Propolis (bee glue made by Apis mellifera from plant resins)
Hi, I'm Propolis! Bees make me to keep their home safe and clean.
Propolis creams may help small sores and scrapes heal. Scientists are still testing them.
🟡 Scientists think so
Propolis ointment may help cold sores on the lips heal a little faster.
🟡 Scientists think so
In grown-ups with high blood sugar Sugar from food that travels in your blood to give your body energy., propolis pills lowered it a little in studies. More tests are needed.
🟡 Scientists think so
Toothpastes and mouthwashes with propolis may help keep sticky plaque off your teeth.
🟡 Scientists think so
In the lab, propolis can stop some germs Living things too small to see, like bacteria and viruses. Some can make you ill.. That does not mean it protects people from getting sick.
🟠 Still being studied
For kids Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
Propolis is a bee product, not a food. Creams, sprays and drops are for grown-ups to decide, and never for kids who are allergic to bees or honey.
⛔ Avoid
If bees, honey or propolis ever made you itchy or swollen, stay away from propolis.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
If your skin gets red or itchy after using a propolis cream, wash it off and tell a grown-up.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Mums expecting a baby should ask a doctor before using propolis.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Propolis sprays and drops are for grown-ups to decide. Kids should not take them on their own.
👀 Be careful
People taking diabetes medicine should ask their doctor before taking propolis pills.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
Propolis is not a plant. It is a sticky, brown goo that bees make. They collect resin A sticky goo that trees make to protect their wounds. from tree buds and mix it with wax and spit.
Bees use it like glue and like a shield. They fill little cracks in the hive with it, and it helps keep germs out. People use it in creams, sprays and drops.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
Its name comes from Greek: “pro” means in front of and “polis” means city. It guards the bee city!
If a mouse sneaks into a hive and dies there, bees can cover it in propolis so it does not rot.
Propolis can be yellow, red, brown or even green, depending on the trees the bees visit.
🙅 You can't grow propolis — bees make it! But you can help bees: plant flowers and never spray poison on them.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
Who makes propolis?
Bees collect resin from tree buds and mix it with wax and spit.
What do bees use propolis for?
Propolis works like glue and a germ shield for the hive.
Who should stay away from propolis?
Propolis can cause allergies, especially in people already allergic to bee products.
🏅 You earned the Propolis badge!
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Propolis (bee glue made by Apis mellifera from plant resins)
Cuts, burns & wounds
Skin
Blood sugar
🤩 Its name comes from Greek: “pro” means in front of and “polis” means city. It guards the bee city!
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts, burns & wounds | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 studies reported that propolis promoted healing of skin wounds and ulcers more than classically used treatments, often in combination with other materials[2]. |
| Skin | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2022 meta-analysis of 9 studies found that topical propolis healed herpes simplex lesions (cold sores and genital herpes) better than acyclovir cream[3]. |
| Blood sugar | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2024 dose-response meta-analysis of 21 randomised trials in adults found reductions in fasting glucose, insulin and HbA1c with propolis; the authors call for long-term, high-quality trials to confirm this[4]. |
| Mouth & teeth | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2026 meta-analysis of 45 trials found that propolis toothpastes, mouthwashes and similar products reduced plaque and oral bacteria compared with no active treatment, but not better than chlorhexidine; certainty was very low and caries itself was rarely measured[6]. |
| Immune shield | 🟠 Early evidence (lab or animal studies only) | Propolis has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties in laboratory studies[1]; this does not show that supplements prevent infections in people. |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
If you have too much…
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
Home & garden
Fun facts
