NEW PRODUCTS!

Fruit of Life Placenta Services is now offering salves!

PLACENTA SALVE
Many skin care products on the market these days contain proteins from various animal placentas (mostly cow and sheep) because the placenta contains many properties that are beneficial to the skin.  Some of those beneficial properties include:

*Progesterone: inhibits the breakdown of collagen (the cause of wrinkles).  Progesterone also stimulates the production of relaxin.
*Relaxin is a hormone that strengthens the skin, bones, and ligaments.
*Estrogen: builds collagen
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) & Cortisol: helps to heal infected skin

A placenta salve can be really beneficial in treating diaper rashes, eczema, or dry, itchy skin.  The salve is made using a mixture of coconut and olive oil, beeswax, tea tree oil, and placenta.

WOUND HEALING SALVE
Whether a woman delivers vaginally or by cesarean, she will most likely have a sore area that could benefit from this salve.  During a vaginal birth, the perineum is stretched - sometimes to the point of tearing - and can be sore after giving birth.  This salve contains comfrey, an herb that stimulates wound healing and encourages new skin and cell growth.  Comfrey has been used for centuries to treat sores, bruises, and even broken bones.  It is also great to apply to the incision site after a c-section to strengthen the healing.  The salve is made using a mixture of coconut and olive oil, beeswax, comfrey, and arnica flowers.

Depression Prevention

The use of the placenta during the postpartum period to prevent depression can be invaluable.  But in addition to placenta supplementation there are several other steps you can take to help prevent or even treat postpartum depression.

Over two thousand years ago, Hippocrates said "All diseases begin in the gut" and more and more research is being done that proves that he was correct.  So when treating any disease, including depression, the best place to start is in the gut.

*BACTERIA*
The gut is home to between 500 and 1,000 species of bacteria.  The human body contains about 10 trillion cells, but the human gut contains about 10 times as many micro organisms in the intestines.  That's a lot of bacteria!!  And this bacterium is responsible for many bodily functions.  As it turns out over 90% of the serotonin in the body is produced in the gut. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for producing feelings of relaxation and a positive mood.  It is also responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite.  Doctors started using SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – normally prescribed to patients for the treatment of depression) to treat IBS in patients because they noticed that it was alleviating IBS in patients prescribed the medication for depression.  An interesting correlation for sure!

Certain bacteria in the gut have even been shown to increase GABA receptors in the brain.

What is a GABA receptor?

To give an example, when you drink alcohol, many people get a "feel good" or a "buzz" because alcohol (as well as benzodiazepines and barbiturates) increases GABA receptors in the brain.  The more GABA receptors in the gut the better, because that means there are more GABA receptors being put to use in the brain (although alcohol is not a long term solution to creating more GABA receptors).  So how does a person get their gut to produce more GABA receptors naturally and increase their serotonin production!?

Supplement with bacteria!  Bacteria influences communication between the gut and the brain so a high supply of good bacteria is absolutely essential!  Good sources of bacteria include high quality yogurt, kefir, water kefir, kombucha, fermented foods, and probiotic supplements.  Among its many other benefits, probiotics also help absorb nutrients out of the food that we eat which helps with other nutritional deficiencies that may also cause mood disorders.  A good reference book that includes recipes to make kombucha, kefir and fermented foods is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.  There are also several great blogs that have information and recipes including www.cheeseslave.com, www.mommypotamus.com, www.nourishedkitchen.com and www.wellnessmama.com. 

*NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES*
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to depression, heart disease, insomnia, osteoporosis and cancer.  Vitamin D can be obtained from just a few minutes in the sun each day (between 10 – 20 minutes).  In the winter it can be more difficult (and in some places impossible) to obtain vitamin D so it’s good to stock up in the summer (…winter blues anyone..?!).  Some good food sources of vitamin D to add to your diet in the winter months include lard made from pastured pigs, fermented cod liver oil and high quality eggs.
Omega 3 fatty acids are a great way to increase serotonin production naturally.  Studies have shown a correlation between low fatty acid intake and depression.  Countries that have a high dietary intake of omega 3’s can have a 10 times lower rate of depression!  Good sources of omega 3’s are wild caught fish such as salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, cod liver oil and flax seeds.
Magnesium is a truly miraculous mineral!  Magnesium deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from depression to heart palpitations.  A great book about magnesium is The Magnesium Miracle by Dr. Carolyn Dean.  Good food sources of magnesium are spirulina, seeds, nuts and whole grains.
B Vitamins are essential to our emotional and physical health.  Although most Americans consume plenty of B vitamins, they are destroyed by alcohol, sugar, nicotine and caffeine so many of us are at risk for deficiencies.  Good sources of B vitamins are eggs, fish, beef, and leafy green vegetables.
Iron deficiency is becoming more common as our soil and food sources are depleted.  While iron deficiency in and of itself does not “cause depression” it is very closely linked with fatigue.  Fatigue is the number one predictor of postpartum depression so ensuring that a woman’s iron stores are adequate is very important during pregnancy and the postpartum period.  Iron rich foods include organ meats, red meat, blackstrap molasses, dried apricots, dark chocolate and green vegetables.

*EXERCISE*
A great way to boost your immune system, mood, circulation, and overall health is exercise!  Even getting out and going for a walk for 30 minutes a day can give noticeable benefits!  Exercise releases neurotransmitters and endorphins which is why people feel good after a workout and can become “addicted to the gym.”  Depression caused by devastating circumstances can also be helped by using exercise as a healthy coping mechanism.  Exercise can also help a person gain confidence!

Is Placentophagy Cannibalism? Is it Immoral?

I am often asked what I think about the relation of  placenta encapsulation to cannibalism.  Is ingesting the placenta considered cannibalism?  And if so, does that make it immoral?

As a Christian, I know that one of the things I thought about when it came to ingesting my placenta was "I wonder what God has to say about this?"

By definition, cannibalism is "the act or practice of a human eating his own flesh or the flesh of another human."  In the case of placentophagy, it would be more appropriate to classify the placenta as part of the baby since it has the baby's DNA, not the mothers.  So is this a cannibalistic act?

I say most definitely not.  The placenta is an organ - not flesh - and neither is it of any use to the baby or to the mother any longer - even though it is human tissue.

Another placenta encapsulation specialist that's part of the PBi team shared this excerpt off a Catholic forum that was discussing what the Church's position on placentophagy is.  I thought it was excellently put and wanted to share it!

Here it is:

"My argument on placentophagia is far from being complete, but I thought I would share my thoughts so far. I have perused the Catechism of the Catholic church looking for the teaching on cannibalism and found nothing. I would like to know if anyone is aware of an official source approved by the Church regarding the morality of cannibalism. Not that I need it proven to me that cannibalism is immoral, but because I would like to see and understand the principles of the argument, to see if the same may be applied to placentophagia.  In my perusal of the Catechism, I read through the article on the  5^th commandment, Thou shalt not kill, because I thought that any mention of cannibalism would come under that category. In my reading I saw that all the sins listed against this commandment (murder, suicide, abortion, euthanasia, unjust anger, hatred, vengeance�) have this in common – they entail a fundamental disrespect for the sacredness of human life, even those sins that don't even involve killing (hatred, anger etc.). It seems to me that cannibalism, the way we generally think of it, ie. killing people for the sake of eating them, is wrong for this same reason – fundamental disrespect for human life. Human personhood, which is a reflection of God, is violated.

Cannibalism can be divided into two categories - (a) killing a person in order to eat their flesh and (b) eating the flesh of a person who has died on their own. Let us consider (b) in which the person is not maliciously killed, as this more closely pertains to placentophagia. There was the case of the soccer team that crashed in the Andes mountains. The survivors ate the flesh of those who had died either in the crash or b/c of freezing to death. There was no malicious intention, in fact their intention was the preservation of their own lives, which is a moral good. However, since the morality of a human act depends upon three factors: the object (act itself), the intention, and the circumstances (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, line 1755), we cannot say that their cannibalism was perfectly okay.  Their intention may have been good, and their circumstances were indeed mitigating, but the intrinsic evil of consuming dead human flesh remains unchanged. The personhood of those who had died was in some way violated because their bodies were not properly respected. We cannot judge the souls of those who ate the flesh, but we can say that the act itself was wrong, even though the circumstances were mitigating.

