Propolis: A Natural Antibiotic, Part 2

According to the International Beekeeping Technology and Economy Institute, propolis has antiproteolytic, bactericidal, and bacteriostatic effects unparalleled among natural substances for its pharmacodynamic action.

Much of the rediscovery of propolis is due to French scientist Dr. Remy Chauvin, who became fascinated with the fact that bees seemed to be immune to bacteria.  He conducted many tests during the 1960s and found that the bee secretes an antibiotic, bee propolis, which makes it immune to attacks from bacteria and viruses.

Dr. Chauvin also learned that this anti-substance of the bee has 100 percent killing effect on bacteria – something which modern antibiotics do not have.

There is a movement in the United States, Denmark and the rest of the world to pay more attention to natural products when it comes to medicine.

Emphasis is being placed on teaching and prevention rather than simply fighting disease.  And, certainly, all this provides a receptive background to the work on bee propolis which is going on around the world.

American doctors have been especially impressed with the ability of bee propolis to reduce stress and fight infection.

At medical seminars in America, bee propolis has been shown to be antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.  As one New York doctor says:  “It is the only substance (found to date) which is able to balance both cerebral hemispheres and to reduce stress…”

In Russia, doctors have studied bee propolis to see if it can help problems related to blood pressure and diseases of the intestines.

Dr. Fang Zhu of the Workers Hospital in China has tested the product among people with hyperlipemia (excess fat in the blood).  He gave bee proplis to his patients everyday and reported that “clinical result suggests that there is a lowering of hyperlipemia during the treatment…”

Bee propolis not only seems to help people who have infections, it seems to help people prevent getting infections.  It can be eaten as a daily supplement just like a vitamin or mineral; it is believed to provide stimulation to the body’s own immune system and to build resistance to infection.