See also our pregnenolone Topic . Propolis is a truly remarkable substance. It is the sticky substance that covers the young buds on trees, combined with bee secretions. It has been found to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity, and even enhances the immune response. It has very powerful anesthetic properties which are superior to cocaine, without side effects.
Bees gather the substance and use it to maintain a sterile environment in the hive.
Propolis is available in tablets, capsules, extracts, creams, and raw - straight from the bee hive. Pycnogenol is the trade name of a patented extract from pine bark. Pycnogenol is also commonly used to refer to an extract from grape seeds, which contain the same active ingredients, a type of bioflavonoid called proanthocyanidins. Pycnogenol also repairs damaged collagen and protects it against further attack by free radicals and collagen-degrading enzymes, the elastases and collagenases, by binding to collagen fibers and realigning them in a less damaged form. This protective action helps to prevent the early facial wrinkles caused by skin inelasticity, keeping the skin smooth and elastic.