Placenta Apothecary

welcome to placenta apothecary

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Placenta Apothecary is dedicated to spreading placenta love. Your placenta is your own perfect medicine for your healing and rejuvenation after birth. It is our pleasure to assist you by preparing your placenta in the way you choose to help bring you balance. Our services are specialized to your unique postpartum needs. At Placenta Apothecary, we hold the highest intentions of healing in our hands and hearts as we create your remedies.

The placenta is an amazing organ that supports your baby in utero. It is a mediator between the life flow of the mother and baby and has great restorative power to assist you with your postpartum recovery. It contains many vital nutrients including iron, protein, vitamin B6, and the hormones it excreted during pregnancy. Just as it supported and nourished your baby, the placenta, when carefully prepared for consumption, nourishes the postpartum mother. It supports lactation and assists in the involution of the uterus to it’s non-pregnant size. It facilitates an easier postpartum recovery by increasing maternal energy and easing transitions.

The high hormone levels of pregnancy drop significantly by day 4-5 postpartum, and it is thought that this fluctuation is a key factor in the development of the "baby blues". By reintroducing the hormones back into your system, many women find that they do not experience the symptoms of baby blues. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), placenta is used to fight fatigue which is one of the leading indicators of the development of postpartum depression. Since iron deficiency is linked to postpartum depression, replenishing your system with iron-rich placenta can help alleviate a major symptom of PPD.

At Placenta Apothecary, we recognize that there are many different ways to use the placenta for healing. In addition to placenta encapsulation, we make placenta tincture and placenta essence. Furthermore, a portion of the placenta can be made into homeopathic placenta tincture and/or globules. We also offer recipes and resources for placenta healing. For instance, dried placenta can be used to make healing creams and ointments for the skin. Some people are very drawn to eating their placenta--there are recipes here for those so inclined.

Please contact us at placentalove@gmail.com with any questions you might have about placenta healing. We would be honored to assist you in your postpartum rejuvenation and wish you smooth birth blessings.

The information on this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The services offered by Placenta Apothecary are not clinical, pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Families who choose to utilize the services on this page take full responsibility of their own health and for researching and using the remedies.

placenta encapsulation

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At Placenta Apothecary, we offer two types of encapsulation methods. One follows Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) guidelines and is used as more of a postpartum tonic. We 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.

Traditionally placenta capsules are used to help

*balance your hormones
*enhance your milk supply
*increase your energy
*combat fatigue

Placenta capsules may help:

*you to recover more quickly from birth
*to bring the body back into balance
*prevent the “baby blues”
*shorten postpartum bleeding time
*assist the uterus to return to it’s pre-pregnant size
*increase postpartum iron levels

Studies show that placenta is extremely nutrient rich, high in iron, protein, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6 and of course, your own natural hormones, making it perfectly made for you, by you. Experts agree that the placenta retains hormones, and thus reintroducing them to your system may ease hormonal fluctuations.

TCM style capsules

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, and augment the kidney essence. Translation? Dried placenta is used to bring the postpartum mother’s body back into balance, replenishing what was lost during childbirth.

Cooking the placenta is an integral part of the formation and action of the medicine. 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 TCM style encapsulation unique. In Chinese medicine raw foods are generally considered cooling. Within the TCM framework, raw placenta is considered cooling and isn’t recommended in as a general rule for the tonifying purposes of 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 to decrease the dosage down to 1 or 2 pills a day as needed.

Raw placenta capsules

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, we gently clean and slice the placenta 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. Women have called these capsules “happy pills” and report phenomenal energy levels while taking them. Raw placenta is extremely high in hormones such as progesterone and oxytocin. Midwives have traditionally used fresh placenta to stop bleeding immediately postpartum by slicing off a piece of the maternal side and having the mother put this between her cheek and gums. The high hormone levels cause the uterus to close down and bleeding is diminished.

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.

How many capsules will my placenta make?

Each placenta is different in size and substance so the amount of capsules it makes can vary from 90 to 150.

How long do I use my capsules?

The first two weeks are the most important and effective time to be taking the placenta. You can taper off after that or continue to take them at the original dosage. We encourage women to follow their body’s cues and adjust the dosage accordingly.

Is there anytime I should NOT take placenta capsules?

Placenta should not be taken if the body is fighting off a common cold, flu, or infection. If you should get a breast infection (mastitis), the placenta should not be taken until infection is cleared. If symptoms such as chills, fever, sneezing, aches, flushed cheeks, hot palms and feet or night sweats should occur, stop taking the capsules until the body has fought this off. The reason for this is because placenta is extremely tonifying in nature and can cause a pathogen to grow stronger and go deeper into the body.

When does the encapsulation process begin?