Let us assume that placentophagia is an instance of the latter kind of cannibalism in which human flesh is eaten but there is no homicide. Let us consider the three factors that will determine the morality or immorality of placenta consumption. First, the object, or act itself, which is consumption of the placenta by the mother of a newborn child. The death of the child is not a necessary component of this act, either by the mother's hand or natural causes. The organ, which was once vital to the child during gestation, has outgrown its usefulness and is discarded by the child's body and then the mother's body. It is no longer part of either human body and therefore cannot be said to be the flesh of a person, although it was human in origin. The placenta is not the flesh of a dead person, and  therefore its consumption cannot be called cannibalistic. Placentophagia in no way violates the personhood of a human being made in the image and likeness of God. This makes the object of placenta consumption morally indifferent, and not morally evil.

Proceeding then with the knowledge that the act is morally indifferent, let us examine the other two conditions to see if they contribute to the moral goodness or evil of placentophagia.  The intention of the human mother in consuming the placenta is to regain her own health.   She takes it as a kind of natural medicine to help her heal from childbirth. The placenta provides her with proteins, vitamins, minerals and hormones that ease her post partum period. Benefits to the mother include decreasing the risk of post partum depression, preventing excessive bleeding, increasing her breastmilk supply, reducing post partum iron deficiency, and improving her quality of sleep.  The respect for and preservation of life is a moral good, therefore the mother's intention works towards making her placentophagia a good act. It is possible, I suppose, for there to be an evil intention in placenta consumption, although I do not know what that could be. But if that were to happen, the act would be made immoral by the evil intention.

Lastly, we shall consider the circumstances of the act of placentophagia.  If they are the usual circumstances, ie, a pregnancy reaching its completion at birth with the placenta no longer needed by the child's body, then there is no harm done to either mother or child. If however, the placenta were to be harvested from the mother's body while it still played a vital role for the child, that would make it an evil act because the circumstance involves the killing of the child. But in the usual circumstances of placentophagia neither the mother nor the baby are harmed in any way.

In conclusion, placentophagia is not cannibalism because it does not involve killing, nor the consumption of flesh which belongs to a deceased person. It does not present an affront to the dignity of the human person.  Nor is placentophagia morally evil as long as the intentions and circumstances are either good or morally indifferent."

The Rose Bush of Wallone

I came across an interesting tale about the connectedness between the placenta and the person it nourished in the womb in a book called, Placenta: The Gift of Life by Cornelia Enning (available at www.midwiferytoday.com). It's a wonderful book full of information and history of placenta uses. 

The tale is called the "The Rose Bush of Wallone"

   Once upon a time in Wallone, a district of Belgium, a young woman gave birth to a son.  Her husband planted a rose bush in front of their house, as generations had done before.  He buried the boy's afterbirth under the bush.  The rose bush took root, nurtured by the afterbirth like the son had once been.  Being carefully nursed by the parents, the little rose bush grew up to a magnificent tree and burst into full bloom.  At the same time the son became a strong, young man.
  One day he left his family and stepped into the wide world.  He instructed his mother to not worry about his traveling as a salesman in foreign countries.  As long as his rose tree had green leaves and red blossoms, he would thrive as well.
  His mother nursed and cared for the rose bush, enjoying the blooming roses every year.  One morning, when she was about to nurse her roses, her blood ran cold: All of the roses had dried out and the leaves had fallen off during the night.  There was no life in the rose bush!  Now she knew that her son had had a great misfortune.
   The poor woman was carried, crying, into her house and put to bed to rest.  For three days and nights she shed floods of tears, when finally a messenger arrived.  He shared the bad news of her son's misfortune: Thieves had ambushed and murdered him in the dark of the night.
   Mourning her son, the old woman broke off the dried branch of the dead rose bush.  As her son was buried, she put the branch below his feet.
   In time new life came into the dried branch.  United again with his "milkbrother" the rose bush grew new roots.  The next spring tender buds sprouted above the ground and the following summer the bush brought splendor above the ground of flaming red roses.  Since then - year in and year out - a flood of red roses grow from the graves of Wallone.

