Placenta encapsulation involves steaming, dehydrating, and grinding a person’s placenta into a powder that gets packed into supplement capsules. The practice has grown steadily in popularity among postpartum parents, fueled by claims that the pills can boost energy, improve mood, increase milk supply, and replenish iron. The process itself is fairly straightforward, but the science behind those claimed benefits is thin, and there are genuine safety considerations worth understanding before you commit.
The Encapsulation Process
There are two main methods used to prepare placenta capsules, and you will hear encapsulation specialists refer to them by different names. The more common approach, sometimes called the “Traditional Chinese Medicine” or TCM method, involves steaming the raw placenta before dehydrating it. The second, sometimes called the “raw” method, skips steaming and goes straight to dehydration at a low temperature. Both methods end the same way: the dried tissue is ground into a fine powder and packed into standard gelatin or vegetable capsules.
Here is what each step typically looks like:
- Collection and storage: The placenta is collected after birth, stored in a clean container, and refrigerated. Most encapsulation providers pick it up within 24 to 48 hours.
- Cleaning: The membranes and umbilical cord are removed, and the placental tissue is rinsed thoroughly.
- Steaming (TCM method): The tissue is steamed, often with herbs like ginger or lemon, until cooked through. This step is skipped in the raw method.
- Dehydration: The tissue is sliced thin and placed in a food dehydrator, typically at around 130–170°F (54–77°C) for 12 to 24 hours, until completely dry and brittle.
- Grinding and encapsulation: The dried slices are ground into a powder and filled into capsules. A single placenta typically yields somewhere between 75 and 200 capsules, depending on the organ’s size.
The recommended dosage varies by provider but commonly falls around two capsules taken three times daily in the first weeks postpartum, tapering off over time. That works out to roughly 3,300 milligrams of placenta powder per day.
What Survives the Processing
One of the central questions about placenta pills is whether the hormones present in raw placental tissue survive being cooked and dehydrated. The placenta is a hormone-producing organ, and the idea behind encapsulation is that consuming those hormones could ease the postpartum hormonal crash. Researchers have tested this directly.
A study analyzing 28 placenta samples processed using the standard steaming-and-dehydration method found detectable concentrations of 16 out of 17 hormones tested, including estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and melatonin. The researchers noted that some of these were present in concentrations that could conceivably have physiological effects.1PubMed. Presence and concentration of 17 hormones in human placenta processed for encapsulation and consumption However, a separate analysis that compared hormone levels across raw, raw-dehydrated, and steamed-dehydrated tissue found that steaming and dehydration drastically reduced hormone concentrations.2PubMed Central. Placenta – Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagy: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks So hormones survive, but in much smaller amounts than what the raw organ contains. Whether the surviving doses are large enough to produce real effects in the body remains an open question.
The same applies to peptide hormones like oxytocin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), human placental lactogen, and ACTH, all of which were detected in both raw and processed tissue.3PubMed. Human placentophagy: Effects of dehydration and steaming on hormones, metals and bacteria in placental tissue Peptide hormones are generally broken down in the digestive tract before they can enter the bloodstream, which casts further doubt on whether swallowing them in capsule form has any biological effect at all.
Minerals and Nutritional Content
Proponents often market placenta pills as a way to replenish nutrients lost during pregnancy and birth, particularly iron. The placenta does contain iron and other trace minerals, but the amounts in a day’s worth of capsules are modest at best.
One detailed analysis measured 14 trace minerals and elements in encapsulated placenta and calculated what you would actually get from the recommended daily dose of about 3,300 milligrams. The results: roughly 2.2 milligrams of iron, 0.18 milligrams of zinc, 0.018 milligrams of copper, and 0.005 milligrams of selenium per day. For a breastfeeding woman, that works out to about 24% of the recommended daily allowance for iron, about 7% for selenium, and only about 1.5% for zinc.4PubMed. Human placenta processed for encapsulation contains modest concentrations of 14 trace minerals and elements So while the iron contribution is not nothing, it is well below what a standard iron supplement would provide.
The same study also looked at potentially harmful elements. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and uranium were all detected but at concentrations well below established toxicity thresholds, which at least suggests the pills are unlikely to be dangerous from a heavy metals standpoint at the typical daily dose.4PubMed. Human placenta processed for encapsulation contains modest concentrations of 14 trace minerals and elements A separate analysis of placentas from uncomplicated pregnancies found no detectable levels of cadmium, arsenic, or mercury, though it confirmed that the placenta contains a meaningful amount of iron, selenium, protein, and cholesterol.5PubMed. Nutritional composition and heavy metal content of the human placenta The variation between studies likely reflects differences in maternal diet, environmental exposures, and geography.
Does It Actually Boost Iron Levels?
