Beeswax: benefits and harms. All about beeswax

Our understanding of beeswax is superficial and limited, perhaps, to the information that it is good for health. But did you know that it can be stored for tens and hundreds of years? Wherein beneficial features although they are partially lost, the product remains useful as a whole. It was found in the ancient Egyptian pyramids during excavations.

And modern scientists with all their scientific and technical base have not yet learned how to recreate it in an artificial environment.

In this article, we will look at what bee zabrus is, talk about the use of beeswax in cosmetology and traditional medicine and learn how to melt beeswax.

Wax is secreted by the glands of bees, which is used by them to build honeycombs and seal cells with honey.. It contains about three hundred compounds, of which more than two thirds are ethers.

In addition, there are alcohols and acids, other compounds. The composition directly depends on the nutrition of bees. It is insoluble in water, and even acid does not take it. However, fat can dissolve it. The color also depends on which pollen was used to make the honey. Wax is a solid substance with a granular structure. Like any other bee product, it is very useful. It is used in medicine, cosmetology.

How to be treated with natural wax in folk medicine

It has been used in folk medicine since ancient times. Even the world-famous Persian scientist and healer Avicenna prescribed it to men, women and children. different ages with certain diseases, to increase immunity.

Thanks to his chemical composition, as well as physical properties(elasticity, resilience, softness) but has found its application.

Natural beeswax

For adults

For older people, if cracks have formed on the heels, they are removed by applying a mask of the following composition to the previously steamed skin for 20 minutes:

100 g of wax;
40 g of licorice root, bringing it to a powdery consistency;
20 ml sea buckthorn oil.

Smokers benefit from taking a warm mixture of wax, vodka and onion in moderation.

Wax helps with inflammation of the gums. To do this, it is chewed three times a day for 15 minutes. If you accidentally swallow a piece of the product at the same time, it's okay. It's even helpful. In this case, it serves as an adsorbent. Since it practically does not dissolve in the stomach, after a while it is excreted.

With polyarthritis ( chronic disease joints) prepare a mask with the following composition:

Heated wax (100 g);
A teaspoon of honey.

This mixture is placed on gauze, and then to the diseased joint. Then cover with cellophane and wrap with a warm scarf for half an hour. This procedure is enough once a day for two weeks.

For kids

50 g of wax;
50 g goose fat;
2 drops of fennel

Hold for 12-17 minutes in the form of a compress, placing on the sternum of the child.

To combat youthful acne, the following composition is used in the form of a cleansing cream:

20 g of wax;
2 tablespoons of celandine in powder form;
1 tablespoon of glycerin.

For pregnant and lactating

With a lack of milk and, accordingly, to increase its lactation breastfeeding mothers are advised to put wax on their breasts, preheated in a water bath, with the addition of psyllium juice. In this case, the ratio of these ingredients should be five to one.

The quantity is taken from individual characteristics. You can keep this mixture for up to 20 minutes immediately before feeding. This will warm the body and provide a rush of milk.

If there are problems with inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, then it is worth trying to apply a mixture of wax on the lower abdomen, tinctures of calendula and margarine.

With the help of wax, pregnant women are epilated.

For weight loss

For weight loss, it is better to use honey. This is because the latter does not dissolve in water. It cannot be used as a solution mixed with other components. For this purpose it is recommended to chew the wax at night for 20 minutes.

In addition to relieving inflammation in the oral cavity, additional gastric juice is produced, which contributes to the rapid digestion of dinner, especially if it is plentiful. The bee product is also used for weight loss in folk magical rituals related to its physical properties.

For the intestines

Since wax is rich in sorbents, it is useful to eat it in limited quantities. It stimulates the glands and the contraction of the intestinal wall to move food (peristalsis). Its use favorably affects the intestinal microflora, which helps protect against gastric diseases. Thanks to his unique composition it has antibacterial properties.

In case of a rectal fissure, the following composition is injected into the rectum: beeswax (three parts), finely crushed calendula flowers (two parts), honey (one part). This is done after a bowel movement. Enough mixture in the amount of a teaspoon. After the introduction, we lie down for up to half an hour with a raised lower body (legs, pelvis).

Application in cosmetology

Beeswax is an integral part of a significant number of various cosmetics due to its chemical composition. In addition, it is an excellent preservative.

If desired, you can prepare a lot of useful cosmetic masks.

So, to prevent the appearance of wrinkles, it is mixed with honey and onions. It is used in the following proportion: wax - 30 g, honey - 40 g, juice of half a lemon. Apply before bed for 20 minutes.