The encapsulation process should begin within 48 hours after birth. The placenta will generally be suitable for consumption for 7 days (refrigerated the entire time) but the capsules will not be as potent as when the encapsulation process begins earlier. If it is not possible to begin the process within the first 72 hours, the placenta should be frozen within the first 24 hours. Double-bag the placenta in gallon sized ziplock freezer bags. The placenta will be entirely thawed for TCM style encapsulation, which takes about 24 hours in the refrigerator. It does not need to be thawed entirely to make the raw capsules.

How long does the process take?

We make two visits; the first day we come to prepare your placenta for dehydration and will be in your kitchen for around 2 hours. We will return the next day for about an hour to grind and encapsulate.

What do I need to provide?

Placenta encapsulation is done in your kitchen. In addition to your placenta, we’ll need access to counter space, your sink and stove. We bring all supplies for encapsulation and clean-up.

I would rather not have the encapsulation done in my kitchen - are there other options?

We can encapsulate your placenta in one of our homes if you prefer.

How do I store my capsules?

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 1 year if stored properly and possibly longer.

The information on this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The services offered by Placenta Apothecary are not clinical, pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Families who choose to utilize the services on this page take full responsibility of their own health and for researching and using the remedies.

placenta tincture

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This is made by taking all or part of the fresh placenta and blending it with a 95% proof drinking alcohol. This mixture is stored in a glass mason jar for 6 weeks in a cool dark environment. The final product is made by straining off the placenta solids--what remains is a very potent tincture of placenta in the alcohol. Placenta tincture is useful for all sorts of hormonal balancing from PMS to menopause. Suggested dosage is 10-40 drops in water two to three times a day. If kept in a cool, dry place, placenta tincture should last indefinitely.

The information on this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The services offered by Placenta Apothecary are not clinical, pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Families who choose to utilize the services on this page take full responsibility of their own health and for researching and using the remedies.

placenta essence

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An essence is exactly that, it is the essence, the intrinsic nature, the soul, the fundamental quality of a particular person, place, or substance. The essence of your placenta holds a tremendous power to heal you and your child. An essence heals on an energetic or vibrational level, stimulating our vital force. To make an essence from placenta, we use a similar process to making a flower essence. A section of the raw placenta is tinctured in distilled water. After steeping for about 4 hours in a well-lit room, the placenta is strained off and enough drinking alcohol is added to create half alcohol/half placenta water. This creates a long-lasting, pure placenta “mother” essence with a variety of uses. It can be use during times of transition, illness, stress, emotional upheaval or hormonal imbalance. Suggested dosage is 1-4 drops in water. Store in a cool dry place, placenta essence should last indefinitely.

The information on this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The services offered by Placenta Apothecary are not clinical, pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Families who choose to utilize the services on this page take full responsibility of their own health and for researching and using the remedies.

placenta homeopathics

2009-11-01T17:40:00.001-08:00

Homeopathics, like essences, are remedies that heal on a vibrational, energetic level. Making a homeopathic remedy from your placenta can be used as your child's constitutional remedy for life since it was their life-giving source for their time in-utero. It contains the blue print of his/her energetic make-up and hence, the amazing ability to bring balance and illicit healing from within when illness, dis-ease, emotional challenges, or difficult life transitions arise. A homeopathic mother tincture can be made quite simply and from that mother tincture, you can further dilute and succuss it to create different potencies. We can help you decide which piece of your placenta to use for this process and get you started at home, but we do not make homeopathic remedies for your baby. There is a recipe available from a homeopath that is simple to follow at www.placentalremedy.com

The information on this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The services offered by Placenta Apothecary are not clinical, pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Families who choose to utilize the services on this page take full responsibility of their own health and for researching and using the remedies.

care of your placenta after birth

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In order to keep your placenta in optimal condition for making medicine, you'’ll want to put it on ice asap if and then into the refrigerator or freezer depending on when we will be making our first visit. If you are planning a hospital birth, it is a good idea to bring a small cooler that you can fill with ice from the hospital. It is best to put the placenta in a food-grade container (glass or ceramic is best, ziplock bags are good as well). If you did not bring any of these to the hospital you can put the placenta in whatever container they have--sometimes it's a plastic tupperware type, sometimes a bio-hazard bag-- into the cooler on ice. If you are birthing at home, just put your placenta in a food-grade container and into the refrigerator or freezer within 4 hours after birth. Some families will do a modified lotus-birth and leave the umbilical cord uncut for 3-4 hours.

It is advised to let your care provider know well-ahead of time that you would like to take your placenta home with you. She or he may not know the hospital’s policy on this matter. It is not necessary to tell them what you are planning to do with your placenta. It is yours to take home; however, hospitals vary in their willingness to give women their placentas. There is a great article about hospital release of placentas here including a waiver you can print.

