What Is Propolis?
What Is Propolis?
Propolis is often called “bee glue”, but that barely scratches the surface.
It’s a complex resinous substance collected by bees from:
Tree buds (poplar, birch, pine, etc.)
Sap flows
Botanical resins and plant secretions
Bees mix this raw material with their enzymes, wax, and saliva, creating a sticky antimicrobial compound that’s used to:
Seal cracks in the hive
Mummify invaders (yes, really—ants or mice that die in the hive get encased in propolis)
Disinfect the inner surfaces of the hive
Sterilize the brood chamber for newborn bees
But propolis doesn’t just coat the hive.
Through wing-fanning, heat, and hive metabolism, volatile propolis compounds are constantly released into the air as part of the hive aerosol—which is what visitors breathe at Honeycomb Cottage MN.
What’s in Propolis?
Propolis contains over 300 bioactive compounds, including:
Flavonoids (pinocembrin, galangin, quercetin)
Phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid)
Terpenes (known for antiviral/antifungal effects)
Aromatic esters
Trace vitamins and minerals
It’s chemically similar to some essential oils—but unlike most synthetic oils, it’s alive, synergistic, and constantly evolving based on local flora.
What Happens When You Breathe Propolis?
When you lie above a hive like at Honeycomb Cottage MN, you inhale propolis in microaerosol form—tiny suspended particles and vapors that enter your sinuses, lungs, and bloodstream in trace amounts.
Scientific studies (mainly from Eastern Europe and South America) suggest that inhaled propolis may:
Support Respiratory Health
Acts as a natural antimicrobial—helping kill airborne bacteria and fungi
Reduces inflammation in bronchial pathways
Eases breathing and relieves symptoms in mild asthma, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis
Enhances lung microbiome diversity, supporting immune tolerance
Calm the Nervous System
Propolis interacts with GABA receptors, which regulate stress and anxiety
Some compounds have mild anxiolytic effects (reducing the physiological impact of stress)
Combined with low-frequency hive vibration, this creates an ideal state for parasympathetic activation
Modulate the Immune System
Stimulates production of cytokines and T-cells
Regulates inflammatory pathways, especially for people with overactive immune responses (like allergies)
Helps the body recognize and tolerate natural compounds, making it useful for long-term allergy desensitization
Why Hive Aerosol Propolis > Propolis Drops or Supplements
While you can take propolis in capsules, sprays, or tinctures, the inhalation route offers:
Direct delivery to respiratory tissues
No digestive breakdown—so compounds retain potency
Synergy with other hive volatiles, like pollen dust, honey vapor, and bee pheromones
A natural nano-particle size made by bee fanning—ideal for nasal and lung absorption
Think of it like forest bathing meets vibrational aromatherapy, but with the added effect of real immune-enhancing chemistry floating in the air.
Honeycomb Cottage MN | Stillwater, MN
Here, you don’t just take propolis.
You breathe what bees breathe.
The Hive Chamber is an active respiratory therapy environment, constantly infused with:
Propolis aerosol
Pollen dust
Plant volatiles
Microbiome-rich hive air
All naturally produced.
All synced to the seasons.
All waiting just beneath your spine, ready to whisper their benefits into your breath.
No capsules. No diffusers. No hype.
Just 150,000 bees doing what they’ve done for millions of years—keeping their world, and yours, alive and clean.