Propolis tincture is a water-soluble preparation made from honeybee propolis and ethanol. Using a pipette, such a tincture can be dosed precisely and applied both internally and externally. Here, you will learn about its versatile applications, such as a lip balm containing propolis.
What is propolis made of?
In natural medicine, propolis is considered a classic, much like royal jelly. It is a unique substance produced by honeybees from plant resin, wax, and their own glandular secretions. It serves as an antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal protective agent in the beehive to ward off intruders. This natural product is rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and trace elements and is regarded by humans as a versatile tonic. Furthermore, propolis is used in the treatment of abrasions, sunburn, sore throats, and inflammation, particularly in the mouth and throat area.
How is a propolis tincture used?
Tinctures made from purified propolis can be used externally for wound care or skin irritation, but they are also suitable for making mouthwashes and gargle solutions. Taking it as a supplement for general strengthening and immune system support is also popular. For example, you can dilute 5-10 drops in half a glass of water or juice and take it 3 times a day before meals. The drops can also be easily mixed with honey or applied to a piece of bread and consumed.
When choosing propolis tinctures, ensure that they contain only purified propolis. During the purification process, undesirable components and impurities are extracted from the raw propolis, meaning the end product contains more valuable ingredients per gram. You should also check how much of the natural substance is actually contained in the respective propolis preparation. Percentages of 25 percent are considered high-quality.
DIY Propolis Lip Balm
Propolis tincture is so versatile that you can also use it to enrich nourishing skin balms with propolis. Here, we suggest a DIY lip balm. You can use the propolis balm wonderfully as skincare for the lips, for rough patches of skin, etc. Click here for your DIY propolis balm.
What ingredients do I need for the propolis balm?
25 g organic almond oil (or calendula oil macerate)
25 g organic jojoba oil
7 g organic beeswax
3 g organic honey
15-30 drops propolis tincture
Vanilla extract (optional)
Propolis
The Power of the Beehive: Propolis
Place the oils and beeswax into an old glass container, then warm it in a water bath over gentle heat until the contents melt. Only remove from the heat once you have a clear and homogeneous liquid. When the mixture of wax and oil begins to cloud, add the honey and the drops of propolis tincture. Now mix everything together. Do you like vanilla? If so, you can add vanilla extract after cooling, to taste and as needed. It is best to mix everything once more. You can now pour the balm mixture into clean jars. Don't forget to label them! If you store the balm at room temperature, it will last for several months. Test it on a small area of skin beforehand to ensure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.
