BEESWAX – bees’ building material with therapeutic properties.

How beeswax is made.

Beeswax is a secretion of worker bees’ wax glands. It is the natural substance necessary for the construction of combs and cells in which these clever insects store food and raise their offspring. Bees need 4 to 8 kg of honey to produce 1 kg of wax.

The beeswax consists of: esters, free acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, minerals, dye, aromatics and a bit of bee glue. We have two types of wax: classic yellow and white (mainly used in cosmetics). The white colour of wax, by traditional method, is obtained by drying the yellow wax in the sun. It is a long process, therefore its discoloration acceleratedby the use chemicals.

Examples of the bee wax use.

Chewing wax instead of chewing gum for approx. 15 minutes cleans the teeth, strengthens the gums and helps in the treatment of inflammation in oral cavity. 

It can successfully replace chemical plasters in the process of quitting off smoking, while strengthening the weakened respiratory system of the smoker.

Chewing beeswax with honey every day for one month before the appearance of pollen allergy symptoms reduces hay fever. It also supports the treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases.

The beeswax has an antibacterial effect, therefore it is perfect for skin care, as an addition to creams, masks and ointments.

It also supports wound healing and the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.

Beeswax candles.

Although they are more expensive than their stearin counterparts, apart from decorating a room, they also have therapeutic properties, such as: ionizing air, neutralizing harmful effects of radiation from electrical and electronic devices. They clear the sinuses, relieve runny nose symptoms, soothe the nervous system, regulate the heartbeat and reduce blood pressure.

10 - 15 minutes a day with a burning candle improves the mood, strengthens the body, soothes the nerves and supports the beneficial effects of meditation.

Frauds.

Wax can be fake, so you should know a few things about it. It doesn’t dissolve in water or glycerine. It dissolves poorly in alcohol. The substances that dissolve it are petrol and warm, pure turpentine.

1. Yellow wax can be falsified by adding ingredients such as starch, sulfur or rosin. If it sticks to the knife and doesn’t come off easily, it may occur the rosin was added. Such a fraud can be detected by pouring the wax with 85% alcohol. Such alcohol will melt the rosin, but not wax. When wax smells strongly, it most likely contains sulfur. Sulfur and starch can be detected by pouring wax by warm turpentine. This will melt the wax but will not dissolve these unwanted additives.

2. White wax can be falsified by adding ingredients such as tallow, paraffin or stearin. If the wax placed in the dish with 34% alcohol rises to the surface and doesn’t sink, it means that it has been treated with paraffin. We can suspect that it may contain tallow when it is less fragile and leaves greasy stains on the paper. Whereas, stearin may be detected if we heat it with the addition of lime water and obtain a muddy reaction.

The text is based on my own experience (I come from a few generations of beekeepers in my family) and the book by Irena Gumowska "Bees and People" (original title „Pszczoły i ludzie” , WATRA Publishing house, 1985.

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