PROPOLIS AND ESSENTIAL OIL COMBINATIONS
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And
the Lord spoke to the bee: “ Seek housing in the mountains and in the
trees and in that which they (mankind) have erected. And then eat of all
fruits and take to the comfortable path of your lord”. From their
bodies comes a potion of differing color in which is medication for man.
See herein is a sign for reflective people. Holy
Koran, 16th Sure, 70-71 In
the notes and many case histories so far I have found a number of references to the Doctors, Professors and
Countries where extensive tests with a Propolis treatment originated. To
the results of these
findings he added his own
and made an improvement by adding and essential oils/tagetes/tartaric
acid combination, as the basis for the manner of aromatherapy
treatment, he practised. Not so strange though, to use Propolis
in combination with essential oils. There already is a small percentage
essential oil in Propolis, so why no combine more specific oils with the
already fantastic properties Propolis has to offer? Propolis
means top secret and metaphorically “The Guards”, those that prevent
things forcing their way into a community like diseases, from
penetrating a bee hive which could destroy a whole swarm of bees. Pro-polis,
as the Greeks called it, Pro-tects the Polis (city) from
microbes and fungus. The hive, an enclosed unit, is moist and hot, the
perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. Yet, because of the Propolis,
it is virtually free of bacteria, mold, and mildew. It has been used to treat disease with great success.
Propolis also often termed Bee Glue, is a natural resinous substance
gathered by honey bees, from buds of various trees. For this reason
Propolis is an extremely complicated mixture of substances from the
plant kingdom. Chemically speaking, Propolis is a very complex
mixture. Its chemical elements vary according to its source.
Colors range from golden brown to brownish green to reddish brown to
blackish brown. A broad analysis reveals approximately 55 percent
resinous compounds and balsam, 30 percent beeswax, 10 percent essential
and aromatic oils, and 5 percent bee pollen. Many flavonols
contribute to Propolis. Other components include cinnamic acid,
cinnamyl alcohol, vanillin, caffeic acid, tetochrysin, isalpinin,
pinocembrin, chrysin, galangin, and ferulic acid. Propolis contains a complex mixture of about 160
biochemical elements including essential oils, significant vitamins and
bioflavinoids. For humans, bioflavinoids and vitamins are among the more
important components of Propolis. Both vitamins and bioflavinoids assist
in strengthening and maintaining the immune system. Rome's greatest scholar Marcus Terentius Varro’s
( 116-27 bc) only complete work to survive is the Res rustica
("Farm Topics"), a three-section work of practical instruction
in general agriculture and animal husbandry, written to foster a love of
rural life. In there he states that : They call that ‘Propolis’ out
of which the bees make a protection in the hive’s entrance in high
summer. It is used with the same name by doctors for poultices, for
which reason it is more expensive than honey in the Via sacra”. Other
learned scientists and doctors have praised the benefit of Propolis.
Pliny, not a doctor himself knew of Propolis which he reports “easy
pains and as a component of drawing ointments.
Galen knew of it and Alexander Tralianus as well as the
gynaecologist Moschion. Dioscorides, like Pliny, reports on the drawing
force of Propolis of which he states that it “draws out thorns and
splinters and helps against coughs and rashes. Modern
research has been concentrated mainly in Eastern Europe and Greece.
Scientists from Austria, Switzerland, Rumania, Yugoslavia and the former
Soviet Union as well as specialist in Poland and Denmark, to name of few
of many, all have published on the beneficial effect Propolis has on a
variety of ailments. Research shows proof that it offers antiseptic,
antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and even antiviral properties.
Propolis is Nature's premiere preventive. It is so powerful in
action, it is often called Russian penicillin in acknowledgement of the
extensive research the Russians have mounted on this wonder worker from
the bees. Propolis demonstrates strong antimicrobial properties
against various bacterial and fungal infestations. Even
streptococcus bacteria have been shown sensitive to Propolis. Many
pharmaceutical properties are credited to Propolis. It has been used in
folk medicine for anti-inflammation as well as for antiviral,
antibacterial, fungicidal, antiseptic, and anaesthetic applications.
Recent studies revealed some active components such as caffeic acid
phenethyl ester (CAPE) that may show possible anti-cancer properties.
Antioxidant qualities similar to vitamin E have also been discovered in
Propolis extracts. Russian
researchers have isolated a number of chemically interesting compounds
in the resin which can range in Propolis between 10 to 70%, depending on
the quality. To name a few, amino-acids, vitamins B.E.H and P, myristin
acid, cinnamon acid, vanillin, sorbic acid, quercitin, enzymes and
flavones. Strictly
speaking it has not been proven, what many researchers claim, that
Propolis functions as a natural antibiotic but as early as 1948 it was
established in Denmark that Propolis limits the growth of the
tuberculosis bacilli. It was later established that Propolis was
effective against 24 of 39 tested strains of bacteria and 20 out of 20
tested fungi. Cizmarik
and Trupl, two Slovak researchers did extensive research on 18 types of
dermathophytes of which they tested more than 40 strains and found
Proplis effective in all kinds of fungi. In one of their publications
they report the “high effect of Propolis on gram positive bacteria
especially on 35 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. In
Poland it was Professor Stanislaw Scheller who researched the effect of
Propolis on Candida albicans, and Candida pseudotropicale,
microorganisms responsible for troublesome vaginal inflammations. He
reports that the effect of Propolis, administered as vaginal
suppositories was excellent with no relapse. And
to this range of scientist researching Propolis
a long list of names of Professors and doctors can be added. In
Sarajevo tests were conducted with great results of the effect Propolis
had by flue. In Rumania equal results were noticed in Herpes maladies.
Especially in the case of Herpes labialis (aphitis stomatosa). Rumanian
researchers combined Propolis with the Essential oils of Rose and
(German) Chamomile and Geranium to treat this difficult and bothersome
blister rash on the mouth’s mucous membrane, lips and in the region of
the mouth. Based on the findings of Dr.Edith Lauda of Vienna who was the
first to use Propolis on Conglobata, a severe type of acne, a Greek Monk
combined Propolis with Tagetes and Clary sage and (German) Chamomile.
Results are often spectacular using this treatment. A
combination of Chamomile, Rosemary and Peppermint with Propolis applied
over a period of one week three times a day, gave remarkable relief by
Sciatica (Austria-Greece) and the same treatment worked well by helping
to cure inflamed tendons and bursitis (Rumania). By
in-grown toe nails the Propolis/Tagetes/Tartaric acid liquid with
Lavender helps to prevent infections and by adding a few drops of
oregano to it and applying the liquid twice daily to fungi-affected
toenails, effect can be noticeable seen after already one week. Applying
the liquid with a few drops cypress oil added to it treats varicose
veins, it will make the hard veins tender and reduce swellings. Liquid Propolis tincture, with a hint of thyme is good
for topical applications and it can soothe sore throats and the
discomforts of earaches. The
soothing effect on menstrual pains Propolis has, is the basis for a
number of oil combinations by which the Propolis is dissolved in a good
quality vegetable oil, to which essential oils have been added.
Dysmenorrhoe and amenorrhoea, ovary and fallopian tube inflammations,
vaginitis, leucorrhoea, trichomonas and similar bacterial and fungal
infections of the vagina are treated with an oil/Propolis combination by
soaking vaginal tampons in such formulations. It is of acme importance that a very good quality essential oils is used in this kind of liquid composition. It is not the quantity of oil that does its work but the quality. Often just a few drops of a certain essential oil, for instance Rose is sufficient. The
alcohol/tagetes/propolis/tartaric acid mixture is referred to in our
Bloodstream lessons as basic liquid. Literature:
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