The use of various drugs synthesized chemically is often associated with their toxic effects on the body. Therefore, many seek to preserve the traditions of traditional medicine. One of the first places in the treatment of folk remedies are bee products. Propolis tincture, the instructions for use and preparation of which are known to all beekeepers, is a remedy for a huge number of pathological conditions of a person.

What is bee propolis

Propolis is a sticky substance produced by bees. This bee glue is formed under the action of enzymes collected from the spring buds of birch, alder and other trees. However, today there is no consensus on the origin of propolis.

Outwardly, this substance can be dark brown in color with a green tint, and in consistency it is plastic and soft. During storage, it hardens quickly and becomes brittle, but with a gradual increase in temperature to 80 ° C (in a water bath) it begins to melt.

Propolis has a distinctly bitter taste, and the smell is pleasant, depending on the tree from which the bees collected the original substance: birch, alder, poplar.

A significant positive quality of propolis is that with increasing temperature it does not lose its healing properties.

Read also: instructions for use tincture of propolis

Pure benefits and harms

A high concentration of beneficial compounds plays a dual role. On the one hand, this indicates the undeniable benefits and the possibility of using less propolis to achieve the desired effect.

However, for the same reason, the risk of developing unwanted reactions of the body, for example, an allergic reaction, the development of acute or exacerbation of chronic diseases due to severe irritation of the mucous membranes, increases.

The healing properties of propolis

Propolis is a substance whose full composition is not yet fully understood. However, what has already been found out about him makes "bee glue" an invaluable gift of nature.

Among its main qualities distinguish:

  1. Disinfecting action. Not all, but many bacteria, viruses and fungi stop their activity and die under the influence of propolis. It is especially effective in the treatment of chronic, long-term illnesses.
  2. The anti-inflammatory effect is expressed in the reduction of edema, permeability of the walls of blood vessels and soreness in the area of ​​the focus of infection.
  3. The nutritional effect is present due to the large number of amino acids and vitamins.
  4. Blood circulation improves due to stabilization of the vascular wall, especially capillaries.
  5. All types of metabolism in the body are normalized due to the presence of biologically active substances.
  6. The antioxidant effect is associated with the presence of vitamins A, C, E and other substances.
  7. General strengthening and immunomodulating action.

Enumerate the effect of propolis on the body can be infinite, since its constituent compounds are indispensable for normal human life.

The healing properties of propolis tincture

Propolis tincture for alcohol, the use of which is possible for various diseases, has no less positive qualities than pure propolis. This is due to the fact that during its preparation, alcohol or water absorbs all the useful substances. This form of medication contributes to a better intake of the necessary compounds.

However, with alcohol tincture you need to be careful, since alcohol promotes the formation of some resins. At high concentrations, they can be harmful to health. For this reason, it is not recommended to take propolis alcohol tincture for more than a month, and if there is such a need, then it should be reduced in a small dosage.

It is interesting:propolis for alcohol

From which tincture is used in folk medicine. How much and how long to take

Propolis tincture is used to treat:

  • diseases of the respiratory system and ears: acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, otitis media. As an adjunct therapy for pneumonia, bronchial asthma;
  • digestive diseases: gastritis, duodenitis, colitis, chronic non-viral hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis;
  • dental pathology: acute toothache, stomatitis, periodontal disease;
  • vascular diseases and symptoms associated with them: arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, fragility of blood vessels;
  • diseases of the male and female genitalia: fibroids, mastopathy, prostatitis, dysfunctional ovarian disorders;
  • diseases of the nervous system;
  • diseases of the skin, hair, nails: dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia, fungal infections of the nails and skin.

Cold and flu

Due to its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antipyretic properties, propolis tincture is actively used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine.

In the process of treating a cold, propolis tincture can be used internally and externally.

When taken orally, you should be careful, since any beekeeping product can cause an allergic reaction of any severity.

1-2 teaspoons of alcohol tincture dissolved in a glass of milk or green tea and drink in the evening before bedtime. Also, honey, cloves, ginger and a couple of black pepper peas (if there is no gastritis) are added to propolis tea. Such spicy tea can also be drunk as a prevention of the common cold during a period of increased morbidity.

If a cold is accompanied by an increase in temperature, then you can melt a tablespoon of butter (percentage not lower than 72), add a teaspoon of warm honey and a tablespoon of propolis alcohol tincture. Mix quickly and thoroughly, and drink. After that, you need to lie down, wrap yourself in a blanket and sleep well. The next morning, health will improve significantly, and in the evening, medication can be repeated, if necessary. The main thing is not to overdo it: such treatment should not last more than 3 days.

With severe soreness, recommendations come down to gargling. To do this, dissolve a tablespoon of tincture in a glass of water and rinse 4 times a day until the pain disappears.

