Propolis tincture

Eric Bosworth · June 27, 2015, 06:35:57 AM

Flyboy you probably only use cash because you can't spell check correctly. I have a Canuck friend who finds spell check infuriating because he claims check is spelled some funky way with a q. Just out of coincidence, his last name is Webster... Seems like he would know how to spell it correctly with a name like Webster.

westhill · June 27, 2015, 09:38:54 PM

Quote from: Dallasbeek on June 25, 2015, 10:30:55 PM
Good for you, Westhill! One thing I read said to freeze the propolis and put it into an OLD or cheap used coffee grinder to make very small bits of propolis that will dissolve easier/faster. Let us know how it works for your friend who has mouth/gum problems, as well as how it works for you.

Hi Dallasbeek,

Mine dissolved fine without going through the coffee grinder, but I made sure to keep it in small pieces when I collected it, instead of wadding it all up into a big ball. The mouthwash is helping with the mouth/gum issues--soothing and is relieving the pain.

I had a sliver that I couldn't get out, and the site was red, swollen, and had pus. I put propolis tincture on it before I went to sleep and when I woke up the redness, pus, and pain was gone. The sliver is still in there, of course, but not hurting any more because the infection is gone. Pretty cool!

Dallasbeek · June 27, 2015, 10:44:28 PM

The proportion of propolis to alcohol probably makes little difference, since the alcohol evaporates and leaves just the propolis for topical use. For your mouthwash, did you use full strength alcohol? Seems like that could be a little strong and it would be good if it wasn't straight Everclear.

westhill · June 28, 2015, 09:11:57 AM

Hi Dallasbeek,

For the mouthwash, we filled a 16-ounce jar with water, added a few drops of various essential oils (mentioned in my post above), and a tablespoon of vodka (to keep it from getting mildewy). Now we are adding a tablespoon of propolis tincture to the mix, instead of the tablespoon of vodka (since the tincture is made with vodka). Tastes great and is very refreshing and soothing for any mouth sores.

Dallasbeek · June 28, 2015, 01:23:19 PM

Westhill, that sounds really good. I'll start collecting propolis right away. Thanks for clarifying about the mouthwash.

Gary

Eric Bosworth · July 27, 2015, 10:03:59 PM

OK maybe I should start a new thread but my purpose is to make propolis tincture so I will post it here. On Saturday I took my propolis trap off the hive. I need to get a few more but anyway I stuck it in the freezer so I could break it off easier. Tonight I tried to get the propolis off the trap. I got a lot of it but a lot stayed as well. Any suggestions as to getting propolis off the trap? I did get a pretty good amount certainly not all of it.

GSF · July 28, 2015, 10:32:10 PM

Eric, maybe put it somewhere very hot and scrape it off? That's how I collect mine from the hive. I scrape it off and roll it into a pill shape. At Bud6 we learned that propolis doesn't cure prostrate cancer but it stops it.

Westhill & others, Learn the plant called "Yellow Root" not yellow dock (which I think will work as well). Yellow root grows along moist areas in sandy soil. Scrape the bark off of the roots, cut into small tootsie roll size portions. Chew it and move it over on the canker. Takes about 2 to 3 days to be completely cured. In about 24 hours you'll notice the skin growing back over it. Look up
"The southern herbalist" Darryl Patton on you tube. He can explain it better than I, since he's bee doing it for decades and I've only got a few weeks under my belt.

Eric Bosworth · July 29, 2015, 09:47:29 AM

GSF, A lot of propolis did break off when I took the trap out of the freezer and then bent it in waves to crack it off. But a lot of it stayed as well. The next time I take it off the hive I will start with the freezer and get as much off that way as possible and then I will set it in the sun for a while and try that method after. My next question is whats should I put it on? Wax paper or aluminum foil? I tried a cookie sheet and by the time I was done I had pieces sticking... (I *think* I got it cleaned off...If I didn't I ma sure my lovely wife will let me know the next time she uses the cookie sheet...)

minz · August 12, 2015, 04:57:01 PM

I wonder if it needs to be refrigerated when you are stirring it? I was thinking I would put it in the trunk of the car. After the gravel driveway and the vibration of the road I should not even have to touch it until it is done.

Rurification · August 12, 2015, 07:54:09 PM

My husband gave me an old chisel just the same depth as the side bars on my frames. I scrape off the propolis they put between frames whenever I'm in the hive. Thanks to this thread I have a couple of small bottles of tincture going now. It's warm here and the propolis was plenty easy to pull off in small bits and drop into the jars. I topped them off with everclear and have left them in the window. I just started using the tincture and am impressed with the early results. I did battle with a couple of acres of brambles over the weekend. Some of those scratches stayed puffy and red. The tincture really seemed to help.

Eric Bosworth · August 12, 2015, 08:51:57 PM

I need a source of everclear.

biggraham610 · August 12, 2015, 09:17:13 PM

They quit selling it here to Eric, they sell in in N.C. Closest I can get don't come from the store.

Rurification · August 13, 2015, 01:33:15 PM

I've used vodka for other things when I didn't have everclear. I'd try that if you can't get the other.

Dallasbeek · August 13, 2015, 03:00:47 PM

Vodka is just lower proof. Some distillers make 100-proof vodka. Everclear is 151-proof.

biggraham610 · August 13, 2015, 03:12:48 PM

I thought the Everclear I remember was 95% neutral spirit. or 190 proof.

Dallasbeek · August 13, 2015, 05:12:48 PM

Quote from: biggraham610 on August 13, 2015, 03:12:48 PM
I thought the Everclear I remember was 95% neutral spirit. or 190 proof.

You are correct. I couldn't find the bottle I knew was in my liquor cabinet, so went on Wikipedia. It said 151. Now I found it and it's 190 proof, which would be 80% pure alcohol. That's a curious way of stating the alcohol content. Probably an interesting story exists on just how that came about. But you're right. Wiki and I were wrong.

biggraham610 · August 13, 2015, 05:17:18 PM

200 proof is 100%. 160 proof is 80%. Either is too strong for me

Dallasbeek · August 13, 2015, 05:22:03 PM

Yeah, and I misstated Everclear's percentage. Of course, it's 95% to make 190 proof. Dumb today.

I don't suppose 190 or 160 or any of that stuff is meant to take straight. 100 proof is even too strong for me. But I've become more of a scotch drinker anyway, except for vodka and tonic in the summertime.

biggraham610 · August 13, 2015, 10:22:25 PM

Just had the 9 and the 8 flipped. I like Bourbon, 80 to 101, on the rocks, I never could get the Scotch thing down, finally warmed up to Irish since its my Dads favorite. Maybe one day I will get the taste for scotch. And yes, the tonics being Vodka or Gin are refreshing Summer libations.

Dallasbeek · August 13, 2015, 11:15:01 PM

I didn't care for scotch until I went to Scotland and tasted all the variations of it. A friend there bought me a glass of Lagavulin and it was really peaty. I liked that a lot, so he said "Try this, then," and ordered a couple of glasses of Lafroig. Even peatier. That's my favorite. I don't understand the difference between Irish whiskey and scotch whisky. Pretty much the same thing, to me. I think my experience with scotch prior to going to Scotland was just that I was drinking rotgut scotch. I like Irish or scotch now.