To remove black spots on the face, it is used in pure form by applying it in a thin layer after heating in a water bath.

In addition, you will be interested to know:

For aging skin use a mixture:

Wax, lanolin, sour cream, olive oil, carrot and potato juice - all in a teaspoon;
lemon juice.

This mixture perfectly nourishes and moisturizes the skin.

Creams are also used in folk cosmetology:

Mixed wax with lemon juice applied to the skin for its additional nutrition;
You can whiten the skin by applying wax with lemon juice and blue clay.

Before applying any cream, the skin should be thoroughly cleansed with a decoction of chamomile. After application, it is advisable to apply a cream to the skin.

Benefit and harm

Much has been said about the benefits above. You can add that it also includes useful minerals and vitamins, carbohydrate. Its composition is not constant. It depends on honey plants, from which bees take pollen. It softens the skin, anesthetizes and heals wounds.

There are practically no contraindications, except for rare cases of allergies.. This is due to the presence of honey in its composition. Before applying a mask or cream to the skin, you can make sure that the body tolerates the product normally. To do this, wax melted in a water bath is applied to the back of the hand.

In fact, only the use of wax in large quantities inside and a fake product can bring harm.

Selection of beeswax and determination of quality

Always use fresh wax. When choosing a buyer, we recommend paying attention to the smell. Natural wax has the taste and smell of honey.

Fresh has pink or White color. If it is brown, then the wax is probably several years old. If the wax cut has a glossy rather than matte surface, then paraffin has been mixed into its composition.

How to melt at home

To use the wax for its intended purpose, it is cleaned of coarse impurities, and in necessary cases(if it is used for chewing or ingestion) it is cleaned two or three times. There are wax melters specially made in the factory.

But they are not always available. Yes, and wax melters are not cheap, since either aluminum or stainless steel is used in their manufacture.

Heat in a water bath

Our ancestors have never heard of specially manufactured in the factory devices for burning wax. They used the water bath method with success. Melting wax on it is not difficult. By the way, it is still very popular because of its availability and cheapness. To do this, take two containers of the same volume for 20-30 liters. It can be enameled or aluminum pans, basins, troughs.

We collect crushed wax in one container, having previously washed it and cleaned it of a large fraction of debris. Then we tie the container on top with gauze. We fill another container with water by 40% with water and put it on fire. After the water boils, we turn the container with wax onto a boiling pot (tank) with water.

We tie the handles of two containers to each other, the water continues to boil on a slow, low heat for two to three hours. The top container can be insulated with something. Leave the wax in this state until next day. After all the contents have cooled, we take out a yellow piece of wax from the container. It takes the form of the container in which it was.

Melt in solar wax furnaces

The solar unit is made by hand. It is installed in the apiary or at home. Such wax is valued more because it is exposed to direct sunlight in the process.

It is advisable to melt light raw materials in them. FROM The solar wax melter is a box (wooden or steel) covered with a frame with double glass. Inside this design, a baking sheet made of stainless tin is installed at an angle of 40 degrees and a trough made of tin.

A little water is poured into this trough, so that later it will be easy to remove from the container. Finely chopped product is pre-cleaned. Then placed on a baking sheet under glass. The sun heats the glass, the space inside the structure, under the influence of the rays, the wax begins to melt. For this, 70 degrees is enough for him. Through the grate on the baking sheet, it flows into the trough. As you can see, melting wax using this method is not difficult.

Useful properties and application of the beekeeping product - zabrus

Now consider what is zabrus in beekeeping, how it is useful and how to treat it. Zabrus is another useful and no less unique beekeeping product.. It is a mixture of wax salivary glands bees, pollen, propolis. With this substance, the bees seal the filled honeycombs.

In its composition, it differs from wax, since there are more components in its composition.. In this sense, he is richer. Thus, the effect of its use is higher. But if you use wax and zabrus in a mixture - healing effect will be even stronger. Zabrus is also very effective in bacterial and viral diseases. This substance can be simply chewed.

As a result, there is intense salivation, increased secretory function stomach. Food is digested faster. Unconventional and traditional medicine recommends chewing it 3-4 times a day for 10 minutes. And when severe runny nose or sinusitis chew it even more often.

In addition, s abrus is not thrown away after this procedure. Small pieces are swallowed. Nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, inside the stomach, it stimulates its work.

Zabrus also helps against tonsillitis, periodontal disease, stomatitis.

There are no contraindications to its use. Naturally, it should be used within reasonable limits, especially for people suffering from diabetes. When applying masks or creams to the face and other parts of the body, zabrus, along with other components, nourishes the composition of the skin and has a beneficial effect on the body. External application it won't do him any harm.

