I’m talking placenta encapsulation here, and love it or loathe it, it’s on the rise. Ingesting human placentae is nothing new. It’s been a part of Chinese traditional medicine for centuries. Lately in the west, people have also turned to placentophagy for its possible health benefits after giving birth. One of the most popular and headline-grabbing ways to do so is through placenta encapsulation.
This trend in afterbirth chomping isn’t the first in recent years. Celebrities have been hitting the headlines for slurping it down smoothies, whipping it up in omelettes and even taking chunks out of it raw. Placenta encapsulation’s a bit different in that should you choose to try it, you won’t be confronted with your actual afterbirth. Instead, the placenta is processed into a capsule form, to be taken like any other supplement or medicine.
Giving Birth to a Big Bonus
So why do it? It seems crazy, but many parents are talking about the enormous benefits of ingesting placenta. See below for some reasons to grab a slice of uterine cake.
Placenta Problems
Plenty of people find the idea of eating human placenta just plain icky. However, there are other more legitimate concerns to take into account when considering ingesting afterbirth.
The Placenta: Feast or Famine?
In the end, it’s not clear whether tucking into your placenta is a good or bad idea. While many women- and some men- swear to its healthful properties, there simply isn’t a great deal of evidence either way. It certainly doesn’t seem to be a decision to be made lightly. As always, it pays to weigh up all the options and examine not only the information on offer but the sources too. If you’re going to be giving birth in the near future and you’re curious about potential risks and benefits of placentophagy, consulting a physician might be the best first step.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a medical authority. Any medical questions should be directed to a qualified professional.