Propolis tincture: medicinal properties and contraindications, recipes, how to take

Propolis is a real miracle of nature, which is created by little toilers bees, and mankind has been using its magical properties to maintain their health since ancient times. The medicinal properties of propolis tincture and contraindications to its use are described in detail in this article, as well as specific recommendations and recipes for using this valuable substance in the treatment of many diseases are given.

Can I drink propolis tincture

Since propolis itself, in other words bee glue, is a fairly solid substance, practically insoluble in water, the tincture from it is one of the most common medicinal forms that can be used for medicinal purposes. It can be taken internally or used externally. Aqueous tincture of propolis is quite acceptable for use even in childhood and during pregnancy and with HS. However, even an alcoholic tincture of propolis, if necessary, is allowed to be given to children from 10 years old, dissolving in milk or water.

Why is propolis tincture useful?

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of propolis tincture. After all, this healing remedy contains more than 50 various elements and substances related to each other. These are resins, and alcohols, and balms, and tannins, essential oils, wax, particles of plant and animal origin. Propolis and its tincture contains about 15 valuable chemical elements (calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, copper, silicon and others) and about 7-8 varieties of vitamins, including the valuable provitamin A.

Its main and most valuable quality is its increased biological activity. Both aqueous and alcoholic propolis tinctures promote the activation of defense mechanisms in the human body, neutralize some bacterial poisons, and increase resistance to various diseases. Propolis not only prolongs and enhances the effect of antibiotics, but may well serve as a full replacement for some of them.

The list of diseases for which propolis tincture can help is practically inexhaustible. It is probably easier to find examples when its effect is powerless. And the indication for the use of propolis tincture is even the usual seasonal weakening of the body.

Propolis tincture has the following main medicinal properties:

pronounced antimicrobial effect (moreover, propolis is able to resist not only bacteria, but also fungi and viruses);
analgesic effect, which can manifest itself within 8-10 minutes after the start of use and last for several hours;
antipruritic and anti-inflammatory effect;
wound healing properties, by reducing intoxication of the body, plasma loss and increased blood and lymph circulation.

The harm of propolis infusion

The use of propolis and tinctures from it is definitely contraindicated only for those people who have a pronounced allergy to honey and bee products. For everyone else, the effect on the body of propolis tincture will be extremely positive if you strictly follow the instructions for use and be sure that it is made from natural remedies. Unfortunately, in recent years, numerous counterfeits of various medicinal products have not been ruled out. Therefore, it is most reliable to prepare propolis tincture with your own hands at home - this way you can be 100% confident in the effective power of the drug.

What does propolis tincture help with?

As mentioned above, propolis tincture can provide effective help for a variety of diseases:

gastrointestinal tract;
pancreatitis;
ENT diseases;
immune problems and colds;
problems with the cardiovascular system;
skin infections;
urological and gynecological problems;
disorders associated with the work of the endocrine system and metabolism and others.

How to make propolis tincture at home

From propolis at home, it is possible to prepare tinctures on alcohol, on vodka, on water, on milk, as well as an oil emulsion.

Before making a medicinal tincture according to any of the recipes, propolis must be subject to mandatory cleaning from unnecessary impurities. The cleansing procedure consists of the following steps:

First, it is crushed - the easiest way is to put the required amount of the product in the refrigerator for several hours, and then grate it on a fine grater.
Then the crushed propolis is placed in a container with cold water, shaken and left for a few minutes.
Attention! Waxy particles and other unnecessary impurities will float to the surface, and all the healing material will settle to the bottom.
It must be carefully collected and dried on a sieve or napkin.

For the manufacture of alcohol tincture of propolis, the crushed material is poured with 96% medical or food alcohol in the required concentration.

The solution is insisted for exactly 2 weeks in a dark glass container with a tightly sealed lid in a not very hot place. Then the product is filtered through several layers of gauze and, poured into dark flasks, stored in a cool room for about 2-3 years. Long shelf life itself and comparative ease of preparation are the main advantages of alcoholic propolis tincture.

To obtain a 10% alcohol solution, it is necessary to pour 10 g of propolis with 90 ml of alcohol. To get a 50% solution - 50 g of propolis, pour 50 ml of alcohol.

An aqueous solution of propolis has an even more effective antimicrobial effect and can be recommended for ingestion even for children and pregnant women, but it is stored for a very short time - a maximum of 10 days.

For the manufacture of 10% aqueous infusion, 10 g of propolis is poured into 100 ml of purified or boiled water.
Then the vessel with the tincture is placed in a container with warm water, which is placed on moderate heating.
Bringing the temperature of the water in the external container to + 50 ° C, steamed, maintaining a minimum fire, for about 20-50 minutes, stirring the solution from time to time.
Insist for about 4-6 hours.
Then it is filtered using four layers of gauze and poured into a dark bottle for storage.

