Farm-time Fridays: Mind Your Beeswax!

Beeswax is an All Natural Ingredient
by
Janet Poston

Here on our farm we have our own bee hives.  Bees are indeed very unique insects.  Each hive contains one queen bee and hundreds of worker bees.  I would like to give you a glimpse of why SoJoy's whipped body butter and lip balm contains beeswax (aside from being an all natural emulsifier) but first a little segment on how beeswax is made. 

Some of our beehives.  Photo by Jena Sanders.

Production of Beeswax

Bees are busy and efficient workers.  They are responsible for the production of beeswax to create or repair their honeycomb.  Bees feed on nectar then convert it into honey.  Worker bees consume honey.  The youngest bees cluster in large numbers to raise their body temperature. Wax producing glands under their abdomen slowly secrete slivers of wax about the size of a pinhead.  Other worker bees collect these wax scales and take them to the part of the hive requiring the new wax. Bees then chew the wax, and the secretion from this process makes it soft.   The colors of the wax change (including white, yellow, orange, red and brown).  Bees use about six pounds of honey to produce one pound of wax.  Beeswax is just one of the fruits of their labor from which we benefit.

I heart Beeswax.  photo by Jena.

Benefits of Beeswax

Skin Softner --  Beeswax (containing vitamin A) is beneficial in soothing, softening, and rehydrating dry skin and in cell reconstruction.
Protector  -- Beeswax when blended into body butter and lip balms, forms a protective barrier on the surface of the skin. This barrier provides a film of protection against irritants while still allowing the skin to breathe. 
Skin Healer  --  Beeswax offers anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial benefits.  Beeswax inhibits the growth of the bacteria and fungus, making beeswax beneficial in the treatment of diaper rash and other bacterial skin conditions.

  {fun fact: Did you know Romans used honey instead of gold to pay their taxes?}

**Disclaimer:  The information contained in this article is intended to provide helpful and healthful advice from traditional, home-health & well-being practitioners (Not medical doctors) and should not be construed as medical advice.  Please consult your primary health physician if you have or may have any pre-existing medical conditions.