Can propolis be eaten by pregnant women
It is best not to eat propolis during pregnancy. Although propolis has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral characteristics, it kills or inhibits more types of bacteria and viruses, is a natural antibiotic, if you take it for a long time there is no difference with long-term medication. In addition, due to the complexity of the components in propolis and the limitations of the processing technology, the heavy metals prevalent in propolis may be difficult to eradicate. When pregnant women take propolis, certain biological activities will stimulate the uterus and cause contractions, thus affecting the growth and development of the fetus. In addition, propolis contains estrogen, which may lead to an increased chance of low birth weight or smaller-than-fetal-age babies, so it is advisable for pregnant women not to take propolis. Although propolis has strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-virus cell activation, strengthen energy, calm the mind, detoxification, improve immunity and self-healing effect. But you can't eat propolis after you're pregnant, some of the ingredients in propolis are harmful to pregnant women, and taking it during pregnancy may cause miscarriage.
What are the side effects of propolis
Although propolis has many effects, it also has some side effects, such as eating propolis can lead poisoning, this is because propolis in the process of formation, there will be contaminated by lead, so the use of too much may lead to lead poisoning. Consumption of propolis sometimes also reduces digestive function, because propolis contains many antibacterial components, sometimes on the intestinal tract of the beneficial bacteria have a killing effect. Eating propolis can also cause allergies, which are often related to the individual's constitution, especially for some people who are allergic to propolis. In addition to their own history of asthma patients, eating propolis is very easy to induce asthma. Short-term use of propolis can enhance immunity, lower blood sugar, anti-bacterial, anti-itch and enhance immunity. Consumption of propolis can sometimes cause allergic phenomenon, which is often related to the differences in personal constitution, especially for some people with allergies. In addition, patients with a history of asthma are prone to asthma triggers when taking propolis.
What is propolis
Propolis is a gelatinous solid substance with an aromatic odor and viscosity formed by the resin collected by bees from the young shoots of plants and mixed with the secretions of the palatine glands of honeybees, a small amount of pollen and beeswax. The common gum plants in China include most species of trees in the willow, pine, birch, cypress and lacquer families, as well as peaches, plums, apricots, chestnuts, rubber, eucalyptus and sunflowers, etc. The bees also collect resin from thorns. Bees also collect the gum particles on the thorns, grayish color, light aroma, unknown composition, poor quality, also known locally as the ground gum. The substance formed by artificial collection of poplar buds and leaves from poplar trees through pressing and alcohol extraction is called artificial poplar gum. China's poplar-type, pine-type and birch-type propolis in the total flavonoid content than the Brazilian propolis more than 5% higher than the anticancer substance contained in the caffeic acid phenethyl ester, the Brazilian propolis does not contain volatile oils than the Brazilian propolis 2% lower than the strong.
How is propolis formed
The source of propolis is bees collecting plant leaf buds or stems on the outflow of propolis. These raw propolis materials are chewed by worker bees and mixed with palatine gland secretions, which is propolis. The worker bees collect propolis from the pollen baskets on their hind feet, and when they return to the hive, they use it to fill the cracks in the hive and reinforce the ends of the frames, and sometimes they use propolis to cover up intruders (such as mice) that they have chelated to death and are unable to move out of the hive, to prevent them from rotting. Newly harvested propolis is sticky, mostly slightly yellow or reddish, and later, due to the mixing of beeswax and impurities, the color gradually becomes darker and darker. Propolis contains resin 5% 0-60%, beeswax 30%-40% and a small amount of pollen, but also contains aromatic substances and volatile oils. Propolis has the effect of activating blood stasis, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, promote local tissue regeneration, enhance the body's immune function, soften keratin and reduce blood lipids.