It is very easy to prepare an infusion of propolis in milk at home - the so-called propolis milk.

To do this, you need to boil fresh milk.
After removing it from the heat, add 100 g of crushed propolis to 1.5 liters of the product.
Stir until smooth and strain through several layers of cheesecloth.
Wait for the milk to cool completely and carefully remove the formed wax particles from its surface.
Transfer to an enamel or glass container and refrigerate for several days.

How to take propolis tincture

Propolis tincture can be used in a variety of ways: taken orally, diluted in milk or water, as a course of treatment, prepare inhalations, instilled into the nose, lubricate the inner and outer parts of painful organs, including mucous membranes.

With angina

The remedy made according to the following recipe can be considered one of the most effective for the treatment of angina.

You will need:

1 tbsp. l. crushed plantain leaves;
1 glass of boiled water;
40 drops of 20% alcoholic propolis tincture.

Manufacturing:

Pour the crushed leaves with water and boil for about 12-15 minutes.
Insist under the lid for an hour and filter.
Propolis tincture is added.

Used to gargle the throat as often as circumstances allow, but at least 5-6 times a day.

No less important in the treatment of angina is the maintenance of a weakened immune system. And a drink made from 200 ml of warm milk mixed with 3 tsp perfectly copes with this task. 10% alcoholic propolis tincture.

With atherosclerosis

Propolis tincture is the most effective remedy for patients suffering from atherosclerosis. You can take it separately, one hour before meals, 3 times a day, diluting 30 drops of 20% tincture in 50 ml of warm water.

There are also no less valuable and time-tested recipes in which propolis is combined with medicinal herbs.

Tincture of hawthorn fruits from a pharmacy is combined in equal proportions with 20% alcoholic tincture of propolis. Drink 2-3 times a day, 20-30 drops of the mixture, diluted in a small amount of water before meals.
Elecampane tincture (15%) is combined with an equal amount of 20% propolis tincture. Consume in the same way as in the previous recipe, 25-30 drops of the mixture.

For gynecological diseases

For such diseases, compositions in the form of ointments, suppositories, tampons soaked in a healing solution are most often used.

Cotton swabs for insertion into the vagina can be impregnated with 3% alcohol or 5% aqueous propolis infusion. Usually the course consists of 10 procedures, which are carried out at night. Douching is allowed with the same solutions.

These procedures allow you to relieve pain syndromes, normalize the menstrual cycle, stop blood loss, and most importantly, avoid a course of hormone therapy, the effect of which is sometimes completely unpredictable.

Bee glue is also effective in the treatment of uterine fibroids. Tampons can be moistened in a mixture of 10% aqueous propolis solution. And at the same time take inside herbal infusion according to the following recipe:

20 g yarrow;
20 g pine buds;
20 g celandine;
20 g of calendula;
20 g of wormwood;
20 g of marin root;
20 g of crushed propolis.

All components are mixed, 500 ml of alcohol is added, insisted for 2 weeks in a dark place, shaking the contents every day. After straining, drink ½ tsp. half an hour before meals three times a day.

With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The medicinal properties of propolis are especially well manifested in the fight against numerous diseases of the stomach and intestines.

So propolis tincture is indispensable in the treatment of stomach and duodenal ulcers due to its antibacterial properties. It is better to start treatment with a 5-10% tincture and, if no painful sensations in the stomach are observed within a week, proceed to using a more concentrated 20% liquid.

From 40 to 60 drops of tincture is diluted in ¼ glass of water and taken 1.5 hours before meals 3 times a day for several months.

The positive effect of such treatment is usually manifested as early as 5-10 days after its start. Many painful symptoms, heartburn, nausea disappear, and general well-being improves. Since propolis relieves spasms and inflammation by enveloping the ulcer with a protective sheath. In addition, it promotes bile secretion and reduces acidity.

For the treatment of chronic and acute colitis, erosive gastritis and other similar diseases, the use of propolis milk, made according to the recipe described in detail above, is excellent. It is usually taken half a glass before meals 3-4 times a day for 4-6 weeks.

Propolis milk is able to neutralize pathogenic bacteria, including pathogenic staphylococcus, heal the intestinal mucosa, stimulate local blood flow and generally increase the body's defenses. Therefore, treatment is especially recommended for them for the elderly and for those who have a decreased tone and general weakening of the body.

When coughing

A cough can be a symptom of many diseases, and the way propolis tincture is used depends on the specific disease.

For example, for auxiliary therapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma, 20% alcohol tincture is taken 3 times a day, diluting 20 drops in half a glass of milk or water, half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 2 months.

For a common cold cough, a glass of warm propolis milk with the addition of 1 tsp is best. honey and a small piece of butter.

