Bee propolis is one of the most amazing gifts of nature. This sticky substance is collected by bees from the pollen and buds of young plants, and then processed by their enzymes. Flying laborers use it to ensure tightness in hives, disinfect honeycombs and "embalm" dead insects or mice that have accidentally entered the hive.

Man could not help but appreciate these characteristics of bee glue and has been using it in a variety of activities since the 5th century. First of all, its medicinal properties were taken into service. Today, one of the most popular derivatives is propolis alcohol tincture, which can be purchased at any pharmacy. But this is just one way to prepare an effective medicine based on propolis - there are many recipes for preparing a medicinal drug: candles, ointments, water extracts, etc.

Why propolis tincture is useful, what are the medicinal properties and contraindications of other products based on it - we will consider in this article.

What is propolis?

Viscous, with a bitter taste and slightly spicy taste, propolis is a real treasure of useful substances. It contains at least two hundred types of organic compounds. The composition varies depending on the geographic location of the apiary and the type of plants from which the "raw materials" were collected by the bees.

About 50% of the total composition are plant resins - flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants, as well as esters and aromatic acids. Wax-like substances make up 30% of the unique composition. Quite a lot in propolis and aromatic oils - up to 10%. The remaining 10% are pollen and minerals, vitamins and other equally valuable substances.

Propolis - composition and medicinal properties

The amount of trace elements in propolis is simply off scale - there is everything that is necessary for human health:

• magnesium - important for the normal functioning of the heart and gastrointestinal tract;
• potassium - supports the urinary system, normalizes intestinal motility, improves brain function;
• sodium - dilates blood vessels, maintains water-salt balance; responsible for the functioning of the kidneys;
• iron - supports work and immunity, makes the skin fresh and healthy;
• zinc - fights viruses and microbes that enter the body;
• manganese - necessary for the normal functioning of the central nervous system;
• copper - synthesizes, affects the pigmentation of hair and skin;
• cobalt - plays a special role in hematopoiesis, stimulates the growth of red blood cells, supports the normal functioning of the pancreas;
• phosphorus - is necessary for maintaining good bones and teeth, supports the work of the heart, "responsible" for the work of muscles and cell growth.

In addition to the above, propolis also contains at least a dozen important chemical elements. These are: aluminum, titanium, sulfur, fluorine, tin, selenium, antimony, vanadium, strontium, etc. All of them are very necessary for the human body and have their own special significance for health.

Of the minerals present in propolis, calcium is in the lead. It regulates the process of blood clotting, preventing the formation of blood clots. Bone strength and dental health depend on the amount of calcium in the body. Also, this substance is responsible for the work of the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland.

The abundance of B vitamins, as well as the presence of a sufficient amount of vitamins A, C, E, H and P speaks of the uniqueness and usefulness of the bee product.

Propolis contains more than 20 amino acids essential for humans, including glycine, arginine, valine, asparagine, etc.

Contraindications to the use of propolis

The main and undeniable contraindication to the use of propolis-based drugs is individual intolerance to beekeeping products. on propolis - the phenomenon is not so rare, therefore, before starting treatment, you need to make sure that it is absent. It is quite simple to do this:

• Make a test ingestion of the drug on propolis and observe the reaction of the body.
• If it is for external use, apply it to a small area of ​​skin and observe for at least two hours. If there is no redness and itching, then there is no allergic reaction.
• To check the reaction of the mucous membrane, it is enough to take an aqueous solution of propolis and treat the palate with it.

Due to its high allergenicity, propolis should not be used to treat people suffering from asthma, allergic types of dermatitis and rhinitis.

Hepatologists do not recommend using propolis with alcohol for acute diseases, while chronic diseases of this organ, on the contrary, are recommended to be treated with propolis. Alcohol tinctures are also prohibited for those who have been banned from all alcohol-containing medicines.

Propolis tincture for cough

In case of diseases of the respiratory tract, the drug acts as an effective natural antibiotic, especially in acute, protracted and chronic.

Tincture of propolis for angina

Regular processing of the tonsils with tincture helps in a matter of days to get rid of such an unpleasant disease as.

Tincture of propolis for sinusitis

Thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of propolis, the tincture is able to help get rid of the most difficult form of purulent without the use of antibiotics.

Tincture of propolis for acne

Due to its pronounced antiseptic properties, propolis on alcohol perfectly infects wounds, blocks inflammatory processes and acts as a regenerator in the fight against acne and boils.

In addition, propolis potion:

• kills fungi and viruses, which is very important in the fight against skin diseases, and
• normalizes blood pressure, strengthens blood vessels, removes toxins, tones up the heart muscle;
• replenishes the body with invaluable vitamins.

And also, thanks to the presence of substances that inhibit growth, propolis prevents the growth of cancer cells. This important property has already been adopted by oncologists, and propolis on alcohol is actively used as a folk remedy.

And this is not a complete list of diseases that propolis with alcohol will help get rid of!

How to make propolis tincture at home?

So, we learn how to properly prepare an alcoholic tincture of propolis.

To begin with, pieces of bee glue must be frozen so that the plastic-like substance can be easily crushed on a grater or in a coffee grinder. Pour the crushed propolis over with cold water, stir and leave for a few minutes. This will help clean the raw material from wax, chips and other unnecessary impurities - they will float to the surface. Particles of pure propolis will settle to the bottom. Allow pure propolis to drain on a strainer, and then dry it by spreading it out on paper. The raw materials for the tincture are ready.

In more detail, the process of preparing propolis can be seen in the video:

Alcohol propolis should be prepared depending on the required concentration. It can range from 5% and more. We advise you to prepare a highly concentrated tincture (50%), since it can be diluted to the required concentration at any time.

To make a 50% tincture, you will need one hundred grams of purified and dried propolis, as well as half a liter of pure alcohol (70 degrees). Pour the raw materials into a glass container (jar) and fill it with alcohol. We leave the mixture in a dark place for a couple of weeks, shake it from time to time. After the indicated time, a dark brown liquid with a precipitate is formed. All that remains is to strain everything - and the tincture is ready! By the way, the remnants of propolis can be reused by adding fresh raw materials.

The finished tincture can be stored for a very long time (up to 2 years), while retaining its medicinal properties. But it should be in a cool, dark place.

You can watch the video below how easy and simple it is to prepare the potion:

Propolis tincture - instructions for use

There are several ways to use propolis alcohol tincture, the choice of which, first of all, depends on the type of disease.

Without resorting to medications, inhalation with propolis tincture will help get rid of sinusitis. To do this, pour a tablespoon of strong tincture into one liter of hot water. After placing the container on the table, you should breathe in steam for at least 15 minutes, covered with a towel.

If you regularly lubricate your face with propolis and alcohol, itching will disappear, and the inflammatory process will stop. Thus, you can even get rid of subcutaneous acne, restoring the epidermis and a healthy complexion. The medicine can also be used for prophylactic purposes - to defat the skin and prevent acne.