Sometimes called hive dross or Russian penicillin, propolis extract is produced by bees using materials gathered from pine trees. Since the ancient Greeks and Assyrians began using the substance to treat infections, propolis has been used by natural medicine practitioners for the treatment of many different ailments.

Function

Herbalists credit propolis extract as inhibiting the chemical processes that bacterial, fungal and viral cells require to grow, spread and survive as well as reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process, reports RxList.

Uses

Reported uses of propolis extract in natural medicine include the treatment of cervicitis, burns, canker sores, colds, dental pain, gingivitis, oral thrush, genital herpes, rheumatic diseases, stomach ulcers and vaginitis, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Clinical Evidence

A 2002 study at the Institute for Applied Biosciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel, found that propolis reduced the appearance and severity of genital herpes symptoms.

Expert Insight

The U.S. National of Library cautions that there is not enough clinical evidence to prove that propolis is effective for any of its reported uses and that there is no proven dosage of propolis for medicinal uses.

Considerations

Some patients develop severe allergic reactions to the resin, so if you have asthma or have every experienced an allergic reaction to bee stings or bee products, avoid using propolis, cautions the Physician's Desktop Reference. If you are pregnant or nursing, have a history of heart disease or eczema, it may not be safe for you to take propolis.

Source:

RxList: Propolis Effectiveness, Safety and Drug Interactions

Physicians Desktop Reference: Propolis

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Propolis

More Information:

PubMed.gov: Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Propolis