(also referred to as...)
Russian Penicillin
Description
Bee propolis has been used by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Assyrians for medicinal purposes and was also employed during the time of Aristotle, around 350 B.C. It is derived from the resin collected by bees from tree buds and wounds and other plants and mixed with beeswax. The sticky, soft substance is used by bees in the hive to fill and caulk holes, seal, line, or spread over surfaces, and generally strengthen the hive.
The bees also use bee propolis to keep contaminants and germs at bay. With tens of thousands of bees entering and leaving the enclosed, moist warmth of the hive daily, it is vital to keep bacteria and other foreign organisms in check. Bee propolis helps keep the hive germ free and to control possible point sources of contaminants. If a mouse enters a hive for warmth during the winter, for example, the bees will sting it to death. As they cannot physically remove the now decaying body, they will mummify it with propolis to protect the hive. The Egyptians used propolis for mummification as well.
Bee propolis contains more than three hundred elements, including bioflavonoids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, and amino acids. Composition varies by region and season.
