Placenta Encapsulation

Placenta Capsules

I offer two types of encapsulation methods. One follows Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) guidelines (and is used as more of a postpartum tonic). I also make capsules from raw placenta (which may have a higher hormonal and enzyme content, since the placenta is not steamed before dehydrating with this method). This is not to say one method is better than the other, just that you have several options for encapsulation and should choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has recognized the placenta as powerful medicine. It is used to augment the Qi (energy), nourish the blood, fight fatigue, and augment the kidney essence. Ultimately, the dried placenta is used to bring the postpartum mother’s body back into balance, replenishing what was lost during childbirth. The placenta is gently steamed with herbs, sliced thin and dehydrated. It is then ground into a powder and put into capsules. Adding heat to the placenta is part of what makes this TCM style encapsulation unique. In Chinese medicine, raw foods are generally considered “cooling”, and aren’t recommended for nourishing blood and restoring energy.

Dosage Guidelines: The standard dosage is up to 2 capsules, 3 times a day for the first 2 weeks. Some TCM practitioners suggest taking the pills with a little white wine, saying that it helps diffuse the placenta energy throughout the body. After 2 weeks, you can start decreasing the dosage down to 1 or 2 pills a day, as needed.

Raw Placenta

Some women prefer to skip the steaming process and have their placenta encapsulated raw. Enzymes are lost when food is heated above 118 degrees, and it is possible that the hormonal content is also reduced when cooking. For these capsules, the placenta is gently cleaned and sliced into thin strips. These are dehydrated at a low heat until dry, ground into a powder and encapsulated. Placenta that is dehydrated raw is a very different medicine then the TCM preparation. Raw placenta is extremely high in hormones such as progesterone and oxytocin, and women have called these capsules “happy pills”, reporting phenomenal energy levels while taking them. This method is a good option for those who already follow some degree of a raw foods diet. There are, however, a few situations where raw encapsulation would not be ideal (for example, if the mother had a suspected infection during labor).

Dosage Guidelines: Suggested dosage is one capsule in the morning, as needed, if you wake up feeling weepy or low energy, followed by another capsule a few hours later, if desired. It is not suggested to take these capsules in the afternoon or evening, as they may keep you from sleeping.

Placenta Capsules may help:

* balance your hormones

* aid in lactation, by enhancing your milk supply

*increase your energy and combat fatigue

*you to recover more quickly from birth

* reduce stress, by replenishing essential hormones such as Oxytocin and CRH

* replenish essential B6 nutrients

*prevent the “baby blues”

*shorten postpartum bleeding time

*assist the uterus in returning to its pre-pregnancy size

*increase postpartum iron levels, decreasing the chances of iron deficiency anemia

* stimulate the immune system, to protect against infections

Placenta Capsules should be stored in the refrigerator while being used. Keep capsules dry. Store any remaining capsules in the freezer for long-term use. Placenta Capsules will last, at least, a year if stored properly (and possibly longer).

Fee: $150