Everything we know about propolis, in one place.

Propolis is a natural resin that honeybees produce from the buds, bark and sap of plants, blended with beeswax and bee enzymes. Bees use it to seal and line the hive and keep the colony environment clean.

As a dietary supplement, propolis is valued for its flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which support the body's antioxidant defenses and immune health.

No. Propolis varies with the plants the bees collect from and with the region. Brazilian green propolis (from Baccharis dracunculifolia) and Brazilian red propolis (from Dalbergia ecastaphyllum) are two of the best-known types, each with its own chemical profile and marker compounds.

Green propolis is produced by bees that collect resin from alecrim-do-campo (Baccharis dracunculifolia), a shrub native to southeastern Brazil. It is rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and its marker compound is artepillin C — the reason authentic green propolis is graded by origin and standardized extract content.

Yes — supporting immune health is the main reason people take propolis, and it is what most of our customers use it for. Its flavonoids and phenolic compounds are studied for how they support a healthy immune response. Propolis is a dietary supplement, not a medicine: it supports the body's normal function rather than treating any condition.

Propolis is a common ingredient in toothpastes, mouth rinses and lozenges, and studies on those products have looked at how propolis extracts support healthy gums and a clean mouth. Our products are oral supplements taken by mouth; for oral-care use, choose a product designed for that purpose and keep your regular dental routine.

Propolis can be taken at any time of day. Many people take it in the morning with breakfast to build a daily habit; others prefer the evening. What matters most is consistency — taking it every day as directed on the label.

Most adults can take propolis. Do not take it if you are allergic to bees, bee products or pollen. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

Look for the origin (Brazilian green or red propolis), the botanical source, the extract concentration and whether the product states its dry-extract or marker-compound content. Prefer brands that explain how and where the propolis is produced and that avoid artificial additives. Propolis Health products state their origin, extract percentage and daily dose on the label.

No. Propolis is a dietary supplement and is not intended to treat, prevent or cure colds, flu or any illness. What it can do is support your immune health as part of a daily routine, especially during the colder months. If you have symptoms of an infection, see a healthcare professional.

No — propolis does not treat or prevent allergies or colds. It is taken to support immune health and a healthy inflammatory response, which is why many people take it year-round, especially when the seasons change. If you are allergic to bee products, do not take propolis.

Researchers have identified more than 300 compounds in propolis, and the count keeps rising. The main groups are:

• Flavonoids such as pinocembrin, chrysin, galangin and quercetin — key antioxidant compounds.

• Phenolic acids and esters such as caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and CAPE, which support the body's antioxidant defenses.

• Prenylated phenolics such as artepillin C and baccharin, the markers of Brazilian green propolis.

• Isoflavonoids such as formononetin and vestitol, characteristic of Brazilian red propolis.

• Terpenes, essential oils and small amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Propolis is well tolerated by most people, but it can cause allergic reactions — skin rash, itching or breathing discomfort — especially in people allergic to bees, bee products or pollen. Mild digestive discomfort is occasionally reported.

If you take anticoagulant medication or have a medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before using propolis. Stop and seek advice if you notice any reaction.

• Propolis is the hive's protective resin, rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds; it is taken to support immune health and antioxidant defenses.

• Honey is mainly a natural sweetener and energy source, with some antioxidants.

• Royal jelly is the food of the queen bee, rich in proteins, B vitamins and the fatty acid 10-HDA; it is taken to support energy and vitality.

They are complementary rather than interchangeable: many of our customers combine propolis and royal jelly.

Red propolis is produced by bees that collect the reddish resin of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum, a plant of the mangroves along the coast of northeastern Brazil (a related red propolis is also found in Cuba). It is rich in isoflavonoids such as formononetin and vestitol and is valued for its antioxidant profile.

They come from different plants and have different chemistry. Green propolis (from Baccharis dracunculifolia) is rich in artepillin C and other prenylated phenolics; red propolis (from Dalbergia ecastaphyllum) is rich in isoflavonoids. Both support antioxidant defenses and immune health; many people choose by preference or alternate between them.

Propolis is taken to support immune health, the body's antioxidant defenses and a healthy inflammatory response. It also has a long tradition in oral care and skin care products. These are structure-and-function benefits of a dietary supplement — propolis is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Compounds in propolis — including artepillin C, caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids — are studied for their role in supporting a healthy inflammatory response and helping the body manage oxidative stress. This is one of the most researched aspects of propolis. It does not replace medical treatment for inflammatory conditions.

Propolis is available as softgel capsules, alcohol-free glycolic liquid extract and the classic alcohol-based tincture. Capsules are the most convenient; liquid extracts are taken in drops, alone or in water. Choose the form that fits your routine and follow the directions on the label.

Propolis Health softgels: 2 capsules a day, which delivers 1000mg of green propolis extract. Propolis Health liquid extracts: 40 drops a day, alone or in water. Other brands vary by concentration, so always follow the directions on the label, and ask your healthcare provider if you have a health condition or take medication.

Keep propolis supplements in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep liquid extracts tightly closed to preserve the extract and avoid contamination, and keep all supplements out of reach of children.

Propolis has a long tradition in skin care and appears in many creams, balms and ointments. Our products are oral dietary supplements and are not formulated for skin application; if you want propolis for the skin, choose a topical product designed for that use.

No — propolis is not a treatment for allergies. It is taken to support immune health and a healthy inflammatory response, and some people make it part of their routine when the seasons change. Important: if you are allergic to bees, bee products or pollen, do not take propolis.

Propolis comes in several forms:

• Liquid extracts and tinctures: drops taken by mouth or added to water. Glycolic extracts are alcohol-free; tinctures use an alcohol base.

• Capsules and softgels: convenient, no taste, with a fixed daily dose.

• Creams, balms and oral-care products: for external or oral use, made by specialized brands.

Propolis Health offers softgels, an alcohol-free glycolic extract and a classic tincture.

Beekeepers collect propolis with screens or traps placed in the hive, or by scraping it from the frames. The raw resin is cleaned, then extracted — with alcohol, propylene glycol or water — to concentrate its active compounds. Standardization (for example, a minimum dry-extract or artepillin C content) is what keeps quality consistent from one harvest to the next, since composition varies with the plants and the season.

Our products are formulated for adults. Children's needs are different, and propolis can cause allergic reactions, so we recommend asking a pediatrician before giving propolis to a child and using only products formulated for children.

Propolis is one of the most studied bee products. A 2021 randomized trial in 133 adults (Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture) found that artepillin C is absorbed and detectable in blood after daily intake of Brazilian green propolis, while it was absent in the placebo group. Published research also covers:

• The antioxidant compounds of propolis and how they support the body's antioxidant defenses.

• Its role in supporting a healthy immune response, including human studies with Brazilian green propolis.

• Its role in supporting a healthy inflammatory response.

Most of this research is laboratory or early clinical work, and results should not be read as proof that propolis treats or prevents any disease. As a dietary supplement, propolis supports normal body functions.