The Breastfeeding Benefits of Placentophagy

Historically, traditional Chinese medicine has used the placenta to help increase lactation in women who had inadequate supply.  Research has now been done to help explain the benefits of this practice and give us a look into the science behind it.  It is interesting to note that almost all mammals ingest their placenta after birthing and easily nurse their young without problems.  Today, only 25% of women are still breastfeeding their children at 6 months, compared to 81% at birth.  There are many other reasons that women quit breastfeeding but one of the most common is that the woman has an inadequate supply. 

In a study of 210 postpartum women fed their placentas after birth, it showed that 86.2% of them had positive results.  This study used some first time moms and many second time moms that had experienced difficulty with milk supply while nursing their previous children.  Positive results were usually seen within 2 to 3 days after taking the placenta.  Another interesting study was being carried out at the same time using cows and studying their milk supply after placenta ingestion.  While definite results were not ye available, research so far showed that cows that consumed their placenta produced 1 liter more of milk per day than cows that did not.

So what is the substance is the placenta that has such a marked benefit on lactation?  Researchers thought that it might be protein and began another experiment.  In this, they used beef instead of placenta.  They treated the beef the same way they did the placenta and gave the same amount (65g) of beef to each participant.  The results yielded only a 33% positive result, with 66% of the participants showing no effect at all.  The conclusion of this study was that protein was not the main substance in the placenta that caused an increase in milk supply.

An interesting explanation is that placenta medicine is an effective form of tissue therapy.  The placenta is a piece of tissue expelled from a mammal and then after processing is reintroduced.  It is understood that tissues undergo a biochemical change when separated from an organism and undergoing unfavorable conditions (such as encapsulation).  These conditions cause substances to be formed that stimulate biochemical processes, called biogenic stimulators.  These biogenic stimulators are not present until the tissue leaves the organism.  According to the study:

“Biogenic stimulators, introduced into the organism one way or another, activate life processes, increase cellular metabolism and intensify the physiological functions of the organism.” (Placenta as a Lactagogon)

This is an interesting hypothesis on why and how placenta medicine works.  It may also explain the reason that placenta is beneficial as a supplement, but a retained placenta is detrimental to milk supply.  Another explanation is the hormones present in the placenta.  The placenta is full of hormones – including prolactin, all of which were specifically created by the mammal that ingests it.  Prolactin is the hormone that is responsible for stimulating the mammary glands to produce milk.  Hormones would most definitely have an effect on milk production and supply. 

IRON DEFICIENCY, FATIGUE, AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

The most common single nutrient deficiency today is iron deficiency.  Conventionally, the risk of iron deficiency is thought to be lowest right after child birth.  However recent research has shown that the prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia is growing, especially among low income women.  The standard American diet is insufficient to meet the iron needs of pregnant women.  If left unsupplemented, most women are at risk of developing iron deficiency during pregnancy.

Iron deficiency has many symptoms, the most common of which is fatigue.  After delivery there are many new stresses and responsibilities that a new mother must undertake.  The sleepless nights, recovery period, and busy days add a lot of stress to a new mother coping with fatigue.  Her effectiveness and quality of work may be impaired as well as her cognitive function, verbal skills and memory.  This is no way to spend the bonding period after bringing a precious new life into the world.  

Postpartum fatigue is a predictor of postpartum depression and must be taken into consideration and treated.  While “baby blues” are a common postpartum occurrence, effecting between 50 and 80 percent of women today, postpartum depression has a lesser occurrence of between 20 and 30 percent.  While baby blues are not a predictor of postpartum depression, there is evidence that fatigue is a good indicator. 