Given that encapsulated placenta contains some iron, you might assume it would at least help with postpartum anemia. A randomized, double-blind pilot study tested this directly. Women were assigned to take either placenta capsules or a beef-based placebo, and their iron status was tracked over the early postpartum weeks. The encapsulated placenta contained considerably more iron per gram than the beef placebo, consistent with earlier mineral analyses.6PubMed. Effects of Human Maternal Placentophagy on Maternal Postpartum Iron Status: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
But the outcome was disappointing for proponents. There were no statistically significant differences in maternal iron status between the placenta group and the placebo group. The researchers concluded that encapsulated placenta supplementation neither significantly improves nor impairs postpartum iron status in women who are already consuming at least adequate dietary iron.7OAsis: UNLV’s Repository for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. Effects of Human Maternal Placentophagy on Maternal Postpartum Iron-Status If you are concerned about postpartum iron depletion, a standard iron supplement is a much more reliable option.
The Postpartum Depression Question
Perhaps the most widely cited reason people try placenta pills is the belief that they help prevent or reduce postpartum depression. This is also where the evidence gets complicated and, honestly, a bit surprising in a direction many people do not expect.
A small randomized, double-blind pilot trial comparing placenta capsules to a placebo found no significant main effects on maternal mood, bonding, or fatigue. The researchers did observe some non-significant trends suggesting a decrease in depressive symptoms within the placenta group and slightly less fatigue near the end of the study, but these were exploratory observations, not conclusive findings.8PubMed. Placentophagy’s effects on mood, bonding, and fatigue: A pilot trial, part 2
A much larger observational study, however, painted a different picture. Researchers analyzed postpartum depression screening results from over 6,000 women who gave birth in community birth settings. After controlling for more than 90 variables, including prior mental health challenges, women who consumed their placentas actually had a slightly higher rate of screening positive for postpartum depression. About 9.9% of placenta consumers screened above the standard depression cutoff, compared to 8.4% of non-consumers. The analysis estimated that placentophagy was associated with a 15 to 20% increased risk of postpartum depression.9PubMed Central. Comparison of placenta consumers’ and non-consumers’ postpartum depression screening results using EPDS in US community birth settings (n=6038): a propensity score analysis
That does not necessarily mean placenta pills cause depression. Observational studies cannot prove causation, and it is possible that women who choose encapsulation are already at higher baseline risk for mood disorders. But it does undercut the popular narrative that these pills protect against postpartum depression. At a minimum, the evidence does not support that claim, and the largest study to date suggests the opposite direction.
Milk Supply and Prolactin
Another common claim is that placenta capsules increase breast milk production. The proposed mechanism is that hormones in the placenta could stimulate prolactin, the hormone primarily responsible for milk production. A randomized, double-blind pilot study tested this by measuring plasma prolactin levels in women taking either placenta capsules or a placebo and tracking neonatal weight gain as an indirect measure of milk supply. The study found no statistically significant differences in either prolactin levels or neonatal weight gain between groups.10PubMed. Ingestion of Steamed and Dehydrated Placenta Capsules Does Not Affect Postpartum Plasma Prolactin Levels or Neonatal Weight Gain: Results from a Randomized, Double-Bind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Many people report subjectively feeling that their supply improved while taking placenta pills, and that experience is real to them. But the placebo effect is powerful, especially during the early postpartum period when supply is naturally ramping up anyway. The controlled trial evidence does not support the claim that the pills are doing anything to prolactin beyond what the body already does on its own.
Infection Risk and the CDC Warning
The most concrete, documented harm associated with placenta encapsulation came from an Oregon case in 2016. A newborn was treated for early-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia, a serious blood infection. Five days after completing treatment, the infant developed a second GBS infection. The mother had been taking placenta capsules, beginning three days after the birth, and lab testing of the capsules found GBS. Whole genome sequencing at the CDC confirmed that the bacterial strains from both of the infant’s infections and from the capsules were genetically indistinguishable.11Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Notes from the Field: Late-Onset Infant Group B Streptococcus Infection Associated with Maternal Consumption of Capsules Containing Dehydrated Placenta — Oregon, 2016
The likely pathway was that the mother ingested GBS-contaminated placenta capsules, became heavily colonized, and then transmitted the bacteria to the infant through close contact, effectively re-exposing the baby after antibiotic treatment had cleared the initial infection. Following this case, the CDC issued a warning against the practice.12PubMed. Human placentophagy: a review
Research on microbial safety shows that the steaming-and-dehydration process does significantly reduce bacterial contamination. In controlled experiments, both GBS and E. coli were inoculated onto placental tissue, and steaming followed by dehydration eliminated detectable growth of both organisms.13PubMed Central. Impact of tissue processing on microbiological colonization in the context of placentophagy The problem is that encapsulation is largely unregulated. There are no standardized processing requirements, no mandatory temperature or time protocols, and no third-party testing for bacterial contamination. Whether a given provider’s process achieves adequate sterilization depends entirely on their individual practices. The Oregon case suggests that at least some preparations do not reach the temperatures or durations needed to eliminate dangerous bacteria.
Choosing Between Professional Preparation and DIY
If you decide to go forward with encapsulation, you have two options: hire a specialist or do it yourself. Each has trade-offs.
Professional encapsulation specialists typically pick up the placenta from your birth location, process it in a dedicated workspace (sometimes their home kitchen, sometimes a commercial kitchen