Seven functions of propolis | Explaining dosage, side effects, and how to choose (2025)

Have you ever seen supplements or cosmetics containing propolis in stores or online?
In recent years, the hidden power of propolis has become popular, and its "efficacy" has been attracting attention.
Find out what propolis does and what its benefits are.

In this article, we will introduce the following points about propolis:

• What are the effects of propolis?
• How much propolis should I take?
• How to choose a good quality propolis?

We hope this will be helpful in understanding more about propolis.
Please read to the end.

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Basic information about propolis

If you are health conscious or interested in propolis, you may have tried it before.
It has attracted attention for its effectiveness in improving physical condition and preventing aging, but what kind of substance is it?

What is Propolis?

Propolis isA substance made by mixing plant resin with beeswax and saliva from honeybees..
The main ingredients are the buds and pollen of trees and herbs such as eucalyptus and alexandrite.
Propolis is produced when the sticky resin is combined with secretions from honeybees.

Propolis is produced in places all over the world, and its components vary depending on the type of plant used as the raw material.
The collected propolis is extracted using alcohol and water.capsule,liquidIt will be processed into.

The most famous of these is propolis produced in Brazil, but in Germany the efficacy of propolis has been noticed and it is approved as a medicine.

Propolis isAntibacterial actionBecause of this, it is also called a "natural antioxidant" and a "natural barrier ingredient."
For example, honeybees apply propolis to the entrances and gaps of their hives to repair them and to protect them from external enemies such as bacteria.
In addition, the black substance found at the entrance to the hive contains propolis, which has strong antibacterial properties and helps keep the hive clean.

Ingredients contained in propolis

Propolis contains hundreds of different compounds that have a beneficial effect on human health.

The main components of propolis are:

• Resin: approx. 50%
• Beeswax: approx. 30%
• Oil refining: approx. 10%
• Pollen: approx. 5%
• Others: approx. 5%

These components include:

• amino acid
• scorpion
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Artepillin C

It contains natural ingredients such as

【amino acid】

Amino acids are necessary for building proteins.
It also stores moisture in the stratum corneum of skin, hair, and nails, and is an essential substance that makes up internal organs and blood.

[Flavonoids]

Flavonoids are a type of polyphenol and are a general term for plant pigments found in the leaves, stems, and trunks of plants.
It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and is expected to stimulate metabolism and have anti-aging effects.

[Vitamins]

Propolis contains vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B6, etc.
It is a nutrient necessary for forming the collagen components of teeth and bones and for sugar metabolism.

[Minerals]

It is said to be one of the five major nutrients essential for human survival and is a general term for calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and other nutrients.
Since the body cannot produce minerals, they must be obtained through diet or nutritional supplements.

[Artepillin C]

Artepillin C is a cinnamic acid derivative that has a strong antibacterial effect and is as useful as flavonoids.
It is found only in propolis from alexrinaceous plants.

The following article provides detailed information about essential amino acids and flavonoids, so please read this article as well.

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The 7 functions of propolis

Propolis seems to be effective in maintaining our health, such as improving physical condition and preventing aging, but what kind of effects does it actually have?
I'll introduce seven of them specifically.

①Improve your immunity

Propolis has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities.Boosts immune functionThere is work.
Therefore, it is said to be effective in making the body less susceptible to colds and influenza.

In addition, taking propolisNormalizes the skin's barrier functionand maintain a healthy skin condition.
It is also said to suppress inflammation of herpes, a skin infection, and speed up recovery.

② Suppression of inflammation

In propolisanti-inflammatoryIt has the effect of relieving pain, swelling, and inflammation.

For example, it is said that gargling with propolis when you have a mouth ulcer can help speed up recovery.
There have also been reports that applying propolis to the skin improves rashes and inflammation, and its anti-inflammatory effect has attracted attention.

3) Preventing hay fever

Propolis is effective in treating allergic rhinitis, etc.Relieves hay fever symptomsThe results are expected to be positive.
Allergic symptoms are caused by an abnormal immune response, but propolisRestores immune function to normalBecause it has an effect.

Ingesting propolis can cause allergiesInhibits histamine releaseTo do.
It is said that the immune system will gradually return to normal, ultimately leading to the alleviation of allergic symptoms.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies or hay fever, it is recommended that you take propolis before symptoms appear.

