PROPOLIS: Nature's little miracle

Bees not only provide us with honey and wax, they also produce a third, powerful substance that humans have used for thousands of years. Yet, it's only recently that propolis has buzzed back into the spotlight.

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For many centuries, the humble worker bee has distinguished herself as probably the most important species on earth. She and her hardworking sisters are responsible for the pollination - and therefore reproduction - of almost all plants on earth. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), without them, we would have at least a third less food. And we're not only talking about vegans here; carnivores would also be deprived, because most animal feed is also pollinated by bees.

Yet, even in the modern era, most people still see these humble miracle workers as a threat, a gang of buzzing kamikaze attackers that deserve to be eradicated, often with nothing more than a can of Doom. Of course, these people are only thinking of the sting that pierces the skin and causes serious pain; they forget all about our food and the two products that we can't imagine living without: honey and wax.

But bees also manufacture a third product, a resinous substance that's as old as the hills, but which has only been rediscovered in South Africa in the last few years: propolis, also known as “bee glue”.

What is propolis?

Propolis is a hard resinous substance that honey bees produce by mixing their saliva (and the enzymes it contains) with pollen, beeswax and the sap and resin from various plants. The most important function of propolis is to protect the hive and facilitate disinfection and homeostasis; the worker bees use it to fill cracks, strengthen the structure, control airflow and protect the colony against pathogens and intruders. Some sources say it is the cement and immune system of the bees' home.