Thriving
Hives
FEBRUARY 2025
Propolis - Harvest and Usage Brynn Meredith, Teresa Hunsaker, Andree’ Walker Bravo
Introduction One of the lesser-known substances produced by honeybees is something called propolis. Propolis is a type of adhesive that bees use to construct their hives and keep unwanted invaders out. Every beehive produces differing amounts of propolis. Some hives will create little to no propolis, while others will produce so much you can hardly open the hive with how well the bees have “glued” things together. On average, you can harvest 50-100 grams of propolis per hive per season. Propolis is difficult to collect and process but can be beneficial, as it has many useful applications. Like honey, propolis has been scientifically proven to have various medicinal properties and is useful for treating topical injuries.1,2 It also contains a myriad of important vitamins and minerals and has undergone clinical trials to determine if using it as a medicine is scientifically viable. While research on this topic is limited, the generally positive trial outcomes indicate potential for future research on using propolis as a medicinal substance. 3
Using Propolis Once harvested from the hive, propolis must be cleaned and stored in the fridge or freezer. Processing propolis is time-consuming and messy. If you decide to collect and process your own propolis, it is important to understand what you’re getting yourself into. When planning to work with propolis, wear clothes that could potentially be ruined. Ensure that work surfaces can get dirty (maybe permanently).