A well documented treatment option for women of childbearing age experiencing fatigue caused by iron deficiency is iron supplementation.  Even in non-anemic women, iron supplementation has been shown to be a viable treatment option for fatigue.   A random clinical trial of 136 women of childbearing age suffering from unexplained fatigue showed that there was a benefit to iron supplementation even in non-anemic women.  Even though the women’s iron levels were normal their iron stores may have been low which is why they responded well to supplementation.

In traditional Chinese medicine the placenta is used to treat fatigue in postpartum women.  In an examination of 49 intact cords and placentas, it was shown that the placenta is a very good source of iron, as well as protein, vitamin B6 and many beneficial hormones.  Chinese medicine uses the placenta to augment the Qi and bring the postpartum body back into balance and nourish the blood – both are believed to cause fatigue if disturbed.

In conclusion, there is evidence that using the iron rich placenta internally after childbirth can be a good way to prevent iron deficiency.  Extra iron, even in non-anemic women, is an excellent way to prevent fatigue, which has been shown to be a predictor of postpartum depression.  Placenta medicine is a very promising and common sense way to help support postpartum women during a very important time in their lives.

Mammals and Placentophagy - And How It Pertains To Us

THEORIES WHY MAMMALS EAT THEIR PLACENTA

There are 4 main hypotheses on why a mammal would ingest its own placenta.  The first of which is that a mother undergoes a shift of food preferences toward a carnivorous diet, meaning that a mammal that is normally an herbivore will suddenly have an intense craving for meat.  The second hypothesis is that mammals are simply hungry after giving birth and the placenta provides an easy, available, nutritious meal.  Many mammals have a period of anorexia before and during their births so this is an acceptable theory.  The problem with these hypotheses lies in a study done that offered different meat choices to postpartum mammals.  During and after their births, rhesus monkeys were presented with liver, beef, and pork but 100% of the time they refused the meat and instead ate their own placentas.   A similar study was done using rats and again, all of the rats chose the placenta.  These studies suggest that the first two hypotheses are incorrect.  If it was simply a matter of obtaining food, or more specifically meat, then some of the mammals would most likely have partaken of the meats offered them.

The third hypothesis is that mammals eat their placenta in response to a specific hunger.  In this hypothesis there is an assumed metabolic or endocrine change that occurs in late pregnancy and during the birth that causes a specific nutritional or hormonal need that can be supplied only by the placenta.  The placenta is very nourishing and contains many beneficial hormones so this is also an acceptable hypothesis.  However, it was shown in a study that some virgin rats and mice will enthusiastically eat donor placenta.  This suggests that this supposed specific hunger isn’t unique to only postpartum mammals, if it exists at all.

The final hypothesis is that mothers ingest their placenta to clean up their birth site so as not to attract predators.  This makes sense, as a postpartum mammal and her new young are very vulnerable, however there are several problems with this theory.  First, and most obvious, is that the placenta is not the only part of the after birth, but it is the only part eaten.  There is also a good amount of fluid that would be very attractive to predators that is ignored by the mammal mothers.  Another is that, even mammals of unchallenged predatory species eat their placentas.  Certain primates that birth in trees could easily let their placentas drop to the ground, but instead they make sure to keep their placentas with them in the trees and spend several hours eating them.  This suggests that protecting themselves from predators is not a primary factor in placentophagy.

DOES PLACENTOPHAGY HAVE AN EVOLUTIONARY PURPOSE?

An interesting purpose of placentophagy may be on the RH factor.  The mother and baby’s blood systems are separate, but there are instances when the baby’s blood can enter the mother’s blood stream – blood transfusion, miscarriage, abortion, or certain procedures such as amniocentesis.  If a baby has an RH+ blood type and the mother has an RH- blood type then the mother can begin to make antibodies that will attack her RH+ baby’s blood.  These attacks break down the baby’s red blood cells and can cause anemia, illness, brain damage, or even death.

Today RH- women, such as myself, can receive a rhogam shot to prevent our bodies from making these dangerous antibodies.  The placenta seems to offer immunological benefits to the mother and to the baby through the breast milk.  Analysis of the placenta shows that it contains factors that if ingested would prevent the mother from producing RH antibodies.  Perhaps the use of placentophagy over thousands of years has provided the protection mothers need from forming these antibodies, or perhaps we were created with this system and knowledge already built in.   

