Beeswax is a natural substance derived from the pollination activities of honeybees. When cold, the wax is breakable, and when heated, becomes pliable. Beeswax, which consists mainly of fatty acids, hydrocarbons, as well as esters, is used by honeybees to construct honeycombs. Historically, beeswax has found many applications ranging from culinary, aromatherapy, and cosmetics, to medicine. Evidence of beeswax applications dates to prehistoric times. According to the American Bee Journal, one of the earliest pieces of evidence of beeswax use can be traced to Neolithic pottery-making cultures in Anatolia during the seventh millennium BCE, a timeframe corresponding to the years 7000 BCE to 6001 BCE. Evidence of beeswax use, dating to more than 2000 years ago, has also emerged in Asia. The Shennong Book of Herbs, one of China’s three foundational books of Chinese medicine, documented the positive benefits of beeswax on the circulatory system, energy levels, as well as wound healing. The book also detailed the anti-aging properties of beeswax on the skin during that time.
Natural Beeswax can be categorized into 3 types: Yellow, White, and Absolute. The first type, Yellow beeswax, is the raw, unrefined, natural, wax that comes directly from the honeycomb. The second type, White beeswax, is derived from the purification of Yellow beeswax. Cosmetic formulations, culinary uses, and pharmaceutical product development, such as ointments, soft-gel capsules, and coatings for medicinal tablets, utilize the White type of beeswax. The third kind, which is, beeswax Absolute, is a derivative of Yellow beeswax treated with a mixture of Alcohol.
The next blogs in this series will explore the environmental sustainability of beeswax, as well as the beneficial aspects of its use.
As always, Tega Joy welcomes your comments or questions.
E. Oduaran
Tega Joy, INC
Griffin, GA