Natural antibiotic - bee pitch (propolis)

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On 2020 March 1

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Small but powerful - that's how one could describe the pitch (propolis) produced by bees, which has been used for medicinal purposes for as long as the Honey. In folk medicine bee pitch - A major natural antibiotic, or more precisely, a natural substance with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties. It is true that propolis does not resemble a sweet Honey, but those who know its virtues accept the bitter, spicy aftertaste and escape from the morethese hardships. So what is propolis, how can it help us and how should we use it?

Bee pitch (propolis) - the bees' weapon

Bee pitch (propolis) a substance produced by worker bees. It is relatively scarce in the hive and therefore highly valued. Like beeswax, bees' pitch is a sealant that bees use to plug all the cracks to protect themselves from all kinds of pests. If you've tasted propolis, you probably understand why ? That bitterness repels many of the bees' enemies, and also protects them from invisible pests: viruses, fungi, bacteria, moulds, etc..

Bee pitch (propolis) - a masterpiece of nature and bees

Bee pitch is a natural antibiotic that helps bees defend themselves against a wide range of diseases and invaders.

Bees make propolis from tree resin, sap and other ingredients, mixed with their own saliva, which contains a wide variety of enzymes, and wax. The colour and properties of the pitch depend on where in the world it is made and the plants used by the bees. In Lithuania, bees use a lot of conifers to produce propolis, so our bee pitch/propolis is a very strong antibacterial agent.

Why is propolis a natural antibiotic?

For many years, scientists have been carrying out various studies on this natural bee productwhose results have never ceased to amaze. Bee pitch has a dual action: first, it directly kills micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) by breaking down their walls and shells and preventing them from reproducing; Secondly, propolis, as a powerful antioxidant, stimulates the activity of our immune cells, boosting the immune response against any disease. In addition, propolis, thanks to its active substances and essential oils, is effective in relieving pain, improving mood and helping to fight depression. Perhaps the biggest argument why propolis should be used more often, not only in combination with various medicines, but also instead of them, is the positive effect it has on our body and its antimicrobial effect, without damaging the healthy cells of the body, which is unfortunately the case with many chemical preparations.

For more on the properties of bee propolis, see our article "What is propolis, what are its benefits for us and how to use it".

Propolis use

In ancient times, propolis was chewed to maintain oral hygiene and applied to a sore tooth. Nowadays, the most common way of using propolis is to make a spirit solution of propolis, which we can make at home:

Dissolve 40 g of bee pitch/propolis in 300 ml of 70 % medical spirit in a glass container. If you have a stronger spirit, it can be diluted with boiled water;
Keep the container tightly closed for two weeks out of direct sunlight, shake and stir daily;
After two weeks, the solution is strained and poured into the desired bottles with dispensers. Use as needed, preferably in the morning and evening, with a few injections into the mouth.

Find other bee pitch recipes here: "How to prepare bee pitch extract".

We often prefer to use synthetic medicines and trust pharmaceutical companies more than natural bee products. However, what is natural can sometimes be just as effective, if not more so, than artificially created medicines in laboratories. And, above all, we can use natural bee pitch as a preventive measure to protect ourselves and our loved ones.