Ideally, we would like to get started on the placenta within a couple of days after the birth. Keeping it refrigerated for a few days is fine, but if it looks like it's going to be 3 or more days, then it's best to freeze it as soon as possible after the birth-- within 24 hours is best. The hospital is often able to store it in the freezer upon request. In the event that your placenta is sent to the pathology lab in the hospital, request that it is kept frozen.

How do I know my placenta is healthy?

For our safety, we cannot work with your placenta if it contains any transmittable diseases such as Hepatitis-B, -C or HIV/AIDS. If for any reason you were to end up with a uterine infection before or during labor, the placenta would be unsuitable for consumption. It is important that your placenta is handled in a manner appropriate for safe food preparation since birth (see above).

What if I have an epidural or pitocin during my labor?

Most drugs that are given during labor have a fairly short half-life and clear the system pretty quickly. Having said that, there isn't any research on what and how much remains in the placenta after the birth, so we don't know for sure.

lotus birth

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coming soon...

placenta rituals

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coming soon...

placentophagia

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coming soon...

rejuvenation

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coming soon...

resources

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Our hope is that every woman have access to the healing properties of her own placenta to assist with their postpartum recovery. Here is a list of out-of-area providers that can create placenta medicine for you.

CALIFORNIA

Northern California

Tamara Morales
Serving the greater Sacramento Area
Including but not limited to the following counties: Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, Solano, Placer & San Juaquin.
Offering TCM style placenta encapsulation
Contact: 916-934-3333
tamara@placentamom.com
www.placentamom.com

Southern California

April Kurtyka, IBCLC
Serving the entire Orange County Area
Offering placenta encapsulation
Contact: 714-878-1889
Aprilkurtyka@live.com
www.confidentbeginnings.com

Sara Pereira
Serving the greater Los Angeles Area
Offering placenta encapsulation, pre- and post-natal massage and soon doula services
Contact: 213-924-3239
sara@mommyfeelgood.com
www.mommyfeelgood.com

IOWA

Laura Snyder
Serving central Iowa
Contact: 515-802-0995
laura@pleasantpostpartums.com
www.pleasantpostpartums.com

MICHIGAN

Melissa Williams - After Birth Services
Serving Central and Western Michigan but will consider other areas as needed.
Offering placenta encapsulation, placenta tincture, placenta homeopathic remedy and placenta prints.
Contact: afterbirthservice@yahoo.com
www.afterbirthservice.com

OKLAHOMA

Taryn Goodwin, CD(DONA) - Spirited Doula Birth Services
Serving Oklahoma City Metro
Offering TCM placenta encapsulation, placenta prints.
Contact:405-413-7337
Taryn@SpiritedDoula.com
www.SpiritedDoula.com

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Raeben Nolan - Tree of Life Placenta Services
Serving Portland (OR) metro and tri-county areas and Vancouver (WA) and surrounding areas.
Offering placenta encapsulation, tincture or mother essence, art prints and membrane art, cord keepsake, homeopathic placenta remedy options, traditions and ritual consultation, placenta salves and butter preparation, placenta advocacy and assistance with hospital release, phone consultation for DIYers, placenta services training for professional Midwives and Doulas (limited). Other services: experienced Birth Doula.
Contact: raeben@mothertreebirth.com
www.mothertreebirth.com/services_placenta.html

PENNSYLVANIA

Beth Curtis & Amy Borelli
Serving Philadelphia
Offering placenta encapsulation
Contact: 215-906-5384
info@philadelphiaplacentapills.com
beth@believeinbirth.com
www.philadelphiaplacentapills.com

CANADA

Susan Stewart LaForest
Serving Southern Alberta, Canada
Offering placenta encapsulation, cord keepsakes and placenta prints.
Contact: 403-668-7732
susan@birthwisecalgary.com
www.birthwisecalgary.com

Andrea Towns
Serving Edmonton & area, Alberta, Canada
Offering placenta encapsulation, cord keepsakes and placenta prints.
Contact: 403-780-0781
andrea@birthwisecalgary.com
www.birthwisecalgary.com

Stephanie Bernath, CD. CPD (CBI) - Honouring the Sacred Placenta
Serving the Okanagan area of BC, Canada
Offering encapsulated medicine, keepsakes, prints, burial preparation
Contact: 250-838-9737
treeroots_doula@hotmail.com
www.treerootsdoula.com

Andrea Munroe- New Roots Birth Services
Serving families across Nova Scotia, Canada.
Offering placenta encapsulation (Raw or TCM), tinctures, salves, art
prints, and cord keepsakes. Other services include certified birth doula
support and bellycasting.
Contact:
andrea@newrootsbirth.ca
www.newrootsbirth.ca
902-843-5953