Placenta Encapsulation
Above photo courtesy of Fruit of the Womb Placenta Encapsulation. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using placenta medicinally for thousands of years. Placenta is considered to be a very powerful medicine as it is life giving and stores the vital essence for the baby.
The placenta contains Vitamins and Minerals which are beneficial at combating depression such as B6. It is also considered rich in iron and protein which is beneficial to women recovering from childbirth. Not to mention all of the hormones which are secreted from the placenta during pregnancy. CTH (cortico-tropin releasing hormone) a stress reducer which is generally produced by the hypothalamus is secreted in large amounts by the placenta. CTH levels are generally low in postpartum women leading to symptoms of depression. Research by the NIH found that the placenta secretes so much CTH that the hypothalamus stops producing it. In China, placenta or Zi He Che is used for depression by men as well as women.
There are many experienced Placenta Encapsulators in your area. Notify your midwife or nurse that you would like to take your placenta home. The person who will encapsulate your placenta will come to your home and prepare your placenta by either encapsulating it or creating a tincture (liquid form). Mykael, from Fruit of the Womb, encapsulated both of my placentas and I highly recommend her.
My own personal experience with Placenta Encapsulation has been wonderful. With my first child, I began taking my placenta 2 days after giving birth. I never experienced any postpartum depression or major imbalances and had an abundant milk supply. It wasn’t until my second child that I realized how much the placenta pill actually helped me. I wasn’t able to get prepared directly after the birth of my son and I began to experience major symptoms such as extreme weepiness, hot flashes and an overall sense of imbalance. I still take my placenta when I feel things are a bit off.
Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation: • Increase general energy
• Allow a quicker return to health after birth
• Increase production of breast milk
• Decrease likelihood of baby blues and post natal depression
• Decrease likelihood of iron deficiency • Decrease likelihood of insomnia or sleep disorders