External use involves the use of tinctures for compresses on the chest. Such treatment can be carried out only in the absence of elevated body temperature and not more than 3-4 days 1 time per day or at night.

Nasal congestion

Runny nose is effectively treated with propolis due to its detrimental effect on bacteria and viruses, reducing swelling and inflammation of the nasal mucosa, and also strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

For treatment, you can use both alcohol and water tincture of propolis.

In order not to dry the mucous membrane, you need to mix 2 tablespoons of olive (or other vegetable oil) with 1 tablespoon of tincture. Before instillation, make sure that the mixture is at room temperature. Bury in the nose 2-3 drops 3-4 times a day, the duration of therapy is not more than 5 days.

A mixture of equal parts of tincture of propolis, camphor, castor and any vegetable oil has a good effect. The application is the same as with olive oil.

In chronic rhinitis, instead of instillation, you can firmly roll up cotton turundas (tampons), moisten with a mixture and put in the nose for 10-15 minutes three times a day.

The same procedure can be carried out by mixing 10 ml of tincture with 100 ml of water.

Sinusitis

This disease can not be treated only with folk remedies. When using drug therapy in conjunction with tincture of propolis, the effectiveness of therapy increases several times.

In addition to the use of oil drops, as in the treatment of a common cold, inhalation with propolis tincture helps well. To do this, you just need to add tincture to the inhaler and carry out the procedure several times a day.

For active washing of the nasal cavities, it is recommended to mix tincture with physiological saline (0.9% sodium chloride solution) in a ratio of 1:10. The procedure should be carried out no more than 2 weeks.

Otitis

Depending on the severity and localization of the process, various recipes can be used:

  1. In case of damage to the middle ear, in addition to traditional medicine, gauze swabs should be moistened in the setting of propolis and inserted into the ear canal. This procedure is best done in the evening and leave the swab all night, and in the morning just cover your ear for the whole day. Such treatment continues until the disease is cured, but no more than 15-20 days.
  2. With inflammation of the outer ear, you can mix honey with tincture in equal shares and instill 2 drops of the mixture 2-3 times a day. After instillation, the ear should be covered.
  3. For any inflammation, a swab dipped in a mixture of propolis tincture with olive oil, which should be left in the ear for 2-3 hours, will help well.

Propolis treatment should not be carried out for more than 20 days.

Dental diseases

Propolis tincture will help to cope with toothache, tooth decay, periodontal disease and other diseases of the oral cavity.

For the purpose of prevention or with acute pain, you need to mix a tablespoon of tincture of propolis and calamus.With this tool, thoroughly, for 3-5 minutes, rinse your mouth, preferably before going to bed. Calamus tincture has an analgesic effect, and propolis has a disinfecting, anti-inflammatory and filling small cracks in tooth enamel. Treatment should be carried out for at least a month, even if all unpleasant symptoms disappear on the third day.

If it is not possible to immediately go to the doctor if a toothache occurs, you can moisten a thin cotton or gauze flagellum in the propolis setting and attach it to the tooth. Change the flagellum at least once every half an hour. The pain will subside and inflammation will decrease.

With increased bleeding of the gums, propolis is indispensable, as it strengthens the walls of blood vessels, thanks to its rich vitamin composition. To do this, add 30 drops of propolis tincture to a glass of warm boiled water and rinse your mouth twice a day until the condition improves.

With the development of stomatitis, propolis tincture is added to various anti-inflammatory herbal preparations. For example, in a decoction of 25 grams of chamomile, 25 grams of linden inflorescences, 30 grams of eucalyptus leaves and 20 grams of flax seeds add 40-50 drops of propolis tincture. With the resulting medicine, rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day until you feel better.

Dermatological diseases, herpes

The treatment of eczema, psoriasis, hyperkeratosis, corns and other skin diseases is not complete without propolis.

To treat skin pathology associated with bacterial damage, you can make lotions with tincture, which must be repeated daily until improvement.

Propolis ointment can be purchased at the pharmacy or made independently.

Ointment preparation:

  • melt the packaging of butter and add 100 ml of 10% tincture, after which the mixture is kept on fire for 20 minutes and poured into a glass dish;
  • melt 100 grams of petroleum jelly, to which add 10 ml of tincture, mix and hold on fire for another 10 minutes.

After cooking, the ointment should be stored in the refrigerator, and before use it should be kept in a warm place for a while.

Nail fungus

For the treatment of fungal infections of nails, an integrated approach should be used:

  1. Apply a few drops of 30% alcohol tincture of propolis directly to the affected nail plate and wait for it to dry. This is best done after hygienic procedures or foot baths.
  2. Take 35 drops of 10% tincture in half a glass of water inside three times a day.

