Propolis is the defender of the bee hive and our immune system! The most popular bee product, after honey, Slovenians have long used it in traditional folk medicine as so-called i. “natural antibiotic”
Have you ever wondered what propolis is, how it is properly obtained and used? We offer answers supported by clinical studies and the strongest propolis in Slovenia.
Everything starts with collecting vegetable resin. Bees find it on the buds of poplars, birches and other tree species. Bees bring vegetable resin to the hive, further enrich it with the secretions of their glands and add wax. Bees are the ones who produce propolis so that beekeepers can scrape it off. When propolis is ready for beekeepers, it contains plant resins, wax, essential oils and pollen. Propolis is a mixture that contains more than 200 substances useful to humans, and its quality is determined by the content of bioflavonoids.
The source of healing power
The power of propolis comes from a key ingredient: bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are natural pigments that protect plants from microorganisms. Bees use this power to their advantage to protect the hive. Propolis is used as a coating on the inner walls of the beehive, thus preventing the ingress of moisture and protecting the interior from external microbes, which are the source of infections and diseases. The propolis in the hive also evaporates and thus creates natural protection,which enables the healthy development and life of bee colonies.
Slovenes use propolis to protect the oral cavity and mucous membranes with the same purpose as bees. It is used in the form of an alcoholic tincture or an aqueous solution. In recent clinical studies, scientists have proven that bioflavonoids have positive effects on various parts of the human organism: the digestive tract7, the immune system 1, mucosa2-5 and teeth6.
Apitherapist and beekeeper Franc Šivic about propolis:
Propolis has been proven to be effective against various microbes. That's why I recommend it to all my protégés who have resistance problems. Especially for those whose problems originate from the oral mucosa. I have a lot of faith in bee products and regularly consume them myself.
Propolis, indispensable in every home pharmacy
Slovenes hold a special place in their local pharmacy for propolis. Almost every household has one. Scientists1-7 have proven that it is a legitimate motivation. The mysterious power of propolis is no longer just a traditional folk tradition, but a food supplement with very beneficial effects.
shortens and relieves symptoms of sore throat and throat and hoarseness1
protection of the oral mucosa,against ulcers and inflammation
oral cavity2
relieves gum inflammationand reduces the likelihood of tooth decay3-5
increases anti-inflammatory cellular response and stimulates immune cells
protection of the mucous membrane and against inflammation and ulcers of the digestive tract7
Since propolis remains in the bee hive for several years, it is very important to analyze it for the content of heavy metals, antibiotics, pesticides and other substances that could accumulate in it from the environment or from treatment of bees.
In short: no, not every propolis is equally good. There is a simple explanation for this. Propolis consists of more than 200 different chemical substances, which differ depending on the season, location of collection or bee pasture, species of bees, etc. Therefore, each collected propolis does not have the same amount of bioflavonoids, which give it its healing power. Labels such as "contains as much as 20% propolis" are misleading and do not reflect quality. Shredded propolis also contains fragments of wood and other foreign components, which must be torn off beforehand. Purified propolis is ready for making tinctures, solutions and sprays. The quality of propolis is thus reflected in: concentration of bioflavonoids, variety of flavonoids and purification technique. These three standards are guaranteed by the APF® factor.
90-letna gospa Mramor nam je zaupala:
At the age of 90, I still have my teeth because I use propolis regularly. My friends can't believe it. Many of them suffer from periodontitis, but my teeth are healthy. It's no secret that I've been regularly rubbing my gums with propolis for decades. The teeth have not yellowed a bit.
The APF®
factor is importantPropolis labeled with the APF® factor contains an adequate and effective concentration of bioflavonoids in the product. Daily doses have been precisely determined in clinical studies1-7:
We ensure that one milliliter of solution contains a minimum of 30 mg of bioflavonoids.
We ensure that one milliliter of solution contains a minimum of 30 mg of bioflavonoids.
Studies confirm anti-inflammatory activity
What does standardization have to do with the action of propolis? Standardization allows accurate determination of daily doses, which have recently been confirmed by clinical research,< sup>1 right on the extract that we use in Propolis defense aqueous solutions of propolis. For the first time, a placebo-controlled study confirmed the hitherto presumed healing power of propolis in the case of relieving the symptoms of upper respiratory infections.
* p<0.05, *** p<0.001
Source: Adapted from Esposito et al., 20211
What does standardization have to do with the action of propolis? Standardization allows accurate determination of daily doses, which have recently been confirmed by clinical research,< sup>1 right on the extract that we use in Propolis defense aqueous solutions of propolis. For the first time, a placebo-controlled study confirmed the hitherto presumed healing power of propolis in the case of relieving the symptoms of upper respiratory infections.
*** p<0.001
Source: Adapted from Esposito et al., 20211
The strongest Propolis defense
The Propolis defense line is suitable for preventive action as well as for helping with acute conditions.
Water-based propolis, APF® 30, with dropper
- 30 mgl/ml of bioflavonoids
- without alcohol, polyethylene glycol & propylene glycol
- also suitable for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children
- 100% natural, without preservatives
Alcohol-based propolis, APF® 50, with dropper
- 50 mgl/ml of bioflavonoids
- the strongest propolis in Slovenia
- without preservatives
- 100% natural
Alcohol-based propolis, APF® 30, spray
- 30 mgl/ml of bioflavonoids
- the strongest propolis in Slovenia
- without preservatives
- 100% natural
At Medex, we select the ingredients for our products based on verifiable results and repeatable clinical studies. We are committed to the transparency of the active ingredients used, so we are available for additional questions. We invite you to ask us a question, which will be answered by the head of development at Medex, dr. Rok Kopinč. Write to us at [email protected]. I will answer you as soon as possible.
Sources used
1 Esposito C, Garzarella EU, Bocchino B, D'Avino M, Caruso G, Buonomo AR, Sacchi R, Galeotti F, Tenore GC, Zaccaria V, Daglia M. A standardized polyphenol mixture extracted from poplar-type propolis for remission of symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection (URTI): A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2021 Jan;80:153368.
2 Tonkaboni A, Najafi S, Mehrpour S, Kharazi Fard MJ. Efficacy of propolis mouth wash for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. J Craniomaxillofac Res. 2016;3(3):211-218.
3 Dehghani M, Abtahi M, Hasanzadeh N, Farahzad Z, Noori M, Noori M. Effect of Propolis mouthwash on plaque and gingival indices over fixed orthodontic patients. J Clin Exp Dent. 2019;11(3):e244-e249. Published 2019 Mar 1.
4 Anauate-Netto C, Anido-Anido A, Leegoy HR, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the effects of propolis and chlorhexidine mouthrinses on gingivitis. Braz Dent Sci. 2014;17(1):11-15.
5 Peycheva, S., Apostolova, E., Gardjeva, P. et al. Effect of Bulgarian propolis on the oral microflora in adolescents with plaque-induced gingivitis. Rev. Bro. Pharmacogn. 29, 271–277 (2019)
6 Piekarz T, Mertas A, Wiatrak K, et al. The Influence of Toothpaste Containing Australian Melaleuca alternifolia Oil and Ethanolic Extract of Polish Propolis on Oral Hygiene and Microbiome in Patients Requiring Conservative Procedures. Molecules. 2017;22(11):1957. Published 2017 Nov 13.
7 Ruiz-Hurtado, P.A.; Garduño-Siciliano, L.; Domínguez-Verano, P.; Balderas-Cordero, D.; Gorgua-Jiménez, G.; Canales-Álvarez, O.; Canales-Martínez, M.M.; Rodríguez-Monroy, M.A. Propolis and Its Gastroprotective Effects on NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2021