There appear to be many different reasons why mammals practice placentophagy, each specific to its species, and related to mammals as a whole.  As more studies are done to uncover the mystery that is behind placentophagy I think we will discover a vast array of wisdom and benefits from this practice.

Cultural Beliefs That Honor the Placenta

In America, most people view the placenta as just messy after birth that needs to be discarded.  However a look at history reveals that, traditionally, the placenta has been honored in many cultures.  The placenta is often treated respectfully and is used in some sort of ritual. Many cultures believe that the way a placenta is treated after the birth will some how effect the child's life - for good or for bad.  Although most mammals consume their placenta, history shows that traditional cultures usually preform a burial for the placenta.  Here is a look at a few of the cultural beliefs surrounding the placenta:

CAMBODIA
In Cambodia,  people believe that the placenta is the origin of the soul.  The traditional belief is that if it's not buried the correct way, it could do long term damage to the mother's mental health. 

INDIA
In India, women do not consider their birth complete (or successful) until the placenta has been expelled.  Proper burial is supposed to prevent bad luck.

JAPAN
A recommendation for women in Japan who can't get pregnant is to sleep over a newly buried placenta.

LIBERIA
The birth is not announced until the placenta has been delivered, at which time they announce the birth by singing and dancing in the street.

MALAYSIA
In Malaysia, they believe that the placenta is the second sibling.  They also believe that when a baby smiles, he or she is playing with her second sibling.  They treat the burial of the placenta as they would the burial of a baby.

RUSSIA
In Russia, it is ideal that the cord not be cut until 24 hours after the placenta has been delivered to ensure that the baby receives enough cosmic energy.  There are several different traditions in Russia.  An old Russian tradition is to bury the placenta under the corner of the house.  Some also view the placenta as the baby's sibling and hold a funeral for it.  Others consume the placenta for health benefits.

SOUTH AFRICA
There is a small group of women in South Africa that retain a small portion of their placenta to make "muti"; the rest of the placenta is then buried.  Muti is then given to women experiencing infertility to help increase their fertility.

TRANSYLVANIA
In Transylvania, when a couple decides that they do not want any more children the father drinks a concoction made of the final child's burnt placenta and ashes.

As you can see, there have been many varied traditions throughout history when it comes to the placenta.  However, there is one thing they all have in common.  Most cultures recognize and respect the importance of the placenta.  I believe that the rise of placenta encapsulation in the Untied States is tied to our traditional instincts that surround the importance of the placenta! 
 

Lotus Birth and Delayed Cord Clamping

Lotus birth is the practice of allowing the placenta and umbilical cord to stay attached until it naturally detaches, usually about 2-3 days after birth.  After a baby is born, the umbilical cord continues to pulse blood to the baby if left attached.  Cord blood contains many beneficial properties including stem cells, red and white blood cells (including cancer fighting T-cells) that help prevent and fight infection and supply extra nutrients and oxygen to a new baby.  Babies who have delayed cord clamping have a 32% larger blood volume and higher reserves of iron than infants who have their cords clamped immediately.  Normal hospital protocol is to immediately clamp and cut the umbilical cord.  However, there have been numerous studies done to show that immediate cord clamping is simply not necessary. 

Studies have suggested that it is best to wait at least two minutes after birth to clamp an umbilical cord, but some people (such as myself) choose to wait until the cord has stopped pulsating altogether.  Still others choose to wait 2 - 3 days until it detaches naturally, such as in lotus birth.

Proponents of lotus births view the baby and placenta as existing within the same auric field.  They believe that energy continues to transfer gradually from the placenta to the baby through the umbilical cord.  Historically, lotus birth has been documented in many different cultures and even in other species.  Whether or not lotus birth is right for you, delayed cord cutting is certainly a more practical and very beneficial choice for your baby.

As more research is done, the benefits of delayed cord clamping are becoming more clear and more families are choosing this practice for their children.