For skin diseases

Skin diseases are also very diverse. Most often, they combine the use of alcoholic propolis tincture inside to raise immunity and lubricate painful areas with a medicinal mixture with propolis.

To treat, for example, such a common disease as weeping eczema, prepare the following mixture:

1 part of chopped oak bark is diluted with 5 parts of water and boiled for 20 minutes.
Cool and filter.
1 glass of the resulting broth is mixed with 1 tsp. 20% alcoholic tincture of propolis.
The healing mixture is applied several times a day to damaged skin areas for 12-15 days.

For acne, acne and other skin rashes, masks according to the following recipe help well:

1 tbsp. l. cosmetic clay;
2 tbsp. l. warm boiled water;
1 tsp lemon juice;
1 tsp olive oil;
½ tsp propolis tincture.

All components are thoroughly mixed, applied to problem areas, kept for 15 minutes, washed off with warm water.

For colds and flu

The best remedy for both treatment and prevention of influenza and colds is propolis milk, the method of making it at home was described in the previous chapter.

They usually drink it one glass at night in a slightly warmed form.

This excellent remedy can be given even to children of almost all ages during seasonal epidemics.

With rhinitis

For instillation into the nose, both in acute and chronic forms of the common cold, drops with propolis tincture, made according to the following recipe, are excellently helped:

1 part alcoholic propolis tincture;
3 parts olive oil;
½ part freshly squeezed horseradish juice.

All parts thoroughly interfere with each other and instill the resulting mixture into the nose, 3-4 drops in each nostril.

With tonsillitis

The remedy described in the chapter on the treatment of tonsillitis also works great with tonsillitis. It allows you to stop inflammation in the tonsils, remove respiratory tract infections, relieve pain in the pharynx.

You can easily make effective "throat lozenges" by dripping a few drops of propolis tincture on lumps of refined sugar.

To strengthen the immune system

In order to strengthen the immune system, it is easiest to take advantage of the use of propolis milk at night. In addition to making this healing drink using traditional technology, you can simply add 3 tsp to 200 ml of warm milk. alcoholic propolis tincture.

Comment! For children, instead of three teaspoons of infusion, use only one.

In dentistry

Propolis tincture is a recognized remedy for the treatment of many diseases in dentistry.In particular, to help with periodontitis, gingivitis, caries and stomatitis, the following medicinal collection with the addition of propolis tincture is perfect.

You will need:

30 g of eucalyptus leaves;
25 g of chamomile flowers;
25 g of lime blossom;
20 g flax seeds;
1 glass of water;
40 drops of 20% alcoholic propolis tincture.

Manufacturing:

1 tbsp. l. herbal mixture is poured with 1 glass of boiling water and heated in a water bath for 15 minutes.
Then they insist for 40 minutes and filter.
Add propolis tincture, stir.

Use to rinse your mouth at least 3 times a day.

Propolis tincture is no less effective for relieving toothache. To alleviate the painful condition, it is necessary to add 3 parts of purified warm water to 1 part of 20% alcohol tincture. Moisten a cotton swab in the resulting solution and apply to a sore tooth.

Propolis during breastfeeding and pregnancy

For any colds and other ailments during pregnancy and lactation, recipes with the use of an aqueous extract of propolis, instead of alcohol, are perfect.

To improve the general condition of the body during these difficult periods for a woman, it is recommended to regularly consume a drink according to the following recipe:

500 g of rose hips are poured into 1 liter of water, heated to a boil, steamed over low heat for about an hour.
Pour into a thermos, add a piece of propolis on the tip of a knife and leave it to infuse overnight.

Contraindications to propolis tincture

The main contraindication to taking any drugs from propolis is an allergy to honey and bee products. Therefore, it is advisable to start treatment with small doses and carefully observe the possible appearance of symptoms such as: redness, itching, headache, shortness of breath, fever, swelling, rash and general weakness.

Subject to the recommended doses, propolis has no contraindications even with severe damage to the kidneys, liver and biliary tract.

But alcohol tincture in any degree of dilution is not recommended for ingestion by pregnant and lactating women, children under 3 years old and drivers.

Terms and conditions of storage

Alcohol tincture of propolis can be stored in cool conditions without access to light for 2-3 years. The water infusion is stored for about a week on average. Propolis milk (i.e. milk infusion) is best kept in the refrigerator for no more than 3-4 days.

Conclusion

The medicinal properties of propolis tincture and possible contraindications have been studied by scientists and physicians from different countries for many years and centuries. Nevertheless, it cannot be said that this process is complete, since more and more new properties of this mysterious substance are constantly being discovered, which make it possible to cope with many human health problems.

Propolis tincture: what helps and how to take it correctly