By Dr. Matsen

At this time of the year, many of my patients come to see me for relief of their hay fever symptoms. Along with following the Eating Alive Program, I commonly recommend a supplement called propolis.

Propolis is a resinous substance that honeybees gather from a variety of trees and combine with wax, nectar, and pollen to create a “glue” to seal holes and cracks in their hives. Bees also use propolis to maintain the sterility of their home by placing it at the entrance to the hive. This helps to keep out invaders by narrowing the entrance and acts as a disinfectant against any viruses or bacteria that may be brought in by the returning worker bees. Propolis is also used by the bees to disinfect their honey.

Propolis is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and bioflavonoids. It has been used for centuries as a natural antibiotic and is also antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. Propolis also likely has anti-helicobacterial properties; Austrian research showed relief of gastric and duodenal ulcers for the majority of those who used it. Clinically, propolis works well for relief of allergies for many people.

I recommend propolis in capsule form since many people don’t like the taste of the liquid propolis.