What is Bee Propolis? Nature’s Glue
What is bee propolis? Tap into propolis’ natural immunity properties by harvesting and processing propolis to make a propolis tincture recipe.
Honeybees and humans both use propolis to assist with healing and the prevention of illnesses. Today, we continue to use this resinous, sticky wax in our home remedies while beekeepers discover propolis’ significant role inside the colony.
Known by beekeepers as “bee glue,” this gooey, annoying substance is a conglomeration of sap-like resins collected from trees and other plants and brought back to the hive. Once there, these resins are mixed with beeswax and bee saliva to form propolis, which is then used by the bees in myriad ways.
One of the most noticeable uses is sealing up any space smaller than a bee space to prevent drafts, weather, and unwanted pests from entering the hive. This may be between the hive lid and hive body, on a screened inner cover, in the gaps between poorly fitted boxes, and even reducing an entrance that is too large during the cold winter months. The bees even use propolis to mummify mice and other large pests that die inside the hive and are too large for the bees to remove.
However, ongoing research shows that propolis has another important role within the colony — their immunity from disease. House bees have been found to coat not only the rough spots they find along the hive walls with propolis but also create what is referred to as a “propolis envelope” on every wall that serves as an antimicrobial layer of protection for the entire colony. Studies have found that propolis is so important to their health that when ill or confronted with a pathogen, honeybees will forage more propolis to aid in the fight against diseases such as chalkbrood and American foulbrood.
Much like honeybees, humans utilize propolis to ward off and prevent infection and disease by building the immune system. And while much of the evidence is anecdotal, centuries of use suggest the immune-supporting properties are worth investigating. Today, propolis is used to support the prevention or treatment of various cancers, assist with diabetes, treat mouth ulcers and infections, and much more.
Be aware, however, that propolis is contraindicated when certain cancer treatments or other medications (such as warfarin) are also used, so always check with your physician before consuming propolis. People with allergies to pollen, bee stings, or honey should also avoid propolis and any other product from the hive.
While the use of propolis by humans dates back to the Egyptians, its value in the modern home is becoming better understood.
Harvesting and Processing Propolis
When collecting propolis, beekeepers have a couple of options. The most basic method is to employ a hive tool to scrape off excess propolis found around the hive. For example, around the hive lid, between hive bodies, and in the spaces of the queen excluder. The second option is to purchase a standard propolis screen, which looks like a queen excluder, except the spaces are smaller.
Alternatively, a simple frame sized to fit inside the hive body with a stretch of wire mesh stapled to it works nearly as well, as does an old, corrugated plastic sign with many small holes drilled from end to end.
other bee products to create “armadillo” gloves. I use these gloves anytime the bees are upset,
as no bee has managed to sting me through this pair, no matter how hard she tries.
To collect the propolis, rest the propolis trap directly on the top bars of the hive body directly beneath the outer cover. Close the lid and check back in a few days to see if they have begun clogging the spaces with propolis. If not, you can trick the bees into filling the gaps by placing a small stick or a short stack of pennies under the hive lid to prop it open. This will allow a small amount of light to shine into the hive, causing the bees to plug up the holes. The time it takes for the bees to complete this task varies from colony to colony and even from season to season, so be patient if the girls seem to be working slower than you like. However, they may fill it up sooner than you expect.
Once the trap is loaded, carefully remove the trap from the hive body. Because the trap has been resting directly on the top bars, you’ll need to use your hive tool to help ease the trap up and off the frames as gently as possible so as not to risk pulling entire groups of frames up with the trap, killing bees. This is primarily a concern during hot summers when the propolis is sticky and gooey. If collected during cooler weather, the propolis will be stiffer and may break rather than stretch if handled too roughly during removal.
Removing propolis from plastic traps is often a simple matter of bending and twisting the entire trap until all of the propolis pops out. However, sticky or stubborn propolis and rigid metal or wooden frame traps may require a quick freeze in the freezer to harden up the propolis. Once frozen, gently tap the trap to break the propolis loose. Refreeze as needed to remove stubborn pieces. Once collected, freeze propolis in small pieces, avoiding the temptation to squish it into a gooey ball, which makes later cleaning and tincturing more difficult.
Propolis should be cleaned thoroughly to ensure hive dirt, paint, wood chips, and other contaminants don’t make it into the tincture. To clean:
- Keep propolis in small pieces and submerge in a bowl of clean water. Don’t add soap or other cleaners — water is all you need.
- Swish the propolis pieces, ensuring they remain loose and don’t clump together.
- Rinse debris and replace with fresh water several times until water remains clear — like washing dry beans.
- Allow propolis to sit in the water for a few days, swishing around several times a day to remove any final pieces of contaminates.
- Once cleaned, drain and spread pieces on clean towels to dry before proceeding to tincturing.
Folk Method Propolis Tincture Recipe
Propolis tincture may be made a few different ways, but to keep things simple, the following is the folk method, which requires no measuring for precision. Be sure to use 75 pecent Everclear, steering clear of isopropyl alcohol, which can only be used topically.
Once dry, fill a glass jar — like a pint jar — about 1/2 full with propolis, then cover the propolis with alcohol to within 1 to 1-1/2” from the rim. As before, keep propolis pieces separated as much as possible to allow the alcohol the freedom to move around the pieces on all sides. Sometimes, it’s easier to place a small layer of propolis in the jar, cover it with alcohol, swish a little, and then repeat. This often keeps the pieces from sticking together in the beginning, especially if the propolis has become warm. Continue filling the jar until the jar is about 3/4 full, leaving enough headspace for movement of the contents during shaking of the jar. Cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid and store for three weeks in a cool, dark location such as a pantry.
Over the next three weeks, shake the jar each day. After three weeks, strain the propolis from the alcohol with a cheesecloth or coffee filter. Store the tincture in a clean glass jar in a dark location. When determining the amount of tincture to consume, a little research goes a long way toward safety. Alert your physician to the consumption of propolis, as propolis should not be taken with certain medications.
Kristi Cook lives in Arkansas where every year brings something new to her family’s journey for a more sustainable lifestyle. She keeps a flock of laying hens, dairy goats, a rapidly growing apiary, a large garden, and more. When she’s not busy with the critters and veggies, you can find her sharing sustainable living skills through her workshops and articles.
Originally published in the March/April 2024 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.
