Bee Healthy

The benefits of bee products are hardly a secret. Beeswax, royal jelly, and of course honey have all been used by us for centuries.

Propolis is possibly the least known of all bee products but it is without doubt the most beneficial for human health.

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees which they make using exudate and resins collected from leaf and flower buds and cracks in the bark of trees.

Worker bees transport these resins to their hive by carrying them in their corbicula (the pollen basket on their hind legs) and then mix them with wax and saliva to produce a sticky, tar like substance called crude propolis. Bees use propolis as a sterile protective envelope around their hive. This powerful antimicrobial substance is spread around the hive entrance and in the egg chambers. It’s also used as an insulating material, to fill cracks and holes in the hive.

A Healthy Hive Culture

The antibacterial properties of crude propolis serve the purpose of keeping a low level of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi in the hive, thus preventing disease and infestation by parasites and protecting the colony and its larvae from harm.



Propolis has a wide range of biological activities, and for this reason, it has been used as a traditional natural remedy since ancient times. It is believed that the use of propolis extends back to ancient Egypt, where propolis was used in the embalming process, and Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, is thought to have used propolis to help heal wounds and ulcers.

Sustainably sourced in Canada only from trusted Manitoban Beekeepers.

The only way to guarantee that propolis is entirely consistent is to source it from a single region. We work in exclusive partnerships with trusted Manitoban beekeepers who collect excess propolis entirely sustainably from beehives during honey extraction, without causing any harm to the bees.

Our refined propolis extracts are completely unique due to the presence of two types of poplar trees which only grow in abundance within the central region of Canada. These poplars grow below the ice shelf across Manitoba and stretch into Saskatchewan and Ontario. The exudate from the leaf buds of these poplar trees contains a unique sub-set of flavonoids called dihydrochalcones.

The finest propolis with unique characteristics

Propolis varies greatly from region to region around the world and is quantitively and qualitatively variable depending upon where the bees make it. Its biological composition and attributes are entirely determined by the flora present within the immediate vicinity of the bees.

Propolis from other regions of the world is chemically different to ours and exhibits markedly different properties. Even propolis from neighbouring Alberta and Quebec in Canada exhibits slightly different attributes.

Propolis is widely recognised as being a powerful antimicrobial substance and a rich source of bioflavonoids. As a dietary supplement, our propolis can help support your immune system and as an ingredient in our cough and cold mixtures will help to ease sore throats and tickly coughs.

Above all our propolis extracts are refined to cGMP standards following the strictest criteria for quality and consistency, thus ensuring only the finest ingredients are used in our products.

Our CEO is also a beekeeper and works closely with our beekeeping partners.

Video Gallery

Dr Sosnowski’s propolis
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Our CEO talks about propolis and Dr Sosnowski
Propolis inside the hive
Our propolis is all traced to source
Aqueous versus Ethanolic Propolis extract

Independently Tested

We produce three different grades of purified propolis extract.

All are independently laboratory tested and verified as being free from pesticides, heavy metals and other potentially harmful parabens and each batch is completely traceable back to the beekeeper from whose hives the propolis emanated.

Our propolis extracts are used as natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives in cosmetics, OTC drugs and medical devices. We manufacture a food grade extract for use in supplements and probiotics and our highest grade propolis is used in natural health products.

Dr. Zenon Sosnowski MSc, PhD

Polish-born medical researcher Dr. Zenon Sosnowski MSc, PhD realised that the antimicrobial and medicinal properties that helped bees protect their hive had a larger role to play in human medicine, and through decades of research he developed the techniques we continue to use today to purify the crude material into the various grades of refined extract we use in our products.

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Meet the team

Teresa-El-Giadaa

Teresa is our propolis refinery manager and working to cGMP standards has overall responsibility for production of our unique purified propolis extracts.

Genowefa Sosnowski

Gene has worked in the propolis refining business for the last forty years and is probably the world’s leading expert in propolis extraction. Along with her late husband, Dr Zenon Sosnowski, Gene pioneered development of the purification process which we still use today. With her decades of experience, Gene provides ongoing consultancy to the refinery business.

Monica Kowalik

Based at our Propolis Refinery in Winnipeg, Monica is responsible for logistics and is assistant to our refinery manager.

Kevin Aspinall Nessling

Kevin is the founder and group CEO of Bioactive Pharma. He keeps bees at home and is passionate about bee ecology, natural health and wellness.

James Booker

James heads-up relationship management with pharmacy and retail grocery chains across the USA. James has a comprehensive background in sales and business development and a proven track record in channel development.