Propolis is widely known in folk medicine, where it occupies a special place, being a vital product of bees, the so-called apiproduct. Along with honey, he found wide application in cosmetology and pharmaceuticals. Bees in the hive along with nectar bring particles of sticky aromatic substances from the buds and shoots of plants. They use these resinous particles to seal and seal gaps and various voids in the hive, thereby protecting their home from exposure, sometimes even a very aggressive, external environment. The internal surfaces lined with them, the notch, various cracks and gaps of the hive, are a protective barrier against the penetration of microbes, bacteria and other uninvited guests.
Propolis contains more than three hundred different biologically active organic and inorganic compounds. Due to its composition, propolis has a number of healing properties. The preparations prepared from it have analgesic, antiseptic, wound healing, antitoxic and even antioxidant properties. And this is not their entire list.
How to cook propolis alcohol tincture will tell recipes of traditional medicine. It is an extract of its most useful components and can easily be made at home. The concentration of tincture can be very different - from 5 to 50%, it determines the methods of using the drug in the treatment of specific diseases. The concentration depends on the ratio of components that contains propolis tincture.
The preparation of any tincture begins with the grinding of propolis, which under normal conditions resembles crumbling rosin. This is not surprising, because it includes pollen, plant resinous substances, secretions of the glands of the bees themselves, bee bread and various impurities. The less solid impurities, the better the quality of propolis. Therefore, when buying, you should choose pieces more plastic. And for the preparation of tinctures, they are crushed in a cooled state. Pieces crushed into crumbs are poured with alcohol or good vodka in the required proportion. So, to obtain a 10% concentration, it is necessary to pour 10 g of a solid substance into 100 ml of an alcohol-containing liquid.
It is important to note that there is a “quick” tincture of propolis, the preparation of which takes a minimum period of time. The mixture must be heated to 50 degrees in a water bath until completely dissolved, with constant stirring. It must be remembered that you can not bring the mixture to a boil, because biological components can lose their properties. Then it should be filtered through two layers of gauze and poured into a glass container of dark glass. It can be stored in a cool dark place. Healing properties last up to several years.
Propolis tincture, the preparation of which requires a longer time, differs only in that the dishes with the mixture are placed in a dark place and shaken periodically for 14 days (at least twice a day).
Propolis medications can be not only alcoholic. How to prepare propolis tincture water can be found in various sources on traditional medicine. Propolis is crushed in a cooled form, preferably to a dusty state, filled with water (30 grams of raw material per 100 ml) and heated in a water bath with constant stirring with a wooden spoon for no more than 1 hour. It is filtered and stored in a cool place. Only the storage time at the water tincture is no more than one week.
Along with water, there is a tincture of propolis, the preparation of which is carried out in milk. It is used to treat a number of colds and as a tonic.
Propolis preparations may contain, as a supplement, healing components in the form of various herbs, honey, which will repeatedly enhance its healing properties.
When using propolis, you must remember that this is a fairly powerful tool and should be used very carefully. Especially in cases where there is an allergic reaction (or suspicion of it) to beekeeping products.