④Prevention of diabetes

Propolis is said to have the effect of lowering blood sugar levels and preventing the onset and worsening of diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels rise due to abnormal functioning of insulin, which metabolizes sugar in the blood.
In propolisRestores insulin to normal levelsIt has the function of helping to improve hyperglycemia.

⑤Beautiful skin

Propolis isActivates the skin's metabolismBecause of its functions, it is expected to have a skin-beautifying effect.

The cause of skin aging is said to be "active oxygen," but propolis hasSuppresses the generation of active oxygenThere is an effect.
This helps prevent the occurrence of blemishes and freckles on the skin, and promotes the regeneration of youthful skin.

In addition, propolisAntibacterial actionIt is also expected to be effective against acne bacteria, which causes acne.

⑥ Prevent hair loss

Propolis hasantioxidant effect,Blood circulation promoting effectIt has a beneficial effect in preventing hair loss.

The main causes of hair loss are genetics and physical constitution.disruption of lifestyle,Chronic stressin XNUMX minutes by bus from Yonago Station.
Excessive drinking, smoking and stressActive oxygenThis causes poor blood flow and means that oxygen cannot reach every corner of the body.
This results in increased hair loss.

It is a component of propolisscorpionhas excellentantioxidant effectin XNUMX minutes by bus from Yonago Station.
Therefore, it suppresses the generation of excessive active oxygen and promotes hair growth.Prevents oxidation of sebum and hair papillaTo do.

Flavonoids also prevent oxidation of blood vessels, strengthening them and making them more flexible.
As a result, blood circulation becomes smoother throughout the body, which is expected to have the effect of delivering nutrients to the hair.

⑦ Preventing bad breath

Propolis' antibacterial properties prevent bad breathSuppresses the growth of germsIt is also expected to help prevent bad breath and keep the mouth clean.
Recently, toothpaste containing propolis has become popular as a preventative measure against periodontal disease.

If you are interested in the causes of weakened immunity, please read this article.

Propolis prevents cognitive decline

An international research group has revealed that propolis has the effect of preventing cognitive decline in the elderly.
The international research group consists of research institutes from Kyushu University and China.

This study demonstrated the results of cellular-level research using natural propolis in humans.
The results of this research suggest that sustained intake of propolis may help prevent dementia.

This study focused on the involvement of chronic systemic inflammation in the decline of cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.

Animal experiments have already shown that chronic systemic inflammation impairs cognitive function.
The research group confirmed the following effects when elderly people took propolis continuously for seven years:

• Improvement of cognitive decline
• Reducing chronic systemic inflammation

The effects were evaluated by the following methods in two groups: oral administration of propolis and placebo.

• A controlled trial was conducted on 60 elderly people on the Tibetan Plateau in China.
• Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
• Systemic inflammation was assessed using serum IL-1β, IL-6, TGFβ1, and other factors.

The results are as follows.

[Evaluation of the effect of propolis in preventing cognitive decline]

Source: Japan Association for the Prevention of Lifestyle-Related Diseases"Propolis" prevents cognitive decline: 7-year international study reveals】

The article below also explains ways to prevent dementia, so please read this article as well.

Recommended dosage of propolis

Propolis is basically a natural ingredient and is not a drug, so there is no upper limit to the amount you can consume.
However, consuming excessive amounts can have adverse effects on the body.

There are recommended amounts to avoid overdosing, so please refer to them.

[Recommended daily intake of propolis]

Propolis is a natural ingredient and is therefore safe for children to consume.
However, giving a child the same amount as an adult would result in an overdose.
Also, children may develop allergies, so it is best to start with just a taste test.
Please be careful to avoid giving this to children under 1 year old as there is a risk of botulinum allergy.

When to take propolis

Since propolis is a food, there is no rule that says it must be taken at a specific time.

However, it is generally believed to be better absorbed when taken on an empty stomach.
In particular, if you take it immediately after waking up in the morning or before exercising, you can efficiently absorb the propolis ingredients at the time when your body becomes active.

However, if you have a weak stomach, taking it on an empty stomach may put a strain on your stomach, so we recommend taking it after a meal.

How to take propolis

The types and characteristics of propolis supplements are summarized below.

Capsule/Pill Type

• Those who want to take propolis without worrying about its distinctive taste and smell
• Stable delivery of active ingredients to the intestines

顆粒タイプ

• Those who don't like capsules or pills
• Individually wrapped for easy portability

Liquid Type

• Those who continue to drink for a long period of time
• How to take: Drink as is, or mix with water or lukewarm water

It can also be mixed with milk, energy drinks, lactic acid bacteria drinks, coffee, etc.

