Treatment of psoriasis with propolis: recipes and reviews

Psoriasis is a chronic disease - it is characterized by stages of exacerbation, which are replaced by periods of remission. The cause of the development of this disease has not yet been identified, so it is impossible to eliminate it completely, as a result of which the treatment is symptomatic, with the aim of achieving the longest possible remission. Nowadays, natural medicines are often used for this, and among them, one of the most popular is propolis for psoriasis.

Indications propolis for psoriasis

Indications for use include various forms and degrees of psoriasis.

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Pharmacodynamics

The use of propolis both in its pure form and in the form of solutions, tinctures, and ointments allows for the following beneficial effects on the body:

• bactericidal - this property is similar in its effectiveness to the action of powerful antibiotics. The effect is provided by the presence of a sufficient amount of flavonoids, as well as an increased concentration of aromatic molecules. Thanks to the action of bee glue, the effect of yeast fungi and viruses on the body is weakened;
• pain reliever – due to the content of essential oils in propolis;
• restorative and wound healing – allows propolis to quickly restore skin tissue affected by psoriasis;
• anti-inflammatory – this effect allows the use of propolis for various skin pathologies (including psoriasis), which are accompanied by an inflammatory process;
• immunomodulatory - in the treatment of psoriasis, this property of propolis plays a very important role, since there is a version that this disease occurs as a result of a malfunction in the immune system;
• antitumor – since bee glue contains substances that slow down the growth and reproduction of cancer cells. In addition, they cleanse cell membranes and localize the tumor development process. Also, thanks to these elements, cell division is regulated, as a result of which the intensity of skin peeling due to psoriasis is noticeably reduced.

Small doses of propolis have a positive effect on intestinal and gastric motility, and also increase secretion, which results in the acceleration of the process of removing waste from the body, and at the same time, the manifestation of psoriasis symptoms is weakened.

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Dosing and administration

In the treatment of psoriasis, the use of special propolis-wax canvases is quite effective. To obtain such a canvas, it should be spread out in the hive and wait until the bees soak it with wax and propolis. Then the fabric should be taken out and applied to the areas of the skin affected by psoriasis. As a result of contact with the epidermis, these substances begin to soften, and the psoriasis scales stick to these substances, which allows them to be removed quickly and painlessly.

Oral administration of pure propolis also gives a good effect - the medicine should be taken every day in a dosage of about 0.5-2 g. The duration of such a course is 2-3 months. It is believed that this method of treatment is more effective if combined with the application of sterile tampons treated with 10% propolis ointment (based on lanolin or sunflower oil) to areas affected by psoriasis.

In addition, you can use a 20% ointment in combination with propolis tablets of 0.3 g (maximum 3 pieces per day). The ointment should be applied in this way - the areas of plaque localization should first be treated with H2O2, and then blotted with a piece of cloth (preferably cotton) or a sterile swab. Then cover this area with a napkin with ointment or treat with a swab. Thanks to the medicine, itching, dry skin, and pain go away. In addition, injured tissues begin to heal faster.

It is also allowed to use propolis ointment orally. The maximum permissible single dose is 0.5 teaspoon. After taking the medicine, you need to drink warm milk. This method can be used when psoriasis is in the acute stage.

To get rid of limited psoriatic plaques, and in addition to this, in case of seborrheic type of disease, you should use 10-15% propolis tincture on an alcohol basis, as well as a 10% solution.

The simplest method of treating pathology with propolis is the usual chewing of this substance until it is completely dissolved. This procedure should be performed 2-3 times a day. This course of treatment should continue for about 3 months, and in the case of an old form of pathology - for 1 year. To increase the effectiveness of this method, it can be combined with the use of royal jelly (100 g of this product should be placed under the tongue) - to strengthen the immune system in this way.

A good effect is also achieved by adding a small piece of propolis to a bath with other medicinal herbs - such as celandine and chamomile, as well as calendula and oregano. Bathing in such a bath has a positive effect on the skin.

In case of palmoplantar psoriasis, propolis ointments or pastes are used, which should be applied to the affected areas under the bandage. This procedure should be performed until the inflammatory process subsides.

Ointments with propolis for psoriasis

Propolis ointment is one of the most popular medicines for psoriasis. It helps to remove pain and inflammation, and also accelerates the regeneration of the skin. You can make such an ointment at home. To do this, you need 0.5 kg of butter, which should be kept on the fire until it boils. Then remove the container with oil from the fire, and add finely grated propolis (50 g). Then this mixture should be stirred until a homogeneous mass and cooled.

There is also a cold method of making the ointment - in this case, propolis should be pounded in a mortar together with oil. Instead of oil, you can take a mixture of lanolin and Vaseline (proportions - 1 to 2) or pure Vaseline. As a result, the ointment should be semi-liquid. The finished medicine should be kept in a closed container.

Oil propolis is prepared as follows - the following ingredients are required: 15 g of crushed propolis, 100 g of oil (unsalted), and 5 ml of boiled water. They need to be placed in a container and boiled for about 15 minutes in a water bath, while occasionally stirring the mixture with a spoon. The finished product must be immediately filtered through cheesecloth and poured into a dark container. Add the remains of the filtered mass to the liquid and stir until it cools. Then close the container and put it in a cool place. The resulting ointment should be semi-solid. It acquires a yellowish-brown hue and has a pleasant smell.

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Propolis tinctures for psoriasis

Propolis tincture is also a highly effective remedy for psoriasis. It is prepared in the following way: pour 1 liter of ethanol (70% or 96%) into a dark glass container, and add about 100-150 g of finely grated propolis. After that, close the solution and keep it in a dark place for about 2-3 weeks. During this period, you need to stir the solution occasionally. The temperature conditions in the place where the tincture is kept are no more than 20-25 degrees. The resulting tincture must be filtered through 2 layers of gauze or a paper filter, and then kept in a dark, closed container.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications to the use of propolis are some diseases of internal organs. But it should be taken into account that there is no reliable information yet about the effect of drugs with propolis on the functioning of internal organs, as well as the course of various pathologies.

It is not recommended to use propolis if the patient suffers from diabetes, as well as if he/she has an individual intolerance to this substance. Contraindications also include the following pathologies:

• tumor neoplasms of any nature;
• nephrolithiasis;
• liver pathologies;
• pancreatitis;
• gallbladder disease;
• atonic form of bronchial asthma;
• seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis;
• allergic rhinitis;
• dermatitis, and in addition urticaria or eczema;
• diathesis.

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Side effects propolis for psoriasis

When using propolis for psoriasis, you need to act carefully, because it has a fairly strong allergenic effect. Statistics show that approximately 2-8% of people with increased sensitivity to bee products are allergic to propolis. The substance also contains powerful sensitizers, which quite often cause contact dermatitis, as well as other skin pathologies.

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Overdose

Although propolis does not have toxic properties, when taken orally, you need to carefully monitor the dosage. Exceeding the maximum permissible limit may cause anaphylaxis or an asthma attack.

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Storage conditions

The medicine should be kept in standard conditions - the place should be dry, protected from sunlight and cool.

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Shelf life

Propolis can be stored for up to 3 years.

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Reviews

Propolis for psoriasis has many positive reviews from patients. It is a natural remedy, so it is often recommended by doctors. The medicine exists in several different forms, it is simple and convenient to use at home - all these advantages make propolis one of the most popular remedies for the treatment of psoriasis.