Everything You Need To Know About The Benefits Of Beeswax

Everything You Need To Know About The Benefits Of Beeswax

I not only cringe when I see a bee buzzing by, I freak out and try very hard to not let it near me. The idea of not knowing how being stung feels like or if I’ll go into anaphylactic shock is just an unpleasant thought.

It’s interesting how something that can cause pain and death, could also produce such amazing natural products that help the human body.

We’re all familiar with honey, that sweet and sticky goodness that not only goes well in our drinks and foods, but also contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron, helps heal wounds, nourishes the skin, and many more. It’s no wonder that beeswax is something we have found useful in our everyday lives.

What Is Beeswax?

Beeswax is the wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs. The wax is formed by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, who discard it in or at the hive.

The three major beeswax products are yellow beeswax, white beeswax, and beeswax absolute. Yellow beeswax comes from the honeycomb. White beeswax is made from yellow beeswax by bleaching, and beeswax absolute is made by treating yellow beeswax with alcohol.

You can usually buy it in the form of pellets or pastilles, which have a deep golden color. With an average dimension of three millimeters per pastille, beeswax sometimes has a smoky aroma.

Benefits of Beeswax

1. Treats Diaper Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Eczema

Beeswax is a great choice for many skin conditions. A honey, beeswax and olive oil mixture is useful in the treatment of diaper dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.

A study conducted by the Dubai Specialized Medical Center and Medical Research Labs Islamic Establishment for Education was designed to investigate the effects of these three substances and the mixture on growth of Staphylococcus aureus and candida albicans isolated from human specimens.

The study conducted two experiments: one where a honey mixture was poured on holes made on plates seeded with Staphylococcus aureus or candida and two where the microorganisms were cultured onto media made of the honey mixture alone, nutrient agar-honey mixture and Sabouraud glucose agar-honey mixture.

Ultimately, the study concluded that honey and the honey mixtures could inhibit the growth of bacteria that may affect the skin and cause skin conditions.

2. Moisturizes Skin

Beeswax is a great, natural way to moisturize the skin. It can help protect and repair rough, dry, or chapped skin because it has the ability to lock in moisture.

In the book “How to Use Beeswax and Honey to Cure Skin Problems,” author Gene Ashburner explains that this wax is rich in vitamin A and emollient properties, which soften and rehydrate the skin as well as helping with healthy development of cellular reconstruction.

Another benefit to its use is that because it is comedogenic, it won’t clog pores.

In addition to being a natural moisturizer that treats dry skin, you can use it daily to help prevent dry skin in the first place. Just combine beeswax with almond oil or jojoba oil, a few drops of vitamin E oil and aloe to prepare a homemade remedy for dry skin.

3. Protects the Liver

In 2013, the Korean Journal of Internal Medicine published a study that investigated the alcohols found in honeycomb and if their antioxidant effects helped protect the liver.

Researchers conducted the study using a mixture of beeswax alcohol to evaluate the safety and effectiveness in people with fatty liver disease. The study was conducted for a period of 24 weeks, finding that it helped normalize liver function and improve symptoms of fatty liver.

4. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Research reports that very long-chain fatty alcohols obtained from plant waxes lower cholesterol in humans.

The nutritional or regulatory effects produced by wax esters or aliphatic acids and alcohols found in unrefined cereal grains, beeswax, and many plant-derived foods lower low-density lipoprotein (“bad”) cholesterol by 21 percent to 29 percent and raise high-density lipoprotein (“good”) cholesterol by 8 percent to 15 percent.

5. Relieves Pain and Is Anti-Inflammatory

Beeswax relieves pain and inflammation and has anti-swelling effects. A 2014 study published in the Korean Journal of Internal Medicine reports that it was used to helped relieve inflammation caused by osteoarthritis.

All randomized patients completed the study, and 23 experienced a reduction in pain, joint stiffness, and physical function. These reductions were significant beginning in the second week and became enhanced during the trial.

6. Reduces Stretch Marks

Stretch marks can be embarrassing and prevent you from wearing some of your favorite summer clothes. With the ability to protect the skin and retain water, beeswax can have positive effects on those unsightly marks.

A study conducted by the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Korea reports that stretch marks are dermal atrophic scars with epidermal thinning due to decreased collagen and elastic fiber.

The study suggests that collagen is a major extracellular matrix component that’s very important in wound healing. Since beeswax contains vitamin A, which is helpful in collagen production, it can greatly help with reducing stretch marks.

By combining beeswax, royal jelly, shea or cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil, you have a natural remedy for preventing and treating stretch marks while helping improve collagen levels simultaneously.

7. Clears Acne

Beeswax is one of the most well-known home remedies for acne. It has strong antiseptic, healing and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it effective in the treatment of acne, in particular, because it contains vitamin A.

It’s also an excellent skin softener and emollient that helps maintain a smooth skin texture after acne elimination. The combination of skin care applications, a healthy diet, and daily exercise is the best way to control and prevent acne.

8. Heals Dry, Cracked Lips

The natural moisturizers in beeswax make it the perfect lip balm. If you suffer from cracked or chapped lips, topical applications of beeswax and a few other ingredients can provide some much-needed relief.

It’s easy to make your own lip balm by combining it with coconut oil, honey, and vitamin E oil. Don’t forget your favorite essential oils, such as orange, peppermint, lavender or lemon.

9. Treats Jock Itch and Fungal Skin Infections

The itchiness and discomfort that comes with jock itch and fungal skin infections are definitely annoying. Beeswax is an anti-inflammatory that reduces the pain associated with jock itch and fungal skin infections while moisturizing.

Early research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for four weeks can help improve jock itch and fungal skin infections greatly.

10. Relieves Stress and Promotes Relaxation

It’s common to think of beeswax candles when you think of beeswax. This is a good thing since candles made from paraffin can endanger your health and that of your family due to the soot from paraffin wax that can be inhaled.

Also, it can cause significant damage to the inside of your house, such as your computers, electrical appliances, and ductwork.

Instead, opt for these natural candles, which work well as stress relievers. If making your own candles, you want to check labels to make sure you get organic beeswax since it’s free of toxins.

If you’re buying already-made beeswax candles, choosing 100 percent beeswax candles with cotton wicks is definitely the best choice.

Things You Can Make With Beeswax

There are a handful of surprising goods you can make from beeswax. Here are some:

Lip Balm

If you’ve never tried beeswax lip balm, you really don’t know what you’re missing. Burt’s Bees lip balm is one of my favorite products. They don’t dry out my lips ever, and they actually make me feel like it’s effective, unlike other lip balms. One of the biggest problems with petroleum-based balms is that they taste terrible.

Another is the fact that they don’t soak into your skin so you’re constantly having to reapply. Beeswax lip balm eliminates both of these issues. It tastes good (or at least not bad), sticks to your skin like tree sap, and is resistant to human saliva. In other words, you won’t have to reapply it every time you lick your lips.

  • Anti-itch cream
  • Furniture Polish
  • Moisturizing body bar
  • Envelope Sealant
  • Non-toxic crayons
  • Iron cleaners
  • Natural makeup

Let us know how you have used beeswax and what benefits you’ve reaped from them!

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