Every six months or so I tend to research a new supplement to help broaden my knowledge of all the different type of supplements I can add to my diet.  I kind of think of myself as a guinea pig for these sorts of findings and most of the time get curious to experience how they can benefit my health.  I always keep in mind to primarily try my best to get all my required vitamins, minerals etc from my food.  But lately my sinuses have been acting up and it’s been mostly due too my recent poor eating habits and rather high stress lifestyle.

About two years ago, I read an article highlighting the important role Bees play in the ecosystem as well as the bee hive products bees produce.  Honey, Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen and Bee Propolis are produced by bees to maintain the Queen Bee and Bee Hive.

In this post I’ll be highlighting Bee Propolis and why I decided to add this as a supplement to my diet.  First let’s take a look at the many products Bee’s produce and the health benefits they provide.

Honey:   How do bee’s make honey?  Antioxidant, Antibiotic, Antiseptic.  I love to use honey in my hair for  moisture and shine.  I also use it in my facials and as a face wash in the mornings during my personal honey challenges.  Thanks to it’s antiseptic properties it’s ideal for those with acne prone and oily skin, especially if you deal with redness due to inflammation.  Do not give honey to a child under 1 year of age.

Royal Jelly:  Antibiotic and anti viral, rich in B Vitamins, helps prevent signs of aging.  Assists in tissue regrowth and regeneration.

Bee Pollen:  Contains an array of B- Vitamins,  enhances the immune system, fights fatigue, boosts energy levels, treats sinuses thanks to it’s antibacterial properties, treats inflammation.

Bee Propolis:  Bees gather tree sap from a wide range of trees and mix it with their own secretions to make propolis.  Bee Propolis is used to seal cracks in the beehive, preventing diseases and intruders from entering the hive.

Tree Sap Source.

Bee Proplis is well known as a natural antibiotic, assisting the body with killing off bad bacteria without interfering with the natural bacteria in our bodies.  It also assists with sinus issues, eczema, wounds, arthritis and a whole host of ailments.  Bee Proplis also assist in boosting the immune system and fights free radicals due to it’s antioxidant properties.  

I decided to get this Country Life brand supplement of Bee Propolis, $18.00 for this bottle of 100 capsules.  I mainly wanted to try this and see how much energy levels I get without interrupting my sleep like spirulina supplement did here a while back (still my favorite for an instant energy boost though).  Also I’m interested in it’s ability to ease the inflammation I deal with when my sinuses congest as well as  fight any bacteria that may be contributing.  And not to mention the immune system boost I can use for this coming fall/ winter season too.

  When I start taking supplements I typically like to take one tablet/capsule a day every day for 3 weeks. Then I stop for a week or two and depending on how I’m feeling, continue to take a capsule every two days or so until I’m through with the bottle.  I pay very close attention to my body and try to take note of any changes such as energy levels throughout the day, sleep patterns, appetite, skin, etc.  I’ve just started taking bee propolis this past weekend 7/28, so It may take me about another month or so to give a thorough review.

*Please be advised that you should consult with your health practitioner before considering taking Bee Propolis or any supplement I may post or review.*

For more information on Bee Propolis check out these sources:

Drug abuse Treatment using Biochemistry

Thomas J Rundquist

The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods

Micheal T. Murray

The Shamanic Way of the Bee

Simon Buxton