There is no doubt about the beneficial effect of wax, neither in traditional medicine, nor in the official one. By the way, the latter did not deny this fact. The dynamics of the development of the cosmetology industry shows that the use of the product as a component of creams, masks and other products is only increasing.

The fact that even today it is not possible to reproduce it in research institutes using modern technology says that natural sources of longevity are superior to advanced technologies. They only need to be protected and used rationally.

And in conclusion short video on how to melt beeswax.

Beeswax (BE) is a product of the vital activity of bees. This gift of nature is active biological substance and complex organic compound.

Beeswax is a multicomponent, solid substance, in the color range from white to yellow-brown. If there is an admixture of propolis, it may have a greenish tint.

AT home cosmetology rational use of wax yellow color, since it contains the maximum content of vitamin A. In white wax, vitamin A is destroyed during bleaching; substance, with other color shades, contains many impurities that are undesirable for cooking various means care.

Today, bee wax can be found as food additive, which is registered as an additive E-901.

Properties and composition of beeswax

The properties of this natural gift are such that it can melt, boil and even burn. The product of the vital activity of bees becomes soft and plastic at a temperature of 35 ° Celsius. In the range of 65-68 ° C, it begins to melt, at 100 ° C - to boil. Lit it natural substance at a temperature of 300 °C.

Wax is insoluble in glycerin and water, poorly soluble in cold alcohol and, conversely, soluble in hot alcohol. It dissolves well in essential oils, fats, ether, paraffin, chloroform, gasoline and turpentine.

HP consists of fatty acids, alcohols and esters.

In percentage terms, the acids contained in beeswax can be divided into the following components: myciric and palmitic acids - about 80%, cerotinic acid - about 16%, cerolein - about 4%.

Percentage chemical substances wax may vary depending on the origin and extraction conditions of the product. The composition of the second most important bee product includes approximately 50 different compounds. Esters occupy up to 75%, hydrocarbons from 12 to 17%, fatty acid up to 15% and water - about 2.5%.

HP can be stored for hundreds of years without losing its properties.

The substance in question has bactericidal properties. Due to this feature, this product is used in the production of various medicines, primarily plasters and ointments. Also used in the treatment of burns, wounds, ulcers and inflammation of the skin.

Wax is used in many industries:

AT Food Industry. Some types of cheese are coated with this substance to prevent the product from drying out.
in the furniture industry. The substance in question is one of the components of natural polishes used for wood products, furniture, wood and parquet floors.
In the domestic area. It is used for the production of candles, protective mastics, various lubricants for synthetic threads.
in the perfumery and cosmetics industry. The product in question is used in the manufacture of natural cosmetics. It is a component for solid perfumes, lipsticks, a thickener for ointments and creams.
in the beekeeping industry. Wax is used to make foundation.
in the foundry industry. Lost-wax models are made from wax for further casting, including figured ones.

How to use beeswax at home

Wax is used as a component for the manufacture of natural protective, softening and nourishing creams for the skin of the face and body, for the preparation of cleansers, for skin care products for hands and nails, as a lip balm.

The features of this product make it possible to produce various ointments, creams, masks and lotions at home.

Wax, which has strong bactericidal properties, is able to have a regenerating effect on the skin. It is recommended to be used for normal, dry and combination skin, in some cases its use is justified for oily.

PV concentration in cosmetics home cooking can vary from 0.5 to 10% of the total composition.

For acne-prone skin, as well as for oily skin, the concentration of the substance in cosmetics should not exceed 0.5%. In creams, ointments and lotions for the face, no more than 1%, since this component is “heavy” for the face.

Nourishing creams

Anti-aging cream

Ingredients: 40 grams of margarine, one yolk, 3 tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil, 15 grams of PV, 1 teaspoon of honey, 5 drops of vitamin A and E, 5 drops of boric alcohol. Add orange tincture to the composition (pour pure orange zest with 100 milliliters of boiling water and insist in a thermos for seven hours, strain). Mix all components until a homogeneous consistency. Store the resulting cream in the refrigerator for no more than 12 days.

Cream for aging skin

Ingredients: mix the juice of one lemon with 10 grams of bee wax, add 1 teaspoon of sour cream, 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 5 grams of lanolin. Mix all ingredients until smooth. Store the resulting cream in the refrigerator for no more than 12 days. The composition nourishes and refreshes the skin.

