Detailed Explanation of the Key Technical Points in Propolis Processing and Production
Propolis is hailed as "the guardian angel of human health" and has broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, so it is also called a "broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent"; propolis can remove harmful substances from the blood, reduce blood viscosity, and effectively prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, so it is also known as the "scavenger of the blood": propolis has a killing effect on cancer cells and is called "good news for cancer patients": it also has a clear blood sugar-lowering effect and can effectively treat diabetes and its complications, so it is also called "the nemesis of diabetes." However, the amount of propolis produced by each colony is relatively small (about 300 grams), and the Chinese bee does not collect propolis, so people regard propolis as "purple gold."
Under natural conditions, propolis is collected by @#@255@#@ from the gum secreted by plant buds and mixed with the secretions of worker bees, and is used to fill gaps in the hive, strengthen the comb, and prevent bacteria from breeding in the hive. In beekeeping production, it often brings inconvenience to operators. In the past, propolis was treated as waste and was not produced or utilized. Only with the deepening of research did propolis become another important product that bees dedicate to humanity.
Propolis can be produced in all four seasons, but the main propolis-producing seasons are summer and autumn. This is related to factors such as colony strength, bee species (the Chinese bee does not produce propolis), and gum-source plants (poplar produces the most gum). At present, the method of collecting propolis at apiaries is: when inspecting the colony, remove it with a scraper from the cover cloth, frames, queen excluder, and gaps, knead it into a ball, wrap it in a plastic bag, and accumulate it over time; or soak the cover cloth in alcohol to extract the propolis on it. In recent years, based on the propolis-collecting habits of bees, grid propolis collectors and entrance propolis collectors specially used for producing propolis have been developed, and propolis yields can increase severalfold.
The grid-type propolis collector is a grid composed of parallel wooden strips, made of two movable parts, with a shaft in the middle connecting them so that some slats of one part fit into the gaps of the slats of the other part. The length of the longitudinal slats and transverse slats depends on the position of the grid-type propolis collector in the hive. After bees fill the gaps of the grid with propolis, remove the grid and scrape off the propolis. The grid-type propolis collector is simple to make and can be used for a long time.
The entrance propolis collector is a propolis-collecting tool used during the major honey flow season. According to the width and length of the hive entrance, use slats or bamboo strips to divide multiple gaps 3 to 5 millimeters wide (leaving a hive entrance for bees to enter and exit). When collecting propolis, directly wedge it at the hive entrance. After bees fill the gaps, it can be removed and the propolis scraped off.
The following points must be noted in propolis production: 1. When inspecting colonies normally, pay attention to collecting propolis and accumulate it over time. 2. When scraping propolis, never mix impurities, wax, dead bees, and wood chips into the propolis, as this affects the purchase grade of propolis. 3. After obtaining propolis, be sure to wrap it well in a plastic bag and place it in a cool place; it must not be exposed to direct sunlight. 4. When using a grid-type propolis collector, it must not be inserted in the middle of the colony's combs. 5. Collected propolis should be sold promptly.