Propolis in pregnancy: can it be taken in case of sore throat?
Seasonal ailments are felt even during pregnancy, so one of the doubts of expectant mothers is linked to whether or not they can take herbal products and natural remedies, such as propolis, to get better immediately. The concern arises from the fact that these treatments may harm the baby's health, compromising gestation in some way. Before we delve deeper into the matter, here is a video with some cold foods.
What is propolis?
Propolis also known in the male (propolis) è consisting mainly of resins, organic compounds from the body of bees. The term derives from the Greek πρόπολη, what does it mean "defender of the city", and it is due to the fact that bees use propolis to fortify the cells of the hive, isolating it from external attacks.
Propolis is therefore a resinous substance that can take on different shades of color from yellow to brown to black. It has a particular and aromatic smell and the trees where the bees concentrate most for the collection of the raw resin are willow, birch, pine and fir.
But that's not all: propolis also contains lipid substances such as fatty acids and waxes, as well as important minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron.
There is no shortage of vitamins, specifically we find B1, B2 and B6, vitamin C and vitamins E and P. Finally, propolis also contains molecules of flavonoids, water-soluble compounds derived from plants, and it is these that raise doubts about use in pregnancy.
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Can propolis be taken during pregnancy?
The answer is yes, propolis in pregnancy is a valid natural remedy that is safe even for pregnant women, despite the often conflicting opinions of experts.
At the base of the doubts about this therapeutic remedy there is first of all the dosage of the components contained within the various formats in which propolis is marketed: it is not difficult, in fact, to find it in the form of syrup, candies, sprays, drops, etc. Also depending on the climate, the concentrations of the active principle may be present in greater or lesser quantities during the season.
Pregnancy is a magical moment in the life of every woman but it requires some extra care on the part of the future mother, without all this having to alter normal daily life: therefore, be careful to eat well, in the right quantities and with adequate foods, to provide the child with all the essential substances he will need for the development of his internal organs and for his growth in general.
The healthy lifestyle should be adopted at every stage of life and not only during pregnancy, in order to stay away from any type of medicine, sometimes using natural remedies such as propolis.
Properties and benefits of propolis in pregnancy
Propolis can effectively fight sore throats and reduce the effects of cooling, thanks to its properties that we summarize below.
- Disinfectant
- Anesthetic
- Bactericidal
- Antiviral
- Antioxidant
- Cicatrizing
- Natural antibiotic
In some cases, products containing propolis may be labeled "contraindicated in pregnancy", but this is due to the fact that being a product elaborated by bees it can have an allergenic power, even if, if we know we are not allergic, there is no risk.
Learning to read the label is always essential so that we can personally verify that propolis is in a condition of purity, without a trace of preservatives such as alcohol, which could be harmful to pregnant women.
Propolis in pregnancy: curiosities, history and contraindications
In the past, a correlation was observed between the flavonoid molecules contained in propolis and the onset of acute childhood leukemia, if this natural remedy was taken during pregnancy. Subsequently it emerged that in reality, some classes of flavonoids could induce chromosomal alterations, negatively affecting the health of the child. For this reason, for a short time the use of propolis in pregnancy was banned, but later it was believed that the doses of flavonoids considered dangerous in pregnancy certainly could not be those found in propolis.
The properties and benefits of propolis were already appreciated in ancient Egypt, where this substance was used for mummification; later testimonies saw propolis also used as a paint to protect musical instruments.
Nowadays it is well known and widespread as a natural remedy, and used for the production of sweets against colds or sore throats, also in the form of spray, syrup or drops.
If you are pregnant, we still recommend that you ask your doctor for advice before deciding to take propolis. In this case the specialist will analyze your individual case, giving you or not the green light to use the natural remedy.
