IMPROVING IMMUNE SYSTEMS Professor S. Scheller, the head of a team of four doctors at the Institute for Microbiology at the Medical Academy in Poland found that propolis is able to stimulate the immune system.
It works by increasing the formation of antibodies to build our body resistance to diseases and by stimulating our body to release chemicals that protects us from cellular deterioration.
He also concluded that other benefits include improved physical, intellectual and sexual performance as well as making injured tissue heal faster.
The study also concluded that propolis is not a toxic substance.
TREAT BURNS
It can also be used in treating second degree burns. Research showed that propolis cream gave about the same result as normally prescribed cream.
But it also has another added benefit. It reduces inflammation of the burnt skin.
Believed to be a result of a substance called arginine, other studies have also supported this finding.
These studies have also concluded that propolis also stimulates enzyme systems, cell metabolism, circulation and collagen formation.
INCREASE FERTILITY
One isolated study had tested the benefit of propolis on women with infertility and endometriosis. The study indicated that consumption of 500mg of the substance twice daily resulted in pregnancy rate of 60% as opposed to 20% for women not given propolis.
POTENTIAL CANCER DRUG
A report published in the Cancer Research (Sep 15,93;53 1482-88) stated that caffeic acids in propolis might help prevent colon cancer.
The study expose rats to cancer chemical agents and study the effects of rats given propolis and those without the propolis diet. It found that caffeic acids in the bee product prevented the formation of pre cancerous tissues in rats.
Another study done in 1990 had also reported that propolis acted against ovary cancer in hamster and sarcoma-type tumors in mice.
BOWEL PROBLEMS
This bee substance could also help patients suffering from inflammatory bowel problems — like Chron’s disease and ulceration colitis.
In June 2001, Dr. Ralph Golan in his article published in the Townsend Letters For Doctors reported that ulceration colitis was found to respond well to bee propolis therapy.
DENTAL CARE
One useful application of is in dental care. Propolis mouthwash used after an oral surgery appears to shorten the healing time.
A study done in 1991 showed that rats given propolis in their drinking water had less caries compared to other rats.
Another study done in 1986 also proposed the bee product as a subsidiary treatment for gum infection and plague.
PROTECTING LIVER
Two studies done in 1986 and 1987 showed that it may help in protecting our liver. In these studies, propolis was effective in protecting the liver against alcohol and tetrachloride.
IMPROVE ANTIBIOTIC EFFECTIVENESS
Australian scientists, E.L Ghisalberti of the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Western Australia showed that bee propolis increases the effectiveness of penicillin or other antibiotics from 10 to 100 folds.
This finding could help reduce the number of side effects associated with antibiotics and lower the over dependency on antibiotics by doctors.
VETERINARY APPLICATIONS
The bee product also offers some benefits to breeders by improving livestock weight gain and reduce diarrhea in their animals.
A study done in 1987 showed that 5 ml of propolis solution given to milk-fed calves helped achieve the above results.
Studies done on rabbits have also showed that the bee substance also helped treat coccidiosis, eimeria and mastitis.
OTHER MEDICAL BENEFITS OF PROPOLIS
Studies done in rats and mice had shown that concentrated propolis given to the rodents reduced their blood pressure, produces sedative effect as well as protects the liver and stomach against tetrachloride and ulcers.
All these were achieved without any side effects.
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