Beeswax (cera alba) is a natural wax produced by honeybees of the genus Apis. The wax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which discard it in or at the hive. The hive workers collect and use it to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive. Chemically, beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.
Bees consume about eight times as much honey and fly 150,000 miles to create one pound of beeswax. The mixing of pollen oils into honeycomb wax turns the white wax into a yellow or brown color.
Beeswax is the only naturally occurring wax. Vegetable waxes must be rendered from fruit or leaves like bayberries or candelilla leaves. Other waxes like soy wax or paraffin are produced by a toxic chemical process.
Beeswax has been used since prehistory as the first plastic. It served as a lubricant and waterproofing agent. It is utilized in lost wax casting of metals and glass. It is also a polish for wood and leather. Beeswax is used for making candles and as an ingredient in cosmetics. It is an artistic medium in encaustic painting. Beeswax is edible, having similar negligible toxicity to plant waxes, and is approved for food use in most countries and in the European Union under the E number E901.
Evidence of prehistoric dentistry has been found. It dates back to the Neolithic times. A 6,500-year-old human mandible from Slovenia shows traces of a filling with beeswax on its left canine crown. While we don’t know all the facts, it’s thought that if the filling was done when the person was still alive, the intervention was likely aimed to relieve tooth sensitivity derived from either exposed dentine and/or the pain resulting from chewing on a cracked tooth.
Purified and bleached beeswax is used in the production of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The three main types of beeswax products are yellow, white, and beeswax absolute. Yellow beeswax is the crude product obtained from the honeycomb, white beeswax is bleached or filtered yellow beeswax, and beeswax absolute is yellow beeswax treated with alcohol. In food preparation, it is used as a coating for cheese; by sealing out the air, protection is given against spoilage (mold growth).
Beeswax may also be used as a food additive E901, in small quantities acting as a glazing agent, which serves to prevent water loss, or used to provide surface protection for some fruits. Soft gelatin capsules and tablet coatings may also use E901. Beeswax is also a common ingredient of natural chewing gum. The wax monoesters in beeswax are poorly hydrolyzed in the guts of humans and other mammals, so they have insignificant nutritional value. Some birds, such as honeyguides, can digest beeswax. Beeswax is the main diet of wax moth larvae.
Beeswax Benefits & Uses
Clears Acne: Beeswax is one of the most well-known home remedies for acne. It has strong antiseptic, healing and anti-inflammatory properties, making 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.
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.
Heals Dry, Cracked Lips: The natural moisturizers in beeswax make it the perfect lip balm. If you have cracked or chapped lips, apply beeswax topically. A few other ingredients can also provide some much-needed relief. It’s easy to make your own lip balm. Combine it with coconut oil, honey, and vitamin E oil. Add your favorite essential oils, such as orange, peppermint, lavender, or lemon.
Moisturizes Skin: Beeswax is an amazing way to moisturize the skin. It is commonly found in skin care products and cosmetics. It can help protect and repair rough, dry or chapped skin because it has the ability to lock in moisture. This wax has rich vitamin A content and emollient properties, which soften and rehydrate the skin as well as aiding in the healthy development of cellular reconstruction. Another benefit to its use is that because it is noncomedogenic, it won’t clog pores.
Reduces Stretch Marks: 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 benefit the reduction of 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.
Relieves Pain and Is Anti-Inflammatory: As medicine, beeswax has been studied for relieving pain. It also helps with inflammation and has mild 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.
According to Research Conducted There is Insufficient Evidence for
Small tears in the anus (anal fissures): research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area for 12 hours. This application reduces pain, bleeding, and itching due to anal fissures.
Diaper rash: research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area four times daily for 7 days reduces symptoms of diaper rash.
Hemorrhoids: research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area for 12 hours reduces pain, bleeding, and itching due to hemorrhoids.
Ringworm (tinea corporis): research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves ringworm.
Jock itch (tinea cruris): research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves jock itch.
Fungal skin infection (tinea versicolor): research suggests that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves a fungal skin infection called tinea versicolor.
Side Effects & Safety
Beeswax is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth as food or as a medicine, or when applied directly to the skin. Those with allergies to bees will most likely be allergic to beeswax and honey as well.