Revitalizing cream

Ingredients: Mix 4 teaspoons of menthol water with the juice of two small lemons, add 15 grams of HP. Mix all components until a homogeneous consistency. Store the resulting cream in the refrigerator for no more than 12 days. This composition can be used up to two times a day. Restores aging and tired skin.

Cream for dry skin

Ingredients: 40 grams of margarine, 10 grams of beeswax, 4 teaspoons of camphor alcohol, 2 milliliters of vitamin E, 4 teaspoons of rosemary infusion (2 teaspoons of rosemary pour 100 milliliters of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes over low heat). Mix all ingredients until smooth. Store the resulting cream in the refrigerator for no more than 12 days.

Whitening cream

Ingredients: 15 grams of blue clay, 10 grams of PV, juice of half a lemon. Use this cream once a day for 5 days, repeat the course after 1.5 months. The cream is recommended for pigmented skin.

Wax masks

Mask for chapped and tired skin

Ingredients: mix the juice of one lemon, 70 grams of honey and 50 grams of wax. Make a mask before going to bed, apply on clean skin for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.

Wrinkle Prevention Mask

Ingredients: mix 25 milliliters of white lily bulb juice, 60 grams of honey and 20 grams of wax. Apply a warm mixture to the skin in the evening and in the morning for 15 minutes. Remove the rest of the mask with a cotton pad dipped in warm water.

Skin cleansing mask

Composition: 100% wax. Melt the substance, apply to the face or individual problem areas, allow the wax to harden. When removing the mask from the face, the skin is cleared of black dots, as they are removed along with the wax mask. Also this procedure increases blood circulation, which contributes to some skin rejuvenation.

Nourishing mask

Ingredients: mix 10 milliliters of peach oil, 40 grams of petroleum jelly, 10 grams of lanolin and 10 grams of wax. Apply the mask for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water. This composition nourishes and cleanses the skin.

After the masks, the skin needs nutrition and hydration, so at the end of the procedures it is necessary to apply a nourishing / moisturizing cream.

Therapeutic and / or treatment-and-prophylactic masks are used in courses that are repeated after one, three, six months.

Beeswax perfectly nourishes and softens the skin, has a beneficial effect on its general condition. This component is very slowly absorbed into the skin, while creating a protective function for it - a film, at the right concentration, that does not clog pores. The waxy film can significantly slow down the dehydration process, which in turn slows down the aging process.

Possessing anti-inflammatory properties, wax products promote the healing of inflammation and light burns.

Japanese lamination of nails

Widely known and not cheap procedure "seal nails with wax" or Japanese nail lamination. In Japan, this procedure is popular not only among women, but also among men, because after the procedure, the nails look well-groomed, healthy, which in itself is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also desirable for many who have the problem of “foliation” of the nail plates.

So, “sealing nails with wax” consists of three procedures: manicure, hand massage and nail lamination.

For a complete procedure, the following components / components are required:

Comfortable hand bath with warm water. Add any / favorite natural extract to the water. It can be aloe, pineapple, cucumber or red tea, also add honey and sea salt.
A tool that allows you to gently move the cuticle without removing it (such a tool is in any manicure kit).
Polishing for nails (you can use a buff).
Peeling for nails, you can easily replace it with ordinary sea salt, which must be finely ground.
Massage oil or any/favorite essential oil.
Terry towel for hands.
Beeswax. If not natural product, you can buy nail wax at the pharmacy.

Let's start the procedure:

soak your hands in a bath of water for 15 minutes. During this period, the skin, cuticles and nails will receive useful elements from the added extract, honey and sea salt. Remove excess moisture using a terry towel.
Apply 4 drops of massage oil to the palm of your hand essential oil and distribute it over the entire surface of the hands and cuticles with massage movements of the hands. This procedure performs a healing and therapeutic effect. The oil during the massage heats up and enters the open pores of the skin and cuticles.
use a manicure tool to move the cuticle from the surface of the nail without cutting it. This moment must be strictly observed, since in the future the nail will be polished, and the trimmed cuticle can lead to the formation of wounds.
on the nail plate of each finger, in turn, apply a few grams (a pinch) of sea salt. Carry out peeling polishing (or buff) for nails. Polish the surface of the nail with soft and gentle movements, paying attention to the cuticles and edges of the nail. Wipe nails with a terry towel.
apply soft wax on each nail plate (the wax should not spread) for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, with energetic, but gentle and soft finger movements, rub the wax into the surface of the nail. When rubbed, the substance heats up and fills all the small cracks on the nail plate. It is important to rub the wax on the entire surface of the plate, giving Special attention its edges, since it is in these areas that the nail delamination occurs.

