Honey, wax, pollen and propolis have been used for many millennia for cosmetics and medicines. Honey and hive products have a long history of benefits to humans. In Ancient Egypt and Greece, honey was considered a healer, and was used in early medicine. Humans have gathered honey for thousands of years. Even now, scientists are starting to understand the complexity of honey and the many healing properties it possesses (Manuka honey, from Australia, has special properties used in wound care.) Raw honey has natural hydrogen peroxide that helps prevent and heal infections. It also possesses natural compounds that fight bacteria, and ease swelling. Raw honey contains pollens, which are known to help fight hay fever and other allergies. Honey can also be very helpful in soothing sore throats during sickness, and is now being used in burn creams to help burn victims heal better and faster. It is known to have antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It also has healthy amino acids, antioxidants and vitamins. Other hive products such as wax, pollen, and propolis are less known, however they also have special benefits. In addition to medicinal uses, bees are responsible for pollinating many different types of foods, such as vegetables, fruit trees, berries and nuts. Without them, our food choices would be very limited.
Honey begins when bees collect nectar from flowers and plants. They bring it home and store it in honeycomb cells where they work hard to dehydrate it and break it down to simple sugars. They then seal the cell with wax and store it for later consumption. Honey can be used as a well-balanced nutritional sweetener and is known to have many health benefits. It was the first natural sweetener known to man. When buying and using honey, be sure to buy local raw honey. Honey can be kept for many years without going bad – some say forever (if stored properly). In Egyptian tombs, Scientists have found honey stored in pots that is still safe to eat. Some honey does crystalize, if your honey does this, it can easily be rewarmed back to its liquid state.
Wax is the foundation of the bee hive known as honey comb. The bees use it as their home. They store honey and pollen in these wax cells and they also use it to raise baby bees. Wax has many uses. Traditionally it was used to make candles to light up homes and churches. It was also used as thickener in salves and creams and other cosmetic products.
The most interesting product bees make is propolis It is made from the resins of plants and trees. Bees use propolis to disinfect their hives. Propolis is not usually used in its pure form. A tincture is made using a high grade alcohol to desolve the solid propolis. It is then applied directly or used in other products. Propolis has been known to help heal canker sores and gum infections. It has been used for cancer of the nose and throat, for treating warts, and for treating problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Propolis tincture can be applied directly to skin on cuts and minor burns. It has also been very helpful in improving healing of oral conditions such as cold sores, mouth sores and inflammation. It can be ingested orally and has shown to help boost the immune system as well as treating other conditions. Propolis is also used as an ingredient in the manufacturing of high end cosmetics.