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The honeybee's gifts: pollen and propolis Better Nutrition (1989-90), Feb, 1990 The Honeybee's Gifts: Pollen and Propolis Nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory and all natural, pollen and propolis win new converts. Honey is not the only good thing to come out of the beehive. Bee pollen and propolis are two nutrient-rich products offered by the honeybee that are turning heads among health foods afficianados. The bee hive is also a source of propolis. Propolis is a sticky, antibacterial, antiviral substance gathered by bees from buds and bark and used to disinfect the hive. Propolis is also used as a cement to fix the honeycombs to the hive, and repair cracks and crevices. It is one of the most important agents against infection in the hive, and one reason that honey resists spoiling. The amount of propolis in refined honey has diminished due to modern beekeeping and processing methods. Propolis is obtained by chipping it away from the hive. Bees line the entrance of their hive with propolis as their first line of defense, and propolis also protects individual bees from infection while inside the hive. Inflammation of the throat and mouth, halitosis, tonsillitis, stomach ulcers, acne and slow-healing wounds have all been reportedly relieved with the use of propolis. Propolis is rich in fats, amino acids, organic acids and trace elements such as iron, copper, manganese and zinc. The antibiotic properties of propolis are believed to come from the flavonoids it contains, particularly galangin, a plant root related to ginger which has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Most of the propolis for human use comes from poplars. Just as bee pollen and propolis provide bees with energy and protect the hive against infection, these remedies from the bee hive may also prove to be a line of defense for humans. Bee pollen and propolis are available in many health food stores. COPYRIGHT 1990 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved. |
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