After this procedure, the nail becomes somewhat voluminous, decorated, complete, has a natural shine and a healthy, slightly pink hue.

The effect of the described procedure lasts for 14-15 days. At the same time, the owner of laminated nails with wax can lead a normal life without making additional efforts to maintain the result. You can do all the chores that you did before the procedure. Nails will be smooth to the touch and look good for two weeks.

This simple and inexpensive, at home, procedure allows you to have beautiful nails and well-groomed hands every day.

Guaranteed skin recovery

This recipe will be of interest to anyone who wants to restore their hands after the following events:

All summer residents and gardeners who do not use garden gloves when carrying out relevant work on their household plots (dry, wrinkled, black from sunlight, with small cracks).
All housewives and young mothers whose hands are constantly in the water (dehydrated, dry, with small cracks).
All women and men who do not want to wear gloves in winter (dry and weathered).
Everyone who wants to have smooth and velvety hand skin, regardless of the type of activity.

If you want to restore the health of your hands with minimal financial and time costs, this offer is for you!

So, you will need beeswax, disposable plastic gloves (can be replaced with ordinary bags), a warm thin blanket or woolen blanket and a little free time.

Step 1. Melt the wax in a water bath in the amount necessary for its further application to the damaged areas of the surface of the hands. The mass should cool slightly so as not to burn the skin.

Step 2. Apply a thin layer of wax to the skin back side hands, paying special attention to areas with cracks and wounds.

Step 3 Put plastic gloves on your hands and wrap them in a warm blanket. Keep your hands warm for 15 minutes. During this period, the hands will warm up with warm wax, and you will rest, dreaming of something good.

Step 4. After 15 minutes, remove the wax from your hands and put it in the bowl in which it was melted. Since a certain volume of wax will be absorbed into the skin, then for the next ten procedures it will be necessary to add it in the required volume.

Step 5. After the procedure, cover your hands with a nourishing cream.

This procedure must be carried out every day for 10 days. One hundred percent restoration and rejuvenation of the skin of the hands.

The use of wax for the manufacture of cosmetics, at home, is quite affordable. Ease of manufacture and application, delicate, elastic and smooth skin after use. All these bonuses cannot be ignored, because it is so easy to be beautiful and well-groomed. Start with what nature itself offers!

Precautionary measures

It is generally accepted that beeswax, as well as bee honey, is absolutely harmless to the human body. However, in very rare cases, a person may be allergic to wax, as well as honey. Therefore, before starting wax procedures, it is necessary to conduct a skin test on separate area skin. With absence backlash, the product can be used.
When making wax-based creams, lotions and ointments, do not use iron, metal, copper or cast iron utensils. In this case, the fatty acids contained in the wax react with the metal and form salts that are undesirable in the manufactured products.
When working with the product in question, use glass or enamelware.
With parallel treatment, consultation with a specialized specialist is required.
Before you start using beeswax yourself, you need to consult a specialist.
You can buy beeswax in specialized stores and pharmacies.

Probably, each person has information about how useful bee products such as honey, molasses, pollen, subpestilence, propolis... We all periodically use recipes with honey for cooking, for consumption with tea, for the treatment of diseases with honey and for self-care. However, other bee products are often left out of our attention, and completely in vain. After all, wax, and pollen, and bee royal jelly and propolis can bring great benefit to our body. Today we will talk on www.site about what beeswax is, consider its use at home, and also find out what benefits and harms can be to our body from its use.

What is beeswax?

Beeswax is essentially a fat-like product produced by the wax glands and used by hardworking bees to form small honey containers we call honeycombs. Most people are sure that beeswax is more of a waste or an auxiliary product, but in fact - this substance can bring us great benefits. Let's talk about what beeswax is valued for, what is the benefit of it to a person.

Benefits of beeswax

Beeswax has a very complex biochemical composition, which depends on many factors: the habitat of bees, the characteristics of their diet, etc. Scientists have found that it contains more than three hundred components, represented by fatty acids, water, minerals, esters, hydrocarbons, alcohols, aromatic and coloring elements, etc. In addition, such a product is a source of vitamins (especially provitamin A), due to which it is customary to use it as the main component for many cosmetics, for example, masks, creams, etc. By the way, we once already talked about how to prepare honey face masks at home ...

Wax is not able to dissolve in water and glycerin, in addition, such a substance is practically insoluble in alcohol. It can dissolve only in turpentine, gasoline and chloroform. When exposed to a temperature of more than seventy degrees, the wax gradually melts and easily acquires the most different shape.

