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Placenta: The Gift of Life
Information on the role of the placenta in different cultures,
and how to prepare and use it as medicine

Author/Editor Biographies Table of Contents Excerpts

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Did you know that—

In the 16th century a piece of placenta was added to the mother's first postpartum meal in southern Germany?
Or that in the 1970s Cuba exported 40 tons of human placentas to a French laboratory after discovering that it could be used to successfully treat vitiligo, a condition that causes the skin to lose pigment?
Or that, even today, if a child needs special protection, a dried part of the placenta is tied around his neck?

These facts and more can be found in Motherbaby Press's seminal publication: Placenta: The Gift of Life. Do you want to use your baby's placenta for a birth ritual or as an aid to bonding and breastfeeding? This book contains comprehensive and up-to-date information on how the placenta has been used in the past, medical uses throughout the world, and how individuals can make use of the placenta in a variety of ways. This may involve burial under a certain kind of tree, drying for use as a lucky charm, or even ingestion as a medicine.

Placenta: The Gift of Life combines the experiences of midwives, doctors and naturopaths with our ancestors' traditions, and saves some old recipes from oblivion. Learn about:

Historical uses of the placenta
The use of the placenta in postpartum healing and breastfeeding
Regulation and current medical and cosmetic uses of the placenta in various countries
Scientific evidence supporting the medicinal uses of placenta
How to process placenta for medical use
Recipes for using the placenta

While numerous articles have been written on the subject, this unique and groundbreaking book is the only guide to using placenta currently on the market.

This is a limited print run, so order your copy now.

The Rose Bush of Wallone
Preface
The Oldest Traditional Remedy: Placenta
Back to the Natural Healing Powers of the Placenta
Medical Applications
From Placenta Birth to the Healing Remedy
Recipes for the Medicine Cabinet
Women Tell Their Stories
References
Appendix

Excerpts*

From chapter: Back to the Natural Healing Powers of the Placenta

Throughout the world generations have passed down knowledge of how ingesting placenta helps a mother's postpartum recovery. Women using placenta remedies after birth feel stronger, are happier and can breastfeed more easily. If edema, elevated blood pressure or traces of protein in the urine signal malfunction of the kidneys during pregnancy, placenta remedies can eliminate these symptoms quickly. The symptoms of toxemia in pregnancy usually go hand-in-hand with a late onset of lactation after birth. Swelling in the fingers and legs may take up to six weeks to disappear again.

Placenta remedies, such as the powder, emulsion or an injection with the extract, can speed up this process considerably. With this treatment toxemic women can breastfeed well within two weeks. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses placenta to strengthen the kidneys. Mood swings resulting from a drop in the blood progesterone level respond well to a treatment with placenta remedies. Many conditions during birth, the postpartum period and nursing would not arise if we returned to the old custom of applying placenta remedies.

From chapter: Recipes for the Medicine Cabinet

Recipe for Placenta Emulsion

1/3 oz emulsifier (10 g)
1 oz distilled water (30 ml)
1/2 tsp of placenta powder (2 g)

Dissolve the emulsifier in distilled water at 120° F (50° C). Add placenta powder as soon as the solution has turned into a paste. Simmer at the same temperature while stirring swiftly, until the powder has dissolved completely. Remove from heat and let soak. Cool at room temperature while beating it well with a whisk.

*Note: This information should not be substituted for medical treatment. Consult with a midwife, doctor or other healthcare professional before using placenta recipes or treatments. Midwifery Today does not guarantee the outcome of these treatments and shall not be responsible for damages to people who choose to use them.

Author: Cornelia Enning has been a licensed midwife in Germany since 1972. She has been doing homebirths/waterbirths since 1975. She received a B.E. in psychology and pedagogy in 1972 from the University of Berlin. She has been doing homebirths and waterbirths since 1975 and is the founder of the German parents association "Wasserbabies." Cornelia is editor of the quarterly Wasserbaby-Post and author of several books about waterbirth at home and in hospitals. She directs the German Federation of Aquapaedagogik and instructs parents in water training for newborns. In addition, she has taught waterbirth midwifery to more than 4000 midwives and obstetricians. Cornelia has two adult children and one granddaughter.

Visit Cornelia's Web site at www.hebinfo.de/

Editor: Cheryl K. Smith, BS, JD, is a freelance writer and editor, and Managing Editor for Midwifery Today. Her education is in Health Information Administration and Law.

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Learn how to use the placenta in ointments, essences and other remedies.

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Placenta: The Gift of Life Information on the role of the placenta in different cultures, and how to prepare and use it as medicine

Table of Contents

Excerpts*

Placenta: The Gift of Life
Information on the role of the placenta in different cultures,
and how to prepare and use it as medicine