The effectiveness of propolis as a cold sore treatment is something of an open secret among the educated and scientifically-concerned sections of the wellness community, but it is interesting to see how this age-old natural remedy is also becoming increasingly popular with both mainstream consumers and conventional medicine practitioners.
For example, at the beginning of the recent school term in Turkey, public health experts advised of the benefits of using propolis to support the immune system during the periods in which the country moves from summer to autumn and all the associated health challenges this brings for schools and their students.
Professor Dilek Boyacioglu, director or Istanbul Technical University's EU Center Research Office emphasized the importance of ensuring that children have strong immune systems to see them through the winter, stating that propolis – as well as another bee-derived product, Royal Jelly – could be used to help ward off harmful bacteria and microbes while also helping to support the body's metabolism.
Describing propolis as one of the most powerful antioxidants known in the world, Professor Boyacioglu prompted a number of Turkish media outlets, including Yeni Mesaj, to hail propolis for its efficacy as an immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-cold sore treatment.
Professor Dilek Boyacioglu was quoted as saying that both the bee products are easy to consume and can be taken as part of a healthy breakfast, perhaps most tastily with fruit and yoghurt – bee-derived products are particularly tasty with fresh figs and bananas.
However, Boyacioglu did warn of the importance of checking the provenance of any propolis they consume, saying that some Chinese-originated products may have no efficacy or even a detrimental effect on health. Only recently studies have shown Turkish propolis to be of potential benefit in the treatment of a number of diseases, including prostate cancer and lung cancer, although it is likely that propolis sourced from other locations in the world has similar properties.
There is some irony to the way that propolis is suddenly on-trend particularly in parts of the world where it has been used for thousands of years.