Beeswax has long been used for the preparation of medicines and cosmetics. It was used to cover wounds to protect against injury, moisture, and infection. Wax contains a lot of antibacterial elements that prevent the occurrence of inflammation and accelerate healing.

Beeswax in folk medicine

Such a bee product is actively used for therapy if the patient, for example, inflammatory process oral mucosa. In particular, it is advised to use it for diseases of the gums or teeth. Various folk methods treatment of stomatitis, including the use of wax. Wax is different a high degree plasticity, it is easily chewed, massaging the gums, tongue and cleaning the teeth. Our ancestors actively chewed wax to clean their teeth, as well as to freshen their breath. And now, traditional medicine experts for the listed ailments strongly advise chewing zabrus (in the amount of half a teaspoon) once an hour for a quarter of an hour.

At the same time, wax does not need to be spit out at all after such treatment, because it is a wonderful sorbent of natural origin. Such a substance is able to stimulate gastrointestinal motility. After entering into digestive tract wax perfectly activates the activity of the digestive glands, optimizes the movement of food through the intestines. Also, wax is able to improve the qualitative and quantitative composition of the intestinal microflora, eliminating dysbacteriosis, cleansing, removing toxins from the body, harmful substances.

External use of wax

At home, you can easily prepare various products based on beeswax. So for therapy skin ailments, represented by boils, rashes, abscesses, wounds, calluses, etc., it is worth combining heated wax with olive oil in a ratio of 1: 2. The resulting ointment should be applied to problem areas, treating them with hydrogen peroxide or propolis tincture.

Beeswax for feet. It helps eliminate calluses and corns. To this end, combine it with propolis and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Combine thirty grams of heated wax with fifty grams of finely chopped propolis and juice squeezed from one lemon. Use the resulting mixture to create cakes, they need to be applied to corns and fixed with adhesive tape. Repeat for several days, then soak the calluses in a two percent soda solution and eliminate them.

Wax will help to cope with sinusitis. Melt it and mix it with dried yarrow herb. The resulting mixture must be cooled to body temperature and applied to the area. maxillary sinuses for a quarter of an hour.

Beeswax for face. An excellent effect is the use of beeswax to care for dry and. Melt a certain amount of wax, add a tablespoon of softened butter and the same amount of vegetable juice (cucumber, carrot or squash). Mix well the resulting composition and apply the prepared mixture on the surface of the skin of the face. After twenty minutes, rinse off this mask thoroughly.

Beeswax for hands. This composition is also great for skin care. It should be applied warm back part brushes, after which it is advisable to wear cotton gloves. After twenty minutes, wash off the mask, as a result of such exposure, the skin will become young, fresh, even, and also elastic.

Beeswax for nails. Used to protect the nail plate. Take some wax and start rubbing it into the nail plate as well as into the cuticle. After absorption, there should be no greasy marks on the fingers.

beeswax for hair. Mask for moisturizing damaged hair

Prepare: 1/2 cup wax chips, 1 cup olive oil, 1 tbsp. coconut oil, 10 drops of ylang-ylang.

Next, melt the shavings in a water bath, add everything on the list to it, except for the essential oil. Stir continuously. When the mixture has almost cooled, drop ylang-ylang into it. Drain the cream into an empty cream jar. Let cool, store in the refrigerator.

Before applying to the hair, scoop out the mixture and warm it in your hands. Apply from the ends, working up to the roots. After 35 minutes, wash off with shampoo without balm.

With all the benefits of the product, it can be harmful to humans. Are you surprised?! Recall the dangers of beeswax, what harm can be from its use.

Possible harm of beeswax

Beeswax is a fairly powerful allergen. Therefore, if you suffer from individual intolerance to bee products, the use of wax is also contraindicated for you. Do not give it to children, at least until the age of three. And do not consume excessive amounts of wax inside.

- a product of vital activity and the result of the hard work of bees. His nutritional composition built from beneficial vitamins and trace elements that are essential for correct operation human body. We are used to seeing honey already in a liquid state after pasture, but the most useful product we get it exclusively in the apiary, in the form of wax honeycombs. It is consumed right on the spot, cut into portions. More often, the honey inside the honeycombs does not have time to solidify and stays in liquid form for some time.

Should you eat honeycomb?

Do not look for harm or inorganic components in the product of the painstaking work of bees. Honeycombs hide in themselves a storehousethat are beneficial to the human body:

With their help, diseases have been cured for many years. respiratory system, strengthened internal organs person.
Beneficial effect on the body is not only honey, but also wax, of which honeycombs are composed.
They have an amazing neutralizing effect on the body. Doctors have long come to the conclusion that honeycombs act as an anti-allergic drug, relieving people of chronic components and substances intolerable to the body.
The use of comb honey strengthens the immune system, normalizes the functioning of vital systems, and improves brain activity.

