A Sustainable Lifestyle
The honeybee has intrigued mankind for centuries. The structure of the colony, the division of labour and the unconditional servitude to the needs of the nest have always been considered the pinnacle of sophisticated society. Trying to understand what ancient instinct drives bees to behave as they do continues to evade even the most scientific and intellectual minds. Their hardiness and will to survive and adapt in extreme environments has always been a remarkable trait. Bees are able to forage for pollen and nectar in some of the most unlikely places, such as the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, to being able to survive long freezing winters without any supplemental nectar in some of the world’s iciest places.
Needless to say it is not only their survival abilities which have caught mankind’s attention. The products of a bee’s nest have always played a vital role in all societies throughout the world. Apart from acting nature’s sweet shop and offering deliciously sweet honey, many ailments and illnesses have benefited from certain other substances procured from bee nests. One such substance which continues to earn respect for its healing properties is propolis, also sometimes referred to as “bee glue” which is a sticky resin-like substance collected from certain plant buds. Bees create propolis to seal and waterproof their hive, as well as to close the entrance space to the hive to not only better protect themselves from predators, but to also aid in keeping the hive warm during cooler months.
The use of propolis as a medicine by humans has a long history. The Greek physician and father of modern medicine Hippocrates (460 – 377 BC) often prescribed propolis to heal both internal and external ailments. The Roman Pliney (23 – 79 AD) wrote about propolis saying “ …it heals pain and heals sores when it appears hopeless for them to mend.” The Stradivarius violins built by Antonia Stradivari (1644 – 1737 AD) had propolis as an ingredient in their varnish.
It has been found that propolis triggers and aids the activity of white blood cells in the body and thus helps in the development of our bodies’ immune system. Propolis is rich in essential oils (flavenoids) which are well known for their positive effect on capillaries as well as assisting with the body’s uptake of vitamin C.
The reproduction of certain strains of bacteria are also either destroyed or stopped by the use of propolis, such as Staphylococci, Streptococci and Salmonellae. Propolis has the ability to protect against the effects of radiation.
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