What propolis is, why bees make it, and why you might find it helpful

During the winter months we hear from a lot of people who are dealing with sore throats, coughs and general chest discomfort.

Most people immediately think of honey, and understandably so. But honey isn’t the only thing bees produce that can help ease the discomfort of winter coughs and sore throats.

There is another substance that bees make, and it plays a very different role inside the hive. It’s called propolis, and it’s particularly relevant when throats are feeling sore or irritated.

What is propolis?

Propolis is a sticky, resinous substance that bees make using resins they collect from tree and plant buds.

You’ll often see it described as “bee glue”, which is a useful way to think about it. Bees gather the resin from buds — places where the plant itself is protecting new growth — and bring it back to the hive.

Once there, they blend it with small amounts of beeswax and pollen. The result is propolis: dark, sticky, and strongly aromatic.

Why bees make propolis

Inside the hive, propolis isn’t food. It’s part of the hive’s defence system.

Bees use it to:

• Seal up small gaps and cracks
• Strengthen and stabilise the hive structure
• Help protect the colony from bacteria, viruses and fungi

A beehive is warm, busy and full of life — conditions where microbes could easily thrive. Propolis helps keep that environment stable and healthy.

In that sense, propolis is one of the ways bees protect their home.

What’s in propolis?

Propolis is complex. Its exact composition varies depending on the plants and trees available to the bees, but it is consistently rich in polyphenols and other bioactive compounds.

These are the substances researchers are most interested in, because studies suggest they give propolis its:

• Antibacterial properties
• Anti-inflammatory properties

This is why propolis has been used traditionally in different cultures, long before modern lab testing existed.

Propolis and throat discomfort

While propolis exists to protect the hive, people have long used it for their own purposes — particularly for the throat.

Modern research is increasingly looking at how propolis may help:

• Soothe irritated throats
• Support the body when dealing with bacteria
• Calm inflammation in the throat and upper chest

This is why propolis is often used in sprays, syrups and tinctures rather than eaten by the spoonful like honey. It’s typically used in small amounts, directed at the throat itself.

Many people find it useful at the first sign of discomfort, or when their throat feels raw or strained.

A note on allergy sensitivities

Because propolis is made from plant resins and contains pollen compounds, it isn’t suitable for everyone.

If you have allergies — particularly to bee products — it’s sensible to test with a very small amount first and see how you react.

If in doubt, it’s always best to check with a healthcare professional.

Propolis isn’t honey — and that matters

It’s worth being clear that propolis and honey serve very different purposes.

Honey is food for the bees. Propolis is protection.

That difference carries through into how people tend to use them. Propolis isn’t something most people use daily or in large quantities. It’s more of a targeted support, especially when throats are under strain.

Understanding that difference helps set realistic expectations.

Learning more about propolis

Propolis is one of the lesser-known things bees make, but once you understand its role in the hive, its use by people makes a lot of sense.

If you’d like to explore the propolis products we stock — including sprays, syrups and skincare — you can find them here:

👉 https://www.therawhoneyshop.com/collections/propolis-skincare-health

If you’d like to ask a question, or want to talk something through before ordering, you can get in touch with us directly.

You can call us on 01273 682109. Lines are open 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

You’ll usually speak to Kish or Lizzie, and they’ll be glad to advise you.

If it’s out of hours, please leave a message with your phone number and we will call you back when we are in the office.

Or you can email us at info@therawhoneyshop.com.

Best wishes,
Tim