Mon, Apr 17, 2000 page2

• Beekeepers banking on propolis

  NATURAL HEALTH Scientist say that the material secreted by honey bees to shore up their hives has a beneficial effect on humans when consumed or used topically. The industry has high hopes for the substance

  • By Chiu Yu-tzu / STAFF REPORTER
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Honey products, including royal jelly and pollen, have for generations been the mainstay of beekeepers everywhere. In Taiwan recently, however, attention has been focusing on a new bee product called propolis (蜂膠) -- a rising star among a variety of bee products, and believed to possess near-magical medicinal qualities -- which could provide a bright future to Taiwan's declining apiculturalists.

  The material, produced naturally in the hive, has been recognized as a "miracle" medicine by many alternative practitioners and is gaining popularity.

  At the Hungchi Honeybee Ecological Farm (宏基蜜蜂生態農場) in Nantou, Lai Chao-hsien (賴朝賢) -- who has run his honey farm in central Taiwan for three decades -- charges customers NT$3,600 for a 30ml bottle of propolis.

  

  Taiwan's honey bees, like the one above, are now seen as valuable both for their ability to pollinate plants as well as their ability to produce honey, royal jelly and propolis.

  PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MIAOLI DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT STA

  "Although honey and royal jelly are currently the main source of beekeepers' income, most of us have been encouraged by both scientific research and the government's strategies to put propolis at the center of our business," Lai told the Taipei Times.

  According to researchers at the Miaoli District Agricultural Improvement Station (MLDAIS 苗栗區農業改良場) under the Council of Agriculture (COA), propolis is a material produced by bees to maintain the honeycomb and its walls, also protecting them against germs, bacteria and infections.

  Liu Tseng-cheng (劉增城), a researcher at the station, explained the characteristics of propolis using the roots of the word.

  "In Greek, `pro' means being in front of something, and `polis' means cities. So propolis is actually a material placed in front of the beehive for defense," Liu said.

  "Worker honey bees collect bark secretions -- a resin with a sticky characteristic -- from leaves, buds and trunk wounds on trees and shrubs. They mix it with saliva, pollen and beeswax to form propolis, a resinous yellow-brown to dark brown substance," Liu said.

  Why so expensive?

  The price set by Lai is not as high as that of many importers, whose business network spreads outward to China, New Zealand, and even South America.

  In fact, with the current market focusing on alternative trends in medicine, price is not a problem.

  On the global market, the price for propolis extract has stayed high due to its rarity. Scientific studies estimate that a group of 20,000 honey bees produce just 20gm of propolis annually.

  A newcomer to the market, propolis did not attract global attention until 1986, when scientists stated at an apiology convention in Nagoya, Japan that the product was a natural antibiotic material.

  Since then, a stream of scientific research on propolis -- mostly showing its effects on curing certain diseases and fighting infection -- has created a belief that it is a virtual gift from nature.

  Taiwan's Strategies

  "It's worthy to promote propolis products because more and more medicinal effects, such as enhanced immunity and resistance to cancer, have been discovered by scientists," said Wu Teng-chen (吳登楨), head of the silkworm and honey bee division at the station.

  Armed with the results of persuasive scientific research, commercial health food vendors have begun spreading the idea that propolis can be used as a cosmetic due to its ability to cleanse, nourish and protect. They also claim propolis can reduce the chances of cancer by inhibiting cancerous cell mutation, enhancing metabolism and thus prolonging life.

  Because propolis extract can be made for both internal and external medicinal use, researchers have put more emphasis on promoting the material for commercial use.

  "We will make efforts to improve the quality of Taiwan-made propolis to compete with similar products currently available on the global market," said Lin Hsin-shan (林信山), the station's director.

  Beekeepers' Hopes

  In Nantou, Lai expressed the hope that his ecological honey bee farm will benefit from the COA's strategy to promote propolis products.

  "This is a chance for us to recover from the destruction caused by the 921 earthquake," Lai said. His farm was partly damaged by the disaster, causing about NT$1 million in losses.

  Lai is also involved with scientific research programs at two other stations nearby being run by scientists from National Taiwan University.

  "The quality of Taiwan's propolis is definitely much better than that of other countries, because honey bees here collect resin from high-yield trees such as pine, redwood and cypress," Lai said.

  Propolis is usually collected by beekeepers either by scraping the substance from wooden hive parts, or by using specially constructed collection mats.

  The raw product undergoes secondary processing to remove beeswax and other impurities before being used in a variety of natural health care products, such as ointments and drinks.

  "We beekeepers already have the means to produce propolis. All we need now is a comprehensive strategy to mass produce and develop broad marketing strategies," Lai said.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Suppliers to follow TSMC’s US plans but may be years away, Minister says

  • 2

    Fraud fugitive returns to Taiwan after six years on the run

  • 3

    Most Chinese oppose force to unify Taiwan: survey

  • 4

    Memes, social media disinformation fuel support for Burkina junta leader

  • 5

    LA Dodgers beat Braves to secure 7th straight win