Benefits of beeswax

Beeswax benefits

The honeybee known as apis melifera produces in its hive natural beeswax. The working bees have within their body in the abdominal region glands that produce wax. The size of the glands depends on the age of the bee. After the bee leaves the hive in search for food this gland is gradually atrophying. The beeswax is almost white but it becomes yellowish due to pollen and propolis storage within its cells.
The beeswax is used to produce candles, cosmetic, pharmaceutics and cleansing products. Though, few people are aware of the beeswax benefits for human health and not only.

Beeswax health benefits

Due to its properties the beeswax does not interfere with the human digestive system and therefore it passes through our organism without changing its composition. It is important to keep in mind that the substances dissolved or encapsulated in beeswax are dissolved slowly, making it a highly appreciated product in the pharmaceutical industry.

In folk medicine, beeswax is used as an antiseptic to treat wounds and to remove the wax caps formed in the human ear. It is also used to treat various diseases of the ear and to improve hearing.

Beeswax mixed with butter is used to treat the disease known as lupus, in order to prepare an ointment applied on the skin of the suffering patients.

Beeswax is also used to cure various wounds and eczema. Thus, in the highlands of Scotland, since the ancient times, wounds are treated with the help of a ointment made of beeswax and other ingredients such as: pork lard and pine resin. Moreover, beeswax is used to prevent the transformation of burns into blisters.

In ancient Egypt, beeswax benefits were used during the embalming process in order to cover the eyes, the mouth and the nose of the corpse. This points out the conservation properties of the beeswax.

In the alternative Chinese medicine, beeswax is highly appreciated. It has a benefic effect over blood circulation and over the entire equilibrium of the human body. In combination with other ingredients it is used to treat various skin diseases but also as a remedy against the ageing process. In 200-300 A.D China, doctors recommended their patients to use beeswax in order to treat their skin problems. Thus, the affected skin region was wrapped with bandages soaked into melted wax.

Few people know that this hive product can be used to treat tonsillitis. If you suffer from this disease it is advisable to ware around your neck a layer of wax. Moreover, wax can be used as an expectorant to treat cough and believe it or not it can stimulate lactation. It is also used to treat periodontitis, nose inflammation and even asthma. Thus, in order to cure periodontitis you can chew the wax candies that are available in bio stores. These candies also ease the digestive process since they determine an increase of the gastric juice secretion. In the stomach, the beeswax is not digested but functions as a sort of ointment that facilitates the bowel transit.

Beeswax also contains A vitamin, which is necessary for the normal development of cells, therefore this hive product is used to treat various health problems that affect the mouth.

Oral administration of beeswax can be used in the treatment of spastic colitis and the resins that contain beeswax are very efficient in curing the disorders of the peripheral circulation at the level of the lower limbs.

However, in the majority of cases, beeswax is used in combination with other products. It is important not to forget that this natural product has a high level of carotene. Therefore, the consumption of beeswax helps in treating colitis and improving the peripheral blood circulation. Beeswax is also used in the composition of various suppository, pharmaceutical emulsions, dental wax and even sweets.

This product is also used to treat eye burns caused by caustic soda. Honey and beeswax are very efficient in treating a damaged cornea.

Beeswax cream - a teaspoon of rooster string powder
- a teaspoon of sweet-wood powder
- 10 drops of tea-tree essence
- sweet olive oil
- three measures of beeswax
Stir together the rooster string powder and the sweet-wood powder and afterwards add the mixture obtained from the tea-tree essence. Pour the mixture into metallic containers.

Beeswax lotion

Honeybees wax can be used in order to make a series of homemade ointments, juts by adding a series of various essential oils.

Ingredients :
- 2 measures of beeswax
- 3 measures of sweet almond oil
- 1 measure of jojoba oil
- 1/2 measures of canola oil

The jojoba, almond and canola oil are heated into a frying pan, then the wax is added. If you want to obtain a more creamy ointment you have to add less beeswax and if you want an ointment with a solid consistency you have to add more beeswax.
Wait a few minutes for the mixture to cool. If it is to creamy, add more beeswax and if it is too solid add more almond oil and reheat. As the mixture cools, add more essential oils in order to enrich the healing properties of your ointment.

You can use different essential oils in accordance with the illness that you want to cure:
- laurel oil for rheumatism
- bergamot oil for cold and bronchitis
- cumin oil for wounds
- cedar oil for stress and anxiety
- lemon oil for insects bites and stings
- eucalyptus oil for respiratory problems
- gardenia oil for blood pressure, influenza and palpitations
- orange oil for wounds
- patchouli oil for wounds; it is also an aphrodisiac
- rosemary oil for muscular pains

Therapeutic and cosmetic recommendations

If chewed, beeswax whitens, removes dental tartar and cleans teeth. At the same time it strengthens the gums.

Melted wax has been used for epilation since ancient times. Even though nowadays there are more modern methods to remove hair from various body parts, beeswax is still the most efficient and healthiest method of epilation, since it has antiseptic properties. There are researchers who claim that beeswax has an inhibitory effect on the hair follicle.

Warnings

The beeswax benefits do not apply to all. This hive product should not be chewed by people suffering from bulimia, hyperphagia, gastric hyperacidity, hyperacid gastritis and gastric ulcer. Beeswax should not be applied on fresh wounds, suppurations or very recent burns, since it forms a smooth layer beneath which the anaerobic microorganisms find a propitious environment for developing themselves.

Note:  I did not write this article, I found this article on the internet, thought it was great and re-posted on my blog.