Propolis Boosts Antibiotics Potency

Propolis, or "bee glue" found in the walls of beehives, is the sticky resin collected by worker bees from the oozing buds or barks of some trees and applied immediately to patch up cracks inside the hive to keep out the wind and rain, to reduce too large an entranceway, and to strengthen the combs at their juncture with the walls of the hive.

Recently, Australian researchers discovered that using propolis along with antibiotics boosts up the potency of the latter in combating infections.


This breakthrough is very important and timely in the wake of the rising number of antibiotic-resistant strains of microbes.

The Australian study found that propolis quickly stops the growth not only of bacteria, but fungus and virus as well. Taking propolis along with antibiotics makes the latter 10 to 100 times more effective in fighting the microbes.

In another study, two widely used antibiotics - erythromycin and tetracycline - failed to destroy a certain strain of bacteria on their own, but were successful when combined with propolis.

Propolis is available in most health food stores in capsules, or in an herbal tincture form. A daily dose of 500 mg to 1000 mg in capsule, or 1 ml to 3 ml of the tincture, is recommended to boost immunity from microbial infections.

Propolis is also found in a spray preparation for throat and mouth infections. A cream form of propolis is likewise available for preventing infections in skin cuts, scrapes, and wounds.

Propolis preparations should be permanent tenants in our medicine cabinets.