Propolis, from which bees build honeycombs, is no less useful product than honey. Like all natural substances, it causes a certain reaction of the body, which may not always be positive. We will talk about whether an allergic reaction to the indicated bee product can occur and for what reasons, in the article.
Can propolis cause allergies?
Propolis, or bee glue, is actively used both in medicine and in cosmetology. And at first glance it seems that this is a fairly harmless non-toxic substance, but even some people may experience allergies to it. Such a rather rare occurrence was recorded in 3% of the world's population.
Did you know? Propolis was used in the Inca Empire in the treatment of inflammation accompanied by high fever.
Causes and symptoms of an allergy to propolis
The main reason for the negative reaction of the body to propolis is intolerance to caffeates (esters of caffeic acid). In addition, particles of pollen that are in bee glue can provoke it.
It should be noted that such a reaction occurs not only on a pure product, but also on various tinctures, ointments and other products in which it can be used.
An allergic reaction to propolis is very similar to the symptoms of poisoning. The most common of them:
- bloating;
- diarrhea;
- gagging;
- nausea;
- intestinal cramps;
- discoloration of feces.
Secondary signs are the reaction of the skin (redness, rashes in the form of red small dots, itching and peeling) and the respiratory tract (shortness of breath, runny nose, etc.)
Remedies for treating allergy symptoms
An allergy to propolis, like any other, is almost impossible to cure. If you know that the body does not tolerate bee glue, contact with an allergen should be avoided. If any of the above symptoms appear, you must immediately stop the use or use of propolis and begin their treatment. In this case, there are two options - folk and medication.
Important! Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms such as swelling of the face suffocation, severe runny nose constant sneezing.
Medication
Drug treatment - the use of drugs that relieve and remove the signs of allergies. These include "Diazolin", "Loratadin", "Suprastin" or their analogues. These funds work to block the allergen and restore normal functioning of the body.
Sometimes people with an allergy start wondering if it might be that the pills do not help. This is possible, and in this case, you should consult a doctor so that he prescribes another treatment and drugs that will remove a strong reaction to the allergen.
Folk
In order to alleviate the symptoms of an allergy to propolis, you can use alternative methods that will also help strengthen immunity:
- You need to take 1 tablespoon of dry celandine, pour 0.5 liters of boiled water and let it brew for an hour. Drink 100 ml before meals twice a day.
- For the second remedy, you need a tablespoon of dried spirea flowers - the raw material is poured with half a liter of boiling water and boiled for five minutes. After this, the broth needs to be cooled and filtered. Take this medicine for 1 tbsp. l four times a day.
- It is necessary to take one tablespoon of dried herbs (alder, plantain, wormwood and stigmas of corn), pour 200 ml of boiled water and let it brew for an hour. Then the infusion is filtered and taken for 1 tbsp. three times a day before meals.
To remove external manifestations, you can take a bath by adding herbal infusion to it. This will help remove itching, redness, and rashes.
Important! Traditional medicine is not a panacea, so you should not abuse it and continue treatment if it does not help.
How to avoid an allergic reaction?
Most often, an allergy to propolis is transmitted at the gene level. You can avoid the reaction to bee glue by eliminating it from use. To do this, it is enough to carefully study the compositions of products and cosmetics.
If you have not had an allergy to propolis before, you can safely use it. If one of the close relatives still has a negative reaction to the mentioned allergen, you should limit its use and gradually increase the amount when used.