Candy Type

• Those who want to refresh their mouth and mood
• Easy to take, just like a throat lozenge

Spray type

• Those who want to clear their mouth and throat
• It is easy to carry and can be used as a throat spray.

Toothpaste type

• Those who want to take it in conjunction with their daily tooth brushing habits
• Used as part of oral care

Drink Type

• Those who don't like taking pills
• Easy for children to drink

What happens if you take too much propolis?

The vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc. contained in propolis may have adverse effects on the body if consumed in excess.

[Vitamin excess]

Vitamins are either "water-soluble" or "fat-soluble," and propolis contains both types of ingredients.
In the case of water-soluble vitamins C, B1, B2, and B6, even if you take too much, the excess will be excreted in the urine.
However, fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, and E do not dissolve in water.
This causes it to accumulate in the liver and fatty tissue, putting a strain on the body.

There are also reports that taking excessive amounts of vitamin E, which is contained in propolis, in supplement form can make people more susceptible to developing osteoporosis.

[Mineral excess]

Excessive intake of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. may result in decreased kidney function, loose stools, diarrhea, and nausea.
In particular, excessive phosphorus intake inhibits calcium absorption and leads to a decrease in bone density.
Other symptoms include anemia and loss of taste.

[Amino acid excess]

If you ingest too much amino acid, it cannot be stored in the body and is excreted in the urine.
This causes the kidneys to work harder than necessary, putting strain on the kidneys and internal organs.

Furthermore, since amino acids play a role in the production of proteins, excessive intake of amino acids can lead to calorie overconsumption.
Additionally, unnecessary amino acids may bind to fat and accumulate in the body.

[Dermatitis]

Recently, propolis has been included in cosmetics for external use on the market.
However, propolis has excellent antibacterial properties and is highly irritating, so it can cause symptoms such as dermatitis and rashes.
There have been reports of contact dermatitis caused by propolis, so be sure to use the appropriate amount.

The type and amount of ingredients in propolis varies depending on its place of origin.
It contains many ingredients that have a positive effect on the body, but it is important not to take too much at once.
There have been reports of side effects from drinking too much, so we recommend that people with allergies and pregnant women avoid drinking it.

The article below provides more information about excessive intake of vitamin A, so please read this article as well.

How to choose a good quality propolis

Propolis is produced all over the world, but Brazilian propolis is known for being of the highest quality.
The reason is,

• Brazil has many plants and vast natural forests that are the source of raw materials, and useful ingredients are concentrated there.
• "African honeybees" have high vitality and nectar production, and collect high-quality propolis.
• Contains a lot of cinnamic acid derivatives such as "artepillin C," a type of polyphenol.
• The whole country is working to maintain the quality of propolis, and it passes strict quality checks before being exported.

Propolis comes in a variety of colors including brown, red, yellow and black.
Brazilian propolis that contains a lot of artepillin C is dark green in color.
Artepillin C is said to be the most useful of all propolis, and is also expected to have anti-cancer effects.

The amount of ingredients varies from product to product, and more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
When choosing Brazilian propolis, it is easy to compare the ingredient contents of several products.

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Let's understand health foods properly

You may have seen many health foods on television, in magazines, and on the Internet.
When you see a product that advertises "natural ingredients" or "natural materials," do you ever associate it with safety and security just based on that image?

Even if it is a natural product,Causes allergiesThis may be the cause.
Also, when many ingredients are added, the product may be manufactured without knowing what effect the ingredients will have on each other.
Although the causal relationship may be unclear, there have been many reports of health problems.

Among the health foods on the market, there are many that do not clearly state the ingredients or do not display the amount contained.
In fact, there have been reports of products that "listed the names of ingredients but not the amounts" being analyzed and found to not contain the ingredients.

It is important to be aware that the safety and effectiveness of some health foods is unclear, and to incorporate them wisely.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare　How to use health foods correctly

If you are interested in the causes of allergies, you may also want to read this article.

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Summary of Propolis

So far, we have been talking about propolis.
Here are some key points about propolis:

• The effects of propolis include boosting the immune system, improving hay fever, improving skin and preventing hair loss.
• The recommended daily intake of propolis for adults is 1-20 drops/30 mg, while children should take about half that amount.
• When choosing high-quality propolis, we recommend Brazilian propolis, which contains a lot of cinnamic acid derivatives.

I hope this information will be of some help to you.
Until the end Thank you for reading.