Bees are unique insects that produce a wide range of foods with valuable properties. One of these is beeswax, which is rightfully considered a remedy in the fight against many diseases. How bees make wax, the beneficial properties of the product, how this natural component affects the human body and how to make it, will be discussed in this article.

Beeswax: what is it

Beekeeping products have a complex biochemical composition. The wax produced by bees is a unique product. Where do bees get wax from? This substance accumulates on the belly of insects. Outwardly, the wax looks like a white plate. It is mainly formed by young bees. Insects need foundation to strengthen the nest walls and build honeycombs. In early spring, the wax is white, and by the cold it acquires a yellow and sometimes dark brown hue. This aspect directly depends on the physiology of the bees.

Bee foundation

Beeswax is obtained during the work in the apiary, which is associated with:

  • trimming waxes;
  • mechanically damaged honeycombs;
  • backing (blockages on the honeycomb, which must be cleaned before pumping out the honey);
  • residual elements after using honeycomb product.

Today, wax can be obtained by melting the product. There are 4 main methods:

  • dry,
  • water,
  • steam,
  • extractive.

Regardless of how the foundation is melted, it does not lose its medicinal qualities.

Natural foundation

Composition and description of elements

Wax is a complex product. It contains a large number of compounds and more than 50 different components, namely:

  • 75% esters;
  • 15% free fatty acids;
  • about 2% water;
  • more than 2% vitamins, minerals and carotenoids;
  • 1.5-2% propolis and remnants of larvae.
Beeswax - application

The percentage shown is subject to change. This parameter strictly depends on the season, the species of insects, and the habitat of bees.

Additional Information! Since esters predominate in the foundation, this allows the product not to change its structure for a long time and not to lose its useful qualities.

The healing properties of the substance

Bee venom

Beeswax is marketed as a panacea for all diseases. However, you need to have common sense and realize that this product is relevant for the prevention and treatment of mild forms of diseases. In ancient times, wax was used instead of a toothbrush and paste, because it is elastic and easy to chew. It really freshens breath and soothes gum disease. Zabrus is used to treat mucous membranes of the mouth (it is relevant for stomatitis, toothaches, sore gums).

Also, foundation is used to treat ENT diseases (pharyngitis, tonsillitis). After chewing the product, you do not need to spit it out, as it acts on the body as a sorbent, removing toxins and purifying the blood.

How else is wax used:

  • External ointments for the treatment of skin defects (rash, boils, calluses, wounds, etc.).
  • Internally. The presented substance actively affects the work of the digestive tract, improving intestinal peristalsis. Foundation has antibacterial properties, which allows you to cleanse the intestines and normalize microflora.

Many beekeepers claim that wax allows you to say goodbye to even such a bad habit as smoking. To do this, chew the foundation every hour every hour for two weeks or longer.

The product itself has been little studied by scientists. All the recipes that consumers use come from great-grandfathers, but they have no scientific basis.

Apiary foundation

Where do bees get their honeycomb wax?

Bee podmore

Bees produce a substance from the pollen contained in the nectar. Found that foundation is produced by worker bees (5-12 day old bees). The substance is deposited in special wax glands of the insect. Beekeepers clearly see the discharge of whitish plates on the abdomen of insects. On average, one such plate weighs from 0.15 to 0.25 mg.

Additional Information! There are more than 4 million plates in 1 kg of foundation. To develop such a volume, insects need to consume about 4 kg of honey and a couple of honeycombs with bee bread.

The bees fill the honeycomb with wax and form a strong base for the honey. The intensity of production largely depends on the breed of insects. So, for example, karnika slightly rebuilds the honeycomb, even with a good bribe. The beekeeper must know how the foundation spreads through the honeycomb, if only in order to take care of the storage of the frames.

How foundation is made

Beeswax is divided into several groups:

  • Apiary. It is considered the most useful and curative for humans.
  • Extraction and production (it is used in industrial areas).

