Use of Beeswax and Other Bee Products in Skin Care

Bee "products" include honey, beeswax and propolis. Each have a long history of wonderful therapeutic benefits. Below you will find summaries of some of the current research into the natural healing properties of bee products, including links for more information.

• Overview: Although honey is perhaps the most famous bee product of interest to human beings, bees also make propolis, another substance that humans have used for thousands of years. Bees coat the hive with propolis in much the same way we use paint and caulking on our homes. People began using propolis more than 2,300 years ago for many purposes, the foremost of which was applying it to wounds to fight infection. It is a resinous compound made primarily from tree sap, and contains biologically active compounds called flavonoids, which come from its plant source. Propolis does indeed have antiseptic properties; the flavonoids in propolis may be responsible for its antimicrobial effects as well as other alleged health benefits.

Research

• Anti-inflammatory activity of D-002: an active product isolated from beeswax. These results indicate that D-002 is a mild anti-inflammatory agent without any ulcerogenic effect associated.

• Honey Mixture Improves Skin Conditions. A mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax may relieve the symptoms associated with eczema and psoriasis, reports Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2003:11;226–34).

• Review of the biological properties and toxicity of bee propolis. Unlike many 'natural' remedies, there is a substantive database on the biological activity and toxicity of propolis indicating it may have many antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and antitumour properties, among other attributes.

• Honey is an ancient remedy for the treatment of infected wounds, which has recently been 'rediscovered' by the medical profession, particularly where conventional modern therapeutic agents are failing. There are now many published reports describing the effectiveness of honey in rapidly clearing infection from wounds, with no adverse effects to slow the healing process; there is also some evidence to suggest that honey may actively promote healing. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to have an antimicrobial action against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi. However, further research is needed to optimize the effective use of this agent in clinical practice.

• Effects of topical application of honey on cutaneous wound healing in rabbits. These findings suggest that honey applied topically on cutaneous wounds accelerates the healing processes and appears to have an important property that makes it ideal as a dressing for cutaneous wounds.

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• The Effects of Topical Application of Honey on Wound Healing in Mice: An Experimental Study. Honey increased: 1) formation of granulation tissue 2) density and activation of fibroblasts 3) keratinization in surface of wound 4) thickness of basement membrane and epidermis 5) thickness of collagen fiber. Honey decreased infection, inflammation, edema and dehiscence.

• One of the most widely known and extensively tested properties of propolis is its antibacterial activity. Many scientific tests have been conducted with a variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. Many of the tests have shown positive control of the organisms by various extracts and concentrations of propolis. Dermatological and cosmetic applications are at this time probably the most common uses for propolis and its extracts. Its effects on tissue regeneration and renovation have been well studied. Together with its bactericidal and fungicidal characteristics it provides many benefits in various applications in cosmetics.

• A Sweet Way to Soothe Skin Infections. Four different infections were studied, including tinea versicolor (an infection that causes blotchiness), tinea corporis (also known as ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea facialis (ringworm of the face). Thirty-seven people completed the four-week trial.

• Benefits and applications of primary bee products in cosmetics. Some of the functions, and associated applications for propolis in cosmetics, are: Anti-bacterial agent, Anti-dandruff and sebum equalizing agent, Anti-microbial and healing agent, Anti-irritant and antibacterial agent, Purifying agent, Preservative, and Possibly as catching free radicals.

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