Beeswax
OTHER NAME(S): Apis Mel, Apis Mellifica, Bees Wax, Bleached Beeswax, Cera Alba, Cera Flava, Cire d'Abeille, Cire d'Abeille Blanche, Cire d'Abeille Blanchie, Cire d'Abeille Jaune, Cire Blanche, Cire Jaune, White Beeswax, White Wax, Yellow Beeswax, Yellow Wax, Apis cerana, Apis mellifera, Bees Wax, Bee's Wax, Whitewax, Cera de Abejas, Cire D'abeille
Overview
Beeswax is a product made from the honeycomb of the honeybee and other bees. The mixing of pollen oils into honeycomb wax turns the white wax into a yellow or brown color.
Beeswax is used for high cholesterol, pain, fungal skin infections, and other conditions. But there is no good scientific research to support these uses.
Beeswax might help lower cholesterol levels, prevent infections, and help protect the stomach from ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
In foods and beverages, white beeswax and beeswax absolute (yellow beeswax treated with alcohol) are used as stiffening agents.
In manufacturing, yellow and white beeswax are used as thickeners, emulsifiers, and as stiffening agents in cosmetics. Beeswax absolute is used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes. White beeswax and beeswax absolute are also used to polish pills.
Beeswax might help lower cholesterol levels, prevent infections, and help protect the stomach from ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Small tears in the lining of the anus (anal fissures). Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area for 12 hours reduces pain, bleeding, and itching due to anal fissures.
- Burns. Early research shows that applying a gauze with a mixture of beeswax, olive oil, and alkanna to second-degree burns speeds up healing and shortens the time spent in the hospital. Other early research shows that using a particular beeswax cream can decrease itching that occurs when a burn is healing.
- Diaper rash. Early research shows 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. Early research shows 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.
- Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis). Early research shows that applying a mixture of honey, olive oil-propolis extract, and beeswax to mouth sores caused by cancer treatment helps speed up recovery time in people with severe ulcers. But it may not work as well in people with moderate ulcers. Also, applying honey by itself may work better than the beeswax mixture.
- Ringworm (Tinea corporis). Early research shows 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). Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves jock itch.
- A common fungal infection of the skin (Tinea versicolor). Early research shows 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.
- Diarrhea.
- Hiccups.
- High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia).
- Pain.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of beeswax for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Beeswax is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth as food or as a medicine. While rare, some people may have an allergic reaction to beeswax.
When applied to the skin: Beeswax is LIKELY SAFE for most people when applied directly to the skin. While rare, some people may have an allergic skin rash after applying beeswax.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Beeswax is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth as food or as a medicine. While rare, some people may have an allergic reaction to beeswax.
When applied to the skin: Beeswax is LIKELY SAFE for most people when applied directly to the skin. While rare, some people may have an allergic skin rash after applying beeswax.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if beeswax is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Beeswax overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of beeswax depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for beeswax. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Carbajal D, Molina V, Valdes S, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of D-002: an active product isolated from beeswax. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1998;59:235-8.
- Carbajal D, Molina V, Valdes S, et al. Possible cytoprotective mechanism in rats of D-002, an anti-ulcerogenic product isolated from beeswax. J Pharm Pharmacol 1996;48:858-60.
- Carbajal D, Molina V, Valdes S, et al. Anti-ulcer activity of higher primary alcohols of beeswax. J Pharm Pharmacol 1995;47:731-3.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
- Menendez, R., Amor, A. M., Rodeiro, I., Gonzalez, R. M., Gonzalez, P. C., Alfonso, J. L., and Mas, R. Policosanol modulates HMG-CoA reductase activity in cultured fibroblasts. Arch Med Res 2001;32(1):8-12.
- Hargrove, J. L., Greenspan, P., and Hartle, D. K. Nutritional significance and metabolism of very long chain fatty alcohols and acids from dietary waxes. Exp.Biol Med (Maywood.) 2004;229(3):215-226.
- Al-Waili, N. S. Topical application of natural honey, beeswax and olive oil mixture for atopic dermatitis or psoriasis: partially controlled, single-blinded study. Complement Ther Med 2003;11(4):226-234.
- Al-Waili, N. S. An alternative treatment for pityriasis versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea faciei with topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax mixture: an open pilot study. Complement Ther Med 2004;12(1):45-47.
- Al-Waili, N. S. Clinical and mycological benefits of topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax in diaper dermatitis. Clin Microbiol.Infect. 2005;11(2):160-163.
- Al-Waili, N. S. Mixture of honey, beeswax and olive oil inhibits growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Arch Med Res 2005;36(1):10-13.
- Illnait, J., Terry, H., Mas, R., Fernandez, L., and Carbajal, D. Effects of D-002, a product isolated from beeswax, on gastric symptoms of patients with osteoarthritis treated with piroxicam: a pilot study. J Med Food 2005;8(1):63-68.
- Al-Waili, N. S., Saloom, K. S., Al-Waili, T. N., and Al-Waili, A. N. The safety and efficacy of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax for the management of hemorrhoids and anal fissure: a pilot study. ScientificWorldJournal 2006;6:1998-2005.
- Abdulrhman M., El Barbary N. S., Ahmed Amin D., and Saeid Ebrahim R. Honey and a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil-propolis extract in treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a randomized controlled pilot study. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2012;29(3):285-292.
- Fratini F, Cilia G, Turchi B, Felicioli A. Beeswax: A minireview of its antimicrobial activity and its application in medicine. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2016;9(9):839-843.
- Gümüs K, Özlü ZK. The effect of a beeswax, olive oil and Alkanna tinctorial (L.) Tausch mixture on burn injuries: An experimental study with a control group. Complement Ther Med. 2017;34:66-73.
- Lewis PA, Wright K, Webster A, et al. A randomized controlled pilot study comparing aqueous cream with a beeswax and herbal oil cream in the provision of relief from postburn pruritus. J Burn Care Res 2012;33(4):e195-200.
- Nyman GSA, Tang M, Inerot A, Osmancevic A, Malmberg P, Hagvall L. Contact allergy to beeswax and propolis among patients with cheilitis or facial dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2019;81(2):110-6.
- Koukourakis G, Pissakas G, Ganos CG, Sivolapenko G, Kardamakis D. Effectiveness and tolerability of natural herbal formulations in the prevention of radiation-induced skin toxicity in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Int J Low Extrem Wounds 2020:1534734620923912.