Local use of the drug will help to cope with the fungus, and ingestion mobilizes the body's forces to effectively combat the pathogen.

Acne, Acne

To get rid of skin rashes, you can make a special mask consisting of:

  • propolis tinctures;
  • salicylic alcohol;
  • metronidazole tablets.

The first two ingredients are taken in equal proportions, and Metronidazole at the rate of 1 tablet per 1 teaspoon of the mixture.

Apply this mask daily for 15 minutes on cleansed skin, preferably before bedtime.

To prepare an anti-acne mask, add to a half glass of water:

  • 10 drops of freshly squeezed aloe juice;
  • 10 drops of propolis tincture.

Apply the mask to the affected areas for 20 minutes, and rinse off with freshly cooled decoction of calendula, chamomile or sage.

Gastrointestinal diseases

The anti-inflammatory effect of propolis tincture is especially effective on the mucous membranes of the digestive system.

For the treatment of gastritis, colitis and healing of ulcers, you need to dissolve the tincture in 30-50 ml of water. The dosage of propolis should be gradually increased, starting from 5 drops and reaching 40 at a time, 3 times a day, half an hour before meals.

Reception of tincture should be continued for a month, without violating the regularity.

If during the treatment there are discomfort, then the tincture should be stopped.

Liver disease

Diseases of the liver and the entire hepatobiliary system respond better to medication if you use propolis alcohol tincture in complex therapy.

In order for it not to have a detrimental effect on the liver (for example, with cirrhosis, when alcohol is strictly prohibited), you need to dissolve the tincture in a glass of water.

Begin treatment with 10 drops per glass of water 3 times a day before meals for a week. Then each week, increase the amount of propolis by 10 drops. That is, during the fourth week you need to take 40 drops of tincture in a glass of water three times a day. Therapy is carried out in courses, the duration of one is a month.

You can also immediately begin treatment with 35 drops of tincture in half a glass of water twice a day. Drink the medicine on an empty stomach half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is a month.

With caution, you need to take propolis tincture for people with gallstone disease, since it has a weak, but choleretic property. That is, it can provoke the ingress of stones into the bile ducts, and cause the development of acute cholecystitis and complications of this disease.

Pancreatitis

You should know that acute pancreatitis can not be treated with propolis tincture!

In case of chronic inflammation of the pancreas, you need to take propolis tincture with decoctions of herbs, using chamomile, coltsfoot, elecampane, yarrow and others.

Do not mix tincture with decoction, you need to separately drink a tablespoon of decoction and a dessert spoon of tincture in the morning and evening before eating.

With good milk tolerance, 15-20 drops of propolis tincture can be dissolved in it and drunk three times a day before meals.

The course of treatment should not exceed 10-15 days.

Hypertension

Normalize high blood pressure with propolis in two ways:

  • take 30 drops of 30% propolis alcohol tincture into a glass of water three times a day 30-60 minutes before meals for a month;
  • after preparing the tincture at home and filtering it, the cake remains, which should be mixed with honey in equal proportions and massage the feet and legs daily before bedtime.

An important point is that the pressure can normalize even in patients with long-term experience of the disease.

Immunodeficiency

To improve the body's resistance to various infectious agents, tincture can be used according to the following scheme:

  • start with 1 drop of the drug (can be dissolved in a small amount of water);
  • daily increase the number of drops of tincture by 1;
  • upon reaching 30 drops should begin to reduce the amount of the drug by 1 drop per day;
  • treatment is completed when the dosage of tincture reaches 1 drop.

Many authors believe that prolonged intake of propolis inside by any scheme will lead to the mobilization of the body's forces.

Gynecological diseases

Propolis tincture will also cope with female diseases, especially as an addition to the main drug treatment.

It has a local anti-inflammatory, disinfecting, decongestant, wound healing and soothing effect. However, it must be remembered that the concentration of tincture should be no more than 3% due to its use on sensitive mucous membranes.

The most common method is to place tampons soaked in propolis setting 2 times a day. During such treatment should strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene.

Simultaneously with local treatment, you can take 25-35 drops of the drug in half a glass of water inside twice a day.

The course of such therapy should not exceed 1 month.

Tonsillitis

The following mixtures are used to treat acute and chronic tonsillitis:

  • St. John's wort broth and propolis tincture. After preparing a decoction from one tablespoon of hypericum to a glass of boiling water, tincture is added to it. The ratio should be at the rate of 40 drops per cup of broth. Gargle as needed.
  • plantain broth and propolis tincture. The preparation and use of the product is identical, as with a decoction of St. John's wort.
  • to lubricate and cleanse inflamed tonsils, especially when forming “purulent plugs”, mix 1 tablespoon of tincture with two tablespoons of any vegetable oil. The procedure is carried out as necessary.

