Propolis, called bee glue, is one of the valuable beekeeping products. With the help of sticky mass, the insects warm the walls of the hive and disinfect the honeycombs, destroying the bacteria, parasites, and fungi. In alternative medicine natural product has long been used in the treatment of many diseases.
Especially effective is cough propolis, which accompanies many viral and bacterial inflammations of the respiratory tract organs.
Valuable properties of bee glue
Propolis is a sticky mass produced by bees from resinous substances. These compounds are extracted by insects from the buds of trees, mainly aspen, alder, poplar and birch.
The chemical composition of the adhesive substance is not constant, it depends not only on the type of plants, but also on the climatic features, time of year and other factors.
Bee glue contains:
- vegetable resins
- essential oils
- amino acids and proteins
- organic acids
- vitamins and trace elements.
The high content of valuable and beneficial to the body compounds ensures the effectiveness of propolis for cough, accompanying many diseases of the respiratory tract, as well as in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system, skin lesions (ulcers, wounds, burns).
Propolis has the effect of:
- antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal
- pain reliever
In addition, the product of beekeeping:
- cleanses the body of toxins
- exhibits powerful antioxidant properties, neutralizing the negative effects of free radicals
- enhances the therapeutic effect of some synthetic antibiotics.
The treatment of cough with propolis is carried out in different ways: the agent is used in inhalation, solutions for rinsing are prepared, used as an ointment for rubbing and taken orally.
Propolis decoction for rinsing
When coughing and catarrhal diseases, propolis decoction can be used for rinsing. Cooking:
- propolis pour boiling water in the following ratio: per 10 g of product 100 ml of water
- boil the mixture over low heat until complete dissolution of propolis
- cool and use to rinse (procedures carried out every 40-60 minutes).
Rinses using alcohol tinctures
From propolis tincture on alcohol (you can buy at the pharmacy) rinse solution is prepared in several ways.
- A teaspoon of tincture is diluted in a glass of warm boiled water, the finished product is used for rinsing.
- Preparing infusion of herb St. John’s wort (a tablespoon of raw materials pour a glass of boiling water, insist 15 minutes, strain), which is added 50 drops of tincture of propolis.
Preparation of alcoholic propolis tincture:
- 5 g of propolis chop
- add 50 ml of 70% alcohol
- insist in a dark, cool place for 10 days, periodically shaking
- strain, pour into hermetically sealed container, store in the refrigerator.
Preparation of water tincture:
- 30 g of bee glue pour 100 ml of purified water
- warm in a water bath for 45 minutes
- cool, strain, place in an airtight container, store in the refrigerator.
Optionally, in the aqueous tincture, you can add a little honey or sugar.
Grind the propolis, add water (350 g of water per 50 g of product), heat for 15 minutes over low heat, remove from heat. Inhale the vapors of the resulting solution, leaning over the container and covering the head with a towel. Inhalation with propolis twice a day.
Inhalation of propolis vapors helps not only with coughing, but also with sore throat accompanying sore throat, pharyngitis, and laryngitis.
You can make an ointment for rubbing. The healing substance will be bee glue, and as a basis you can take badger, goose or bear fat or plain butter.
For preparation of the product, the beekeeping product is mixed with the base in the ratio of 1: 5. The mixture is heated in a water bath until a homogeneous mass.
The use of ointment is especially important in the treatment of young children who still find it difficult to properly gargle or conduct inhalation.
Another ointment recipe: add ½ teaspoon of spirit tincture to a teaspoon of fat. Rub the chest with the prepared mixture, except for the heart area, wrap up with a warm scarf or a scarf.
The use of propolis in its pure form is the easiest method of treatment. A small piece of money (the size of a pea) is chewed for 15 minutes.
Procedures are carried out up to 5 times a day with an interval of 2 hours.
Coughing propolis can also be used as lozenges for sucking. They are prepared simply: a small ball of bee glue is dipped in honey or sugar syrup.
This delicious medicine is very popular with children. It not only alleviates and alleviates coughing, but also reduces sore throat.
Cough in adults and children can be treated with propolis and oil. 10 g of propolis is taken per 100 g of butter. Preparation means:
- bee glue frozen in the freezer grind grated
- add to the pre-melted butter
- warm in a water bath for half an hour, stirring and removing the foam
- strain the mixture through a double layer of gauze
- put in the fridge.
Such a remedy can be taken orally (a teaspoon for adults, ½ teaspoon for children 4–5 years old) or added to warm milk and tea.
One of the effective remedies is propolis cough tincture added to milk. Warm milk perfectly softens and envelops the mucous membranes of the organs of the respiratory system, soothes cough and improves the discharge of sputum, eliminates tickling in the throat, eases nasal breathing during a cold.
Due to the addition of propolis in milk, a pronounced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect of the agent is provided.
Preparing a medicine is simple: 10 drops of tincture (alcohol or water) is added to a glass of warm milk. If the medicine is prepared for children, then the number of tincture drops should correspond to the age of the child.
It is recommended to drink the product after meals.
Propolis should be taken with caution:
- people suffering from hypertension
- patients with kidney and liver disease
- pregnant and lactating (tinctures on alcohol are contraindicated)
- small children.
The use of funds is completely contraindicated for people suffering from such diseases:
- urticaria or diathesis, eczema
- allergic rhinitis, pollinosis
- asthma disease
- individual intolerance to honey and other bee products.
When coughing caused by a bacterial or viral infection, propolis has a therapeutic effect from the very first days of use – it softens mucous membranes, reduces the frequency and intensity of the cough reflex. However, its independent use, despite the unique healing properties, may not be enough.
It is necessary to use a folk remedy in a complex with the medicines appointed by the doctor.