Honey gets most of the attention, but a beehive produces several remarkable materials. One of the most fascinating is propolis, a sticky substance often nicknamed "bee glue." Bees rely on it to keep their home sealed and protected, and people have been interested in it for thousands of years.
What is propolis?
Propolis is a resin-like material that honeybees make by collecting sticky resins from tree buds, sap flows, and other plant sources. Back at the hive, they mix those resins with beeswax and their own secretions. The result is a material that can be soft and sticky when warm and hard and brittle when cold.
The word "propolis" comes from Greek and is often translated as "before the city," a nod to the way bees use it at the hive entrance, the gateway to their colony.
How bees use propolis
Bees use propolis as a building and maintenance material. They:
- Seal small gaps and cracks in the hive. Larger spaces are usually filled with beeswax instead.
- Narrow the hive entrance to make it easier to defend.
- Smooth and coat interior surfaces.
- Encase intruders too large to remove, such as a mouse that wandered in and died, helping limit decay inside the hive.
Researchers believe propolis helps create a cleaner environment inside the colony. Some studies suggest it may act as part of the colony's collective defense, sometimes described as "social immunity."
What's in propolis?
Propolis composition varies enormously depending on which plants bees collect resin from. In general, it contains:
- Plant resins and balsams, often making up around half its weight
- Beeswax
- Essential oils and aromatic compounds
- Small amounts of pollen
- Plant compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids
Because of this variation, propolis from temperate regions can be quite different from propolis collected in tropical areas. Brazilian green propolis, for example, comes from a specific plant and has its own distinct chemical profile.
A long history of use
People have used propolis for a very long time. Historical accounts describe its use in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It has also been used as a component in varnishes. Some historians have suggested it may have played a role in the finishes of classic stringed instruments, though that idea remains debated.
How people use propolis today
Today propolis appears in a variety of products, including:
- Tinctures and extracts
- Throat sprays and lozenges
- Capsules
- Skincare products and balms
Scientists have studied propolis extensively in laboratory settings, particularly its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Human clinical research is more limited, and results vary partly because propolis products differ so much from one another.
Precautions
Propolis isn't right for everyone:
- Allergies: Propolis is a known cause of allergic contact dermatitis, and allergic reactions have been reported, especially in people who react to bee products, poplar, or balsam of Peru.
- Pregnancy and nursing: Safety data is limited, so it's best to check with a healthcare provider.
- Medications and surgery: Speak with your provider before using concentrated propolis products if you take medications or have an upcoming procedure.
Always start with a small amount and patch test topical products.
Powered by the hive
Every product from the hive reflects the incredible work bees do. At HYVE, we use two of them: raw honey and bee pollen. HYVE Focus & Memory Functional Honey combines 100% raw, USDA Organic honey with organic bee pollen, 222mg of organic lion's mane extract (20:1, 100% fruiting body), 80mg of L-theanine, organic raw cacao, and organic vanilla. Each 14g packet tastes like vanilla chocolate with zero caffeine.
HYVE does not contain propolis, but because it contains honey and bee pollen it isn't suitable for people with bee-product allergies or infants under 12 months. Get 20% off your first order with code WELCOME20.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
