Took a seminar on propolis gathering at the Honeybee Centre last year. The gist of this was that in our area the most pure propolis is gathered later on in the summer. The propolis gathered earlier has more wax product in it than in the late summer. I don't know, I would just gather it whenever I could get a chance.
The propolis mats work great, put on top of the hive bars and moved over a little bit now and then so that the mat becomes fuller as the bees try to work it.
I love propolis scent. I have two little bottles that I keep on my kitchen counter all year round. This is aromatherapy to me. Frequently I open a bottle and take a deep whiff of these. Every time I do it takes me right there to the beautiful and warm days of summer, the scent of the tree saps coming to the forefront of my senses. It has an amazing emotional uplifting to my soul and I would never be without it on my kitchen counter.
It is interesting how each bottle smells so differently. The contents of one bottle has a very strong scent of resin, the smell I recall from when my Father would build his fibreglass sundecks and whatnot. It is still nice, but not as "foresty" as the other bottle.
I am going to make tinctures soon from some of the propolis. We were taught how to do that as well during this propolis seminar. Basically it involves dissolving the propolis in 150% overproof rum. I don't mind that a little bit (LOL).
When my hands get sticky with propolis, I use a little tiny bit of rubbing alcohol generally and it comes off very nicely. Jo Jo works well too for removal, the grit is good for these grubby old hands too, makes them a little softer.
I keep a tiny little jar of honey that has propolis particles floating around in it for medicinal purposes in my bathroom. It looks rather weird and I am sure that people wonder what it is used for. It looks like some poop floating in the honey jar. I have had miraculous healing using a little drop of honey from this little tiny jar of propolis honey. Nothing short of simple incredible healing power.
I have seen wounds that you would have thought for sure would have left scars, with narry a scar to be seen. Many many healing events have occurred, with so many kids around here and the things that happen to their poor little bodies in their hard playing that they do (adults too).
The healing power of honey is well documented. There are super bugs in this world. Nothing will kill them. I have read articles that would make you drop your chin in disbelief about how many hospitals (the ones I am thinking of were in Europe) are now using honey to cure what antibiotics won't even touch. It is amazing, and we are only on the tip of the ice berg.
Gather propolis, how ever you get it, it is there for the taking, a gift from our bees. Great day. Cindi
Topic: Propolis Traps (Read 4286 times)