Composition of wax and honeycomb

Comb honey is a valuable and expensive product. It is distributed in weight equivalent, much more expensive than pure honey pumped out from the apiary. The increased price is due to the demand for the product and its fragility. The main problem is that honeycomb is difficult to transport because it quickly loses its original appearance due to natural fragility. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to enjoy such a product in a fresh and pristine state - feel free to help yourself and strengthen your health.

Provided a person not only, but also such unique substance like wax. Scientists joke that it was the first polymer created by living beings. Even in ancient times, wounds were covered with it, and the heroes of ancient Greek myths were very familiar with this wonderful product.

So, Odysseus used it instead of earplugs for his team to save her from the singing of the sirens, and Daedalus created the wings of Icarus from it. Among the many areas of use, a special place is occupied by the use of beeswax in and.

Did you know? Hippocrates and Pliny left recommendations and numerous uses of wax in the treatment of tonsillitis, sinusitis, and arthritis. Avicenna used wax to increase lactation in breastfeeding women breast milk, as well as for the treatment of cough, for better expectoration.

What is beeswax?

Wax is created by worker bees (at the age of 12-18 days) with the help of special wax glands. Dry flakes of wax, bees grind with their jaws and moisten with a special lubricant. Producing a kilogram of wax, they spend up to three kilograms of honey, nectar and.

Why do bees need wax? It is from it that the bees draw cells - a beautiful pentagonal shape, in which they breed and store honey.

The color of apiary wax is yellow (more whitish in spring), but depending on the diet of bees, the shades of yellow can vary (a high content gives a greenish tint, and under the sun the wax becomes lighter). The pure white color of the wax is obtained by industrial distillation with its special bleaching.

Wax is obtained by melting and straining comb scraps. Wax melting begins at temperatures above +62 °C. At home, it is best to melt it in a water bath. The classic version of such a bath with simultaneous straining:

Take two identical containers (made of stainless steel, aluminum, ceramics, refractory glass) with handles.
Crumble the honeycomb scraps into one container and tie it with gauze on top, pour water into the second container (30-40% of the volume) and put on fire.
After the water boils, turn the wax container upside down and place it on a pot of water, fixing it well.
Keep for 2-3 hours on low heat. The density of beeswax under the influence of temperature will decrease. Turn off, cover the upper container with a blanket and leave to cool (you can overnight). In the morning, there will be a hardened piece of wax in the lower container.

To prepare an ointment or other remedy from already purified wax, when required a small amount of substances, it is better to melt the wax in a conventional water bath.

What quality of beeswax you have depends on it. possible benefits and harm. You can distinguish real wax by the following featured:

the smell of honey or propolis;
on the cut, the surface has a matte tint;
color does not change when heated;
soluble in fats, but not in water;
does not leave greasy spots on the hands when kneading;
sinks in water at room temperature;
does not stick to the teeth when chewed;
high price.

The chemical composition of beeswax

Wax has a complex composition and includes four groups of compounds. Its main component is esters (73-75%). There are more than two dozen of them and they are formed from higher fatty acids and alcohols.

The esters keep the wax safe by protecting it from chemical reactions. Wax also includes:

hydrocarbons (chemically inert alkanes make up from 10 to 14%);
free fatty acids and glycerin - from 13 to 14%;
free fatty alcohols - 1-1.25%.

Wax also contains water (0.1 - 2.5%), carotenoids (12.8 mg per 100 g), vitamins (vitamin A content is especially high - 4 g per 100 g of product), minerals, various impurities (aromatic substances, shells of larvae, pollen, etc.).

The total number of elements in it reaches 300. The ratio of elements depends on the time of year, geoclimatic features,.

What is the benefit of beeswax?

The most beneficial effect on the human body is bee wax. He has:

bactericidal and antibiotic properties;
anti-inflammatory action;
regenerating and healing properties (stimulates tissue growth);
adsorbing action (removes toxins and decay products from tissues);
analgesic properties.

found in folk medicine wide application such properties of beeswax as the ability to slowly give off heat (with compresses), cause blood flow, improve blood circulation, etc.

Did you know? Magicians and sorcerers believed that wax, like fat, contains vitality and through it it is possible to gain power over people - you just need to mold a wax doll and perform a certain ritual.

