Beeswax

About Beeswax Beeswax is the material used by honeybees in the construction on their combs. Normally beeswax is produced by young worker bees between 12-17 days old in the form of thin scales secreted by glands on the ventral surface of the abdomen. However some older bees can produce wax, dependant upon the state of their wax gland development. During the winter for example, physiological growth maybe considerably retarded so that the glands develop slowly or not at all. The wax scales are scrapped off by one of the hind legs and moved to the first pair of legs (forelegs). A foreleg transfers the scale to the mandibles where it is masticated and then applied to the comb. It is estimated that bees must consume 6-8 pounds of honey to produce one pound of beeswax. Pure beeswax, normally is in pale yellow color, is sometimes nearly white and the different in color is depend to pollen consumed by the bees. The beeswax have very stable property. Its chemical characteristic keeps unchanged even long time replacement, it is resistant to hydrolysis and nature oxidization and is completely insoluble in water, less digestive acids or juices can dissolve of it except larvae of wax moth. Being a nature lipid that contains in various of hydrocarbons, acids or hydroxyl-acids, alcohols and pigment which comes from pollen and propolis, its stable property is very welcome. The uses of beeswax are many. Some major uses of beeswax are cosmetics and candle making. Some minor uses are lotions, cold creams, ointments, salves, lipsticks, rouges, coatings for electrical apparatus, floor and furniture polishes, leather polishes, art and craft items, crayons, inks. Besides this external use, beeswax also offers many medical benefit as below : Helps in swelling and infected wounds speedy. Helps to reduce infections and diseases. Helps in treatment of cancer. Helps to increase sexual desire and performance.