Placentophagy
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Placentophagy is the term used to describe the act of mammals eating the placenta of their young after childbirth.
The placenta contains high levels of prostaglandin which stimulates involution of the uterus, in effect cleaning the uterus out. The placenta also contains small amounts of oxytocin which eases birth stress and relaxes the mammal to stimulate and improve milk production.
There is also a school of thought that holds that placentophagy naturally occurred to hide any trace of childbirth from predators in the wild, though the amniotic fluid not similarly ingested by the mother seems to discount this theory. Most placental mammals participate in placentophagy, including, surprisingly, herbivorous ones. Pinnipedia and Cetacea are exceptions to mammalian placentophagy, as is the camel. Placentophagy has been observed in Insectivora, Rodentia, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla (with the camel as a noted exception), and Primates. Marsupials, which are an order of metatherian (pouched) mammals, resorb rather than deliver the placenta, and therefore cannot engage in placentophagia; they do, however, vigorously lick birth fluids as they are excreted [1] (http://cogprints.org/757/00/gustibus.htm).
Human placentophagy
In a few cultures it is customary for the mother to eat the placenta after their newborn's birth. Those who advocate placentophagy in humans believe that eating the placenta prevents postpartum depression and other pregnancy complications. Human placenta tastes very similar to beef, with a springy texture similar to the heart. A variety of recipes are known to exist for preparing placenta for eating.[2] (http://www.babycenter.com/general/1333089.html)
Human placenta has also been an ingredient in some traditional Chinese medicines.
External links
- From The Straight Dope (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_104.html)
- Traditional Chinese medicine contains human placenta (http://www.news-medical.net/print_article.asp?id=1333)
- Original MHRA notice (http://medicines.mhra.gov.uk/ourwork/licensingmeds/herbalmeds/herbalsafety.htm)
- [3] (http://cogprints.org/757/00/gustibus.htm)