Wax cleans and disinfects the mouth. The chewing of comb honey (cut pieces of sealed combs) has gained popularity. Chewing beeswax is pleasant and healthy - it softens in the mouth, has a taste of bee bread and.

Chewing wax has a beneficial effect on the gums, causes active salivation and excretion of gastric juice(food is better digested). Chewing comb honey is recommended for periodontal disease, runny nose, cough and even hay fever.

To the question, “Is it possible to eat beeswax?”, There is the following answer: yes, but its daily “dose” should be 10 g. It is not necessary to specifically swallow the wax, but usually, when chewing honeycombs, some part of it enters the stomach ( which helps with colitis). Chewed wax can be easily melted down and used again.

External treatment with beeswax

In the vast majority of cases, wax is used for external use. At home, it is not difficult to prepare a wide variety of means from it: ointments, balms and other means.

Sinusitis

In the treatment of maxillary sinuses, the benefits of beeswax for the body are due to its biochemical properties. To prepare the product, you will need 20-30 g of wax and two tablespoons of ground wax. Wax should be melted and mixed with grass.

Apply a warm mixture to the area of the maxillary sinuses for 25 minutes. Top with a terry towel. After removing the wax, the zones of the maxillary sinuses should be lubricated with the Asterisk balm. For the effectiveness of treatment, it is necessary to conduct 1-2 sessions daily for 3-5 days.

Important! You should not give honeycomb to young children, as the viscous sweet composition can easily choke. It will also be difficult to control the amount of wax swallowed.

Pain in the joints

Traditional medicine traditionally uses masks, applications and ointments for joints based on beeswax:

Application. Apply liquid wax (100 g) to the cotton base, wait 15 minutes, apply to the joint, wrap with a woolen cloth and hold for 15 minutes. After the session - remove the wax, wrap the joint with a warm cloth. The application is carried out daily for two weeks.
Mask. Mix melted wax (100 g) with honey (1 tsp), put on gauze and apply to the sore spot. Close with cellophane and a woolen scarf for 30 minutes. Carry out the procedure once a day for two weeks.
Ointment. Finely chop 30 g of young white mistletoe, mix with 20 g of lard, boil for 15 minutes, strain. Add wax (30 g), camphor (8 g) to the broth and put in a water bath. Apply as needed to the affected joint.

Calluses and corns

Used to eliminate calluses and corns remedy from wax (100 g), propolis (100 g) and juice of one. Preparation is simple: add juice to melted wax with propolis and mix.

Steam the leg in advance hot water with soda. Apply a cake from the mixture to the problem area, bandage it or fix it with adhesive tape. It takes 3-4 such sessions, after which the corn can be safely removed.

Cracks in the heels

Wax is good for healing cracked heels. This will require wax (50 g), licorice root (20 g of powder), sea buckthorn oil (10 ml), from which the mixture is prepared, after which it is well rubbed. Steam the leg, apply the product and leave for 15 minutes. After the end of the procedure, treat the heels with spermaceti cream.

Trophic ulcers

For the healing of difficult wounds and abscesses are used ointments, balms:

Wax (warm up) mixed with olive oil (1x2). After treating the wound with hydrogen peroxide, apply the remedy. Combine with other drugs.
Wax (30 g) mixed with hemp (300 g) and hard boiled egg yolk. After that, keep in a water bath for 20 minutes.

The use of beeswax in cosmetology

Useful properties of beeswax are used in the production of cosmetics, it is contained in many well-known cosmetic products. From wax it is easy to prepare at home a lot of preparations for skin care, hair, nails according to folk recipes.

For hair

Effective mask for damaged hair:

melt half a glass of wax;
add a glass of olive oil, a tablespoon coconut oil and mix;
cool and drip 10 drops of ylang-ylang oil.

The mixture should be stored in the refrigerator. Warm up before applying to hair. Lubricate the hair, starting from the tips towards the roots. After application, wait 35 minutes and rinse with shampoo.

For facial skin

Beeswax is effective for skin care:

Dry skin. Melt the wax (30 g), add a tablespoon of butter and juice. Stir and apply to the skin (wait 20 minutes);
lips To prepare the balm, add butter and cocoa butter (1x1x2) to the melted wax. After cooling, you can apply. The balm heals cracks on the lips and protects them well.

Youthful skin. Beeswax is good for getting rid of acne and acne vulgaris. The cleansing cream is made from wax (20 g), celandine powder (2 tablespoons), glycerin (1 tablespoon). Blackheads are also removed from the skin of the cheeks and nose by applying a small layer of pure warm wax.