Beekeepers after work in the apiary independently reheat and make foundation. It is this product that has special value as a medicine.

How foundation is made

How to heat natural white foundation from old frames

Beekeeping wax should be melted using wax pots. There are four ways to process beeswax:

  • The melt is dry. In this case, a solar wax melter is used. The presented method allows you to get the highest quality and purest product. After processing, about 70% of the substance is retained.
  • Steam furnace. It is made using steam wax pans of various configurations. Hot steam pours hot condensate over the raw material, thereby melting the wax. After processing, 60% of the foundation remains.
  • The furnace is water. This method involves the heating of raw materials in a volume of water by means of boiling. Most of the wax floats to the surface. By the way, this method is still relevant in many small apiaries. In the production line, it is subsequently pressed.
  • Extraction. It is produced by various methods: hot alcohol, gasoline, nefras, etc. Soaking of the factory mortar takes place in a solvent. The product is evaporated under the conditions of the filtered extract.

To dissolve white wax from old frames, you need to make several manipulations:

  1. Trim the honeycomb around the frame.
  2. Pull the wire out of the frame.
  3. Immerse honeycomb trimmings in the water. The melting point of beeswax is 45-65 ° C.
  4. Let it melt until all particles are completely dissolved.
  5. After boiling, take out the melted merv and place in bags.
  6. Place the bags under the press, squeeze out the remaining liquid and put the wax to dry.

Any iron container is suitable for such a procedure. This parameter depends on the volume of the original raw material.

Garden pitch based on bee wax

How to cleanse beeswax at home

You can clean the wax product using the following methods:

  • Filtration. Refers to the physical way. Liquid wax is sifted through filters (gauze, colander). However, in this case, only large contaminants are filtered out, so you should immediately go to the second method.
  • Defending. Used when the foundation is formed into an ingot. In this case, it is necessary to melt the wax in water and keep it in this state. All impurities will remain at the bottom of the dish. Later you need to remove the ingot and clean the bottom of the accumulated dirt.
  • Sulphuric acid. Despite the fact that the wax already looks good, it is still not “marketable”. In this case, it is important to use sulfuric acid.To do this, add a little acid to the melted mass. Enough 10-30 ml of sulfur per 10 kg. After cleaning, the foundation will take on a lighter shade.
  • Adsorbents. Often, 4-10% of the total volume of activated carbon is added to the molten mass. After processing, the wax is filtered.

After proper cleaning, the foundation must meet the following parameters:

  • Smell - a yellow product should have a propolis scent, a white one should not.
  • Color - various, from white to dark brown (depending on the type of raw material).
  • The structure is even, smooth, without impurities.
  • Taste - a properly made product does not stick to the teeth when consumed.

How to make the foundation elastic

In order for the wax to acquire an elastic appearance, it is necessary to melt it a little. Both a microwave oven and a water bath are suitable for these purposes. From such a product, you can make various cosmetics, as well as medicinal tinctures, ointments.

Note! The wax becomes pliable and soft, even if you just squeeze it with your palms.

Shelf life

The wax can be stored for a long time without losing its useful properties. If the substance is stored correctly, it will not lose its taste, color or smell. It is noted that wax does not lose its characteristics for 3-4 years (density, color, appearance), in some cases this figure is higher. However, beekeepers note that wax has no shelf life as such, but stipulate that for medicinal purposes it is better to use wax up to 3 years.

Additional Information! If a white coating appears on the wax, you can get rid of it by exposing the product to the sun. It is also possible to lighten the product with acids, but this manipulation will affect the quality of the wax.

No special storage conditions are required. The main rule is that the wax does not combine with other food products and does not absorb foreign odors. The same cannot be said about old honeycombs. If the wax is not melted in time, it will be destroyed in a short time by the wax moth.

Beeswax is a unique natural product that is widely used in folk medicine and cosmetology; it can be stored for a long time without losing its properties. To understand the value of a product, you need to know how bees make it, what post-processing is needed and where it is used.