Research

Placentophagy Survey (Selander, Cantor, Young and Benyshek 2013): A Survey of Self-Reported Motivations and Experiences Associated with Placenta Consumption

In Search of Placentophagy Young and Benyshek 2010

Human placenta as a ‘dual’ biomarker for monitoring fetal and maternal environment with special reference to potentially toxic trace elements.
Part 3: Toxic trace elements in placenta and placenta as a biomarker for these elements G.V. Iyengar A. Rapp. 

Wound Healing Activity of Human Placental Extract in Rats
Acta Pharmacol Sin, 22nd December 2001 – Finding: human placental extract has potent power of inducing collagenous growth indicating its proficiency in wound healing.

Placentophagia: A Biobehavioral Enigma
(or De gustibus non disputandum est) Mark B. Kristal – Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14226 Received 2nd February 1980.

Highlights

“It has been shown that the feeding of desiccated placenta to women during the first eleven days after parturition causes an increase in the protein and lactose of the milk… All the mothers were receiving the same diet, and to the second set 0.6mg of desiccated placenta was fed three times a day throughout the period. Certain definite difference in the progress of growth of the two sets of infants are to be observed. It is evident that the recovery from the postnatal decline in weight is hastened by the consumption of milk produced under the influence of maternally ingested placenta.” McNeile, Lyle G. 1918 The American Journal of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children. 77. W.A. Townsend & Adams. original press: University of Michigan.

“Powdered Placenta Hominis was used for 57 cases of insufficient lactation. Within 4 days 48 women had markedly increased milk production, with the remainder following suit over the next three days.” Bensky. Gamble. 1997. Materia Medica. Eastland Press. 549.

“All patients were given desiccated placenta prepared as previously described (C.A. II, 2492) in doses of 10 grains in a capsule 3 times a day. Only those mothers were chosen for the study whose parturition was normal and only the weights of those infants were recorded whose sole source of nourishment was mothers milk. The growth of 177 infants was studied. The rate of growth is increased by the ingestion of placenta by the mother… the maternal ingestion of dried placenta tissue so stimulates the tissues of the infants feeding on the milk produced during this time, that unit weight is able to add on greater increments of matter, from day to day, than can unit weight of infants feeding on milk from mothers not ingesting this substance.” Hammett, Frederick. S. 1918. The Journal of Biological Chemisty. 36. American Society of Biological Chemists. Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. Original press: Harvard University.

” Giving…placenta to a new mother following birth has become standard protocol among a growing number of midwives in the United States. By nourishing the blood and fluids, endocrine glands and organs, placenta will… reduce or stop postpartum bleeding, speed up recovery, boost energy and relieve postpartum blues.” Homes. Peter. 1993. Jade Remedies. Snow Lotus Press. 352.

Articles

Does eating placenta offer postpartum benefits? The British Journal of Midwives July 2012 by Michelle Beacock – Student Midwife, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire and NCT Antenatal Teacher.

Fire Hypothesis Young, Benyshek and Lienard 2012

Stem Cells from Placenta show potential in treating Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and More By Neal Ungerleider March 2011.

Hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone suppression during the postpartum period: implications for the increase in psychiatric manifestations at this time Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 81, 1912-1917, Copyright © 1996 by Endocrine Society. Study shows low CRH Hormone levels post-birth – CRH (stress reducer hormone – found in high levels in the placenta).

The Impact of Fatigue on the Development of Postpartum Depression Elizabeth J. Corwin, Jean Brownstead, Nichole Barton, Starlet Heckard, and Karen Morin.