Propolis for infections of the upper respiratory tract

clinicians who use natural medicine should not be afraid to include propolis in treatment plans for many types of infections.

All logistical models of the data were also significant and showed that the propolis spray was the only variable that correlated with the resolution of all symptoms and individual symptoms (all symptoms: x2 = 46.51, df = 7, p <0.001; sore throat: x2 = 34.21, df = 6, p <0.001;

There was no connection between the subscription of the symptoms after 3 days and the type of infection (bacterial or viral) or the age or gender of the test subjects.

important knowledge

The disappearance of all Uri symptoms occurred 2 days earlier in the propolis group to the placebo group. The symptoms disappeared in the placebo group within 5 days and in the treatment group within 3 days. This finding was true for both viral and bacterial urtis. Since so few bacterial urtis were found in this study, the authors were unable to conclude the effects of propolis on antibiotic -resistant bacteria.

practice implications

propolis has always been interested in and it has opposed my attempts to categorize it. Is it a vegetable medicine? Well, not exactly. It is certainly a "natural medicine". Propolis is a very complex mix of polyphenols, wax, resins, pollen, essential oils, minerals, vitamins and other components. It arises when bees collect plant excretions and mix with their saliva. ^{1 use the bees propolis to seal their beehives, and it has an antimicrobial effect on the beehive. The composition of propolis varies depending on the type of bees, the season, the plants that visit the bees and other variables.}

Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, recommends taking Brazilian green propolis in treatment plans for people with Lyme-Borreliosis, accompanied by beardonellosis. Bartonella is a gram -negative, intraerythrocytic bacterium, which can be transmitted to humans through ticks and other vectors. ^{3 In my experience, accompanying beardonellosis can make the treatment of Lyme disease more complex. People with chronic diseases need treatment options, and it is easy to know that propolis can be on the menu.}

The bad thing of propolis is for the pharmacist that it is such a complex and variable mixture that makes it difficult to identify the "active connections". The good thing about propolis for those who study and respect natural medicine is that it is such a complex and variable mixture with assumed synergies in medical connections. A review of Przybylek and Karpinski from 2019 states that "this variety of chemical composition propolis gives an additional advantage as an antibacterial remedy. The combination of many active substances and its presence in different parts prevents the occurrence of bacterial resistance." Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (especially the gram-negative nature) has recently been focused on the development of “antibiotic hybrids”. These new drugs combine different classes of antibiotics to overcome bacterial resistance.

clinicians who use natural medicine should not be afraid to include propolis in treatment plans for many types of infections. Like many natural drugs, Propolis contains nutrients that can strengthen immunity and anti -inflammatory compounds in order to cope with the inflammatory nature of infections. ^{6 It has the versatile ability to be directly antimicrobial, nourishing and immunting. Drug would be difficult to achieve.}

While I continue to see studies on botanical/natural medicine, it seems less common to see a well -designed study on these topics in the United States. This study is no exception. The current study was a collaboration between scientists in Italy and China. There are countless variables that flow into the equation of the US health system. However, one thing is certain: we spend more for health care and have worse results than other industrialized nations. ⁸ I cannot avoid how much it would be to us, although even a tiny fraction of the money that we invest in pharmaceutical research would be invested in the research into natural medication and there is a serious attempt to integrate them into our primary health system. This seems to be particularly true in the age of growing microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics.

I remember that I was impressed on a trip to Japan that prescription “Kampo” herb formulas were available in pharmacies. Every pharmacist with whom we stopped was familiar with Kampo herb formulas and had a practical Kampo reference work to help us describe the composition and effect of these common recipes. Present 90 % of doctors in Japan, and the state insurance plan covers them. ⁹

uris are the most common reason for visits to the doctor worldwide. They incur costs of $ 22 billion and cause more than 20 million missed school/working days annually. ^{10 Imagine the suffering that could be averted, and the money that could be saved by incorporating propolis in the average Uri visit of the basic care. This could help patients avoid more complicated urtis and reduce the need for prescriptions such as steroids and codeine that have significant side effects. The patients can also be fed better to ward off the next immunological attack.}