Prostatitis

For the treatment of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, rectal suppositories should be made based on residues from propolis tincture.

Mix what is left after straining with alcohol in equal parts and evaporate over low heat until a thick brown mass is obtained. To it should be added any melted animal fat in a ratio of 1: 1 and put on low heat, gradually stirring.

After thickening, cool the mixture, form candles with foil or cling film and store in the refrigerator.

Candles should be placed 1 time per day (preferably at night) for a month. Further, after monitoring treatment with ultrasound, therapy can be continued for another month.

A good effect can be achieved while taking tincture inside and using rectal suppositories.

For internal use, you need to drink 30-40 drops of tincture in a glass of water before meals three times a day.

Mastopathy

Treatment of mastopathy should be comprehensive, that is, aimed at improving the body's immune response, strengthening the protective barrier, reducing inflammatory manifestations, reducing the number of free radicals with antioxidants. All this can provide regular intake of propolis tincture.

You need to know how to take propolis tincture with mastopathy: half a teaspoon three times a day before meals for 15-30 days. A woman should control her sensations at different periods of the menstrual cycle, especially in the second half.

For topical treatment, you can use an ointment consisting of 100 grams of butter and 30 grams of propolis. Melt the butter and add chopped propolis, then simmer for 3 hours, stirring constantly. Next, cool the mixture, strain and store in the refrigerator. Rub into the skin of the mammary glands simultaneously with the intake of tincture inside.

Atherosclerosis

An insidious disease, which for a long time does not make itself felt and affects all the vessels of the body, can be defeated with the help of propolis.

For treatment, the following ingredients must be prepared:

  • tincture of 200 grams of chopped garlic per 200 ml of alcohol, aged 10-12 days;
  • 100 grams of honey;
  • 300 ml of water tincture of propolis.

Mix everything thoroughly and leave it alone for 2-3 days.

Take 20 drops of the mixture diluted in 20 ml of water three times a day half an hour before meals.

Treatment should be long and regular.

Depression, disorders of the nervous system

To normalize the nervous system, you need to add up to 30 drops of tincture to a glass of soothing or tonic herbal tea.

How to drink propolis tincture in this case? In the morning, you can make tea from oregano and lemon balm, with the addition of green tea and 30 drops of propolis tincture. In the evening, brew in equal proportions green tea, mint, motherwort and add a teaspoon of honey and 30 drops of tincture.

How to make propolis tincture at home

To prepare propolis tincture at home, you will need:

  • 100 ml of 70% alcohol;
  • 10 grams of propolis;
  • dark glass container for storage.

From this amount of ingredients you get 10% tincture. If it is necessary to use a large concentration, then the mass of propolis should be increased, for example, for 30% tincture, take 30 grams of propolis per 100 ml of alcohol.

Since bee glue may contain foreign debris, it must be cleaned. To do this, it is crushed or rubbed on a grater and poured with cold water: garbage will come up, and the water should be gently drained.

After this, propolis is placed in the prepared container and pour alcohol. Close the dishes, put in a place protected from direct sunlight for 15 days, shaking several times daily.

After a while, strain the medicine and store in a dark, cool place.

The preparation of water tincture is slightly different:

  • water is used boiled and settled in a glass bowl;
  • the ratio of propolis to water should be 1: 2;
  • the cleaned bee hive is poured into water and heated in a water bath to 80 ° C;
  • kept at this temperature for about an hour;
  • remove from heat, cool and insist about 6 hours;
  • filtered and used as a medicine.

Store water tincture in the same way as alcohol: in a cool, dark place in a darkened glass container.

It is convenient to immediately pour the medicine into several small bottles to use gradually.

Can pregnant and lactating mothers

Pregnant women and nursing mothers are not recommended to use propolis tincture for treatment for several reasons:

  • alcohol tincture is contraindicated due to the presence of alcohol that adversely affects the baby, both before and after birth;
  • there is a high probability of developing adverse reactions in the form of allergies or other rashes due to the high concentration of compounds in propolis and tincture.

These reasons are enough to refuse to take it during pregnancy and lactation.

Is it possible for children

Qualified specialists do not recommend children under 3 years of age treated with propolis tincture. Subsequently, it can only be used in a dosage of 1 drop per year of life once a day. That is, a child of four years is prescribed a propolis water tincture in a dosage of 4 drops once a day. If after taking the medicine the child has rashes or redness of the skin in the area of ​​propolis use, then treatment should be discontinued.

Contraindications

It is necessary to monitor the correctness of propolis tincture, taking into account contraindications and observing the caution of people with:

  • individual intolerance to propolis or any other beekeeping product;
  • hypersensitivity to the components of propolis or tincture.

Given the rich composition, propolis should be used with caution and be sure to consult a doctor before starting treatment.

Related:More from the author: