as fruits, green tea, vegetables, and red wine.
The benefits of propolis for health are based on research by experts
In Indonesia this herb has been registered with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM). However, scientific research on the benefits of propolis is indeed still very limited, so more research is needed to ensure the benefits of propolis for health.
Even so, the researchers believe that the antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of this herb can help protect the body against various diseases. Here are some of the benefits of propolis:
1. Treating wounds
The benefits of propolis for treating wounds come from special compounds called pinocembrin, an ingredient that functions as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. This substance plays an important role in accelerating wound healing. A study found the efficacy of propolis which can help accelerate the healing of burns by accelerating the growth of new cells.
Other studies also show the efficacy of other propolis. The researchers found that this herbal alcohol extract smeared on the wound was more effective in reducing mast cells, cells that stimulated the inflammatory response and slowed wound healing.
2. Relieve pain due to genital herpes
Ointments containing 3 percent of these herbs can accelerate wound healing and reduce the resilience and pain caused genital herpes.
A study shows that the use of this herb which is applied three times a day can relieve resilient pain. Researchers also found that these herbs in the form of creams not only reduce the number of herpes viruses in the body, but can also prevent the appearance of resurgence.
3. Anticancer
The benefits of propolis as a cancer drug have been studied several times. According to one study, there are several anticancer effects contained in this herb such as:
- Prevent cancer cells from multiplying
- Reducing the possibility of a cell becoming a cancer cell
- Inhibiting communication pathways between cancer cells
The study also suggested making this herb an additional therapy (but not as a primary therapy) for cancer. While other studies show that this herb can also be an additional therapy that is very helpful in treating breast cancer.
4. Skin care
It turns out this herbal one can also be used as a skin care to help overcome various skin problems. Depending on the type of skin, these herbs have different functions.
As a skin care, the overall efficacy of propolis is to help reduce pigmentation and redness in the skin due to inflammation, increase collagen production, and offer good antioxidants to protect yourself from pollution, sunlight, and radiation.
This herb is also recommended for owners of acne prone skin or because it can help relieve redness from inflamed zits. In addition, this herb also has a regeneration function so that it can help restore the damaged skin layer.
Not only that, this herbal one is also considered to have the ability as a natural exfoliate to gently remove dead skin cells. Yes, instead of using exfoliated products that contain hard acids to make your skin brighter and youthful, this herb allows removing dead skin cells without making your skin peel off.
You can apply this herb directly to the skin as part of your daily skin care. These herbs can also be mixed with water, taken orally in tablet form, or sprayed directly into the mouth every day to enhance the immune system's immunity and serve as holistic treatment.
5. Other benefits of propolis
Other benefits of propolis are to increase the body's resistance to infection, reduce blood pressure and the level of bad cholesterol "LDL" in the body. In addition, this herb has also been used in mouthwash and toothpaste products to prevent dental caries (cavities) and treat gum inflammation and stomatitis.
Propolis honey is often used as an alternative treatment combined with acupuncture therapy or other herbal treatments to treat inflammation and ulcers caused by viral, fungal, or bacterial infections. Some infections that can be overcome using honey propolis include thrush, Heliobacter pylori bacterial infection, intestinal infections, vaginitis, tuberculosis and upper respiratory tract infections (ARI).
It should be emphasized that the efficacy of propolis for health still needs to be reviewed because the available scientific research is still very limited. So, always consult your doctor before taking this herb to find out the efficacy of propolis, dosage, and level of safety.
What are the possible side effects of this herb?
Until now there has not been enough research to conclude the safety of propolis honey. However, several studies say that the side effects of these herbs are low to cause danger. Even so, it does not mean that this herb does not cause any side effects at all.
Propolis is a substance that is usually consumed when you eat honey. Well, therefore, if you arehaving allergies to honey or bees, you will also have high potential for allergies as a side effect of using this herb.
There are some people who have a high risk of allergic side effects from using this herbal medicine. One of them, beekeepers.Beekeepers have a higher risk of allergies because they spend a lot of time in contact with these substances.
Usually, allergic reactions related to these herbal side effects are skin disorders, redness, itching, and swelling. In addition, other side effects of using propolis drugs are irritation and mouth ulcers. These side effects often occur if you use this herb for a long time.
Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not mentioned above. If you are concerned about sharing the aforementioned side effects, please consult your herbalist or doctor.
You should also consult a doctor before taking honey propolis as your treatment plan, especially if you have a history of allergies.
Which must be considered before consuming honey propolis
Certain conditions or certain diseases are advised not to use this herbal medicine to reduce the side effects. Here are some health conditions that are not recommended for using propolis drugs:
- Have a history of asthma. You are advised to be careful about using this herb if you have a history of asthma. Because the allergic reaction caused by these side effects of herbs can make your asthma symptoms worse.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Propolis is one of the herbal products that is still not proven safe for consumption in pregnant and lactating women. So, you should avoid consuming this herb if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Bleeding disorders. People who have bleeding disorders are recommended not to consume these herbs because the compounds contained in honey propolis will slow down the blood clotting process.
- Operation. If you want to do certain surgeries, you should stop using these herbs 2 weeks before surgery. Eating these herbs may increase the risk of bleeding during or after surgery.
This herbal medicine may also affect the drug you are using. To ensure your safety, it is important to always tell your doctor and pharmacist about the drugs and other supplements that you are currently using.
In general, always consult a doctor first before you take this herbal medicine. Especially if you have a certain health condition or disease so you can avoid any side effects. Make sure if you get the benefits of propolis more than the side effects or the risks.
Where can I get this herb?
Propolis is one herbal medicine that you can easily find. You can find these herbs easily at pharmacies, herbal stores, or stores that sell healthy food in various forms and brands. Topical forms of propolis are creams, ointments and lotions. While the oral form of the drug propolis is tablets, extracts of liquid, capsules.
At present there is no dose that can be medically recommended because more research is still needed on the efficacy of propolis. This herbal dose can be different for each patient.
Usually the dose of herbal medicine will depend on the user's age, health, and several other conditions. However, a study recommends a daily dose of propolis drugs at around 70 milligrams per day. Even so, this dose is not a recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration in the United States which is equivalent to the POM Agency in Indonesia.
Keep in mind that herbal remedies are not always safe. Therefore, before you use this herb, it's good to read carefully the drug usage instructions printed on the packaging label. In addition, choose herbal products that have been registered with the POM and guarantee their safety.
Regulations governing the use of herbal medicines are not as strict as general drug regulations. Further research is needed to find out about this herbal security. Before using, make sure you get the benefits of propolis more than the risk. Consult with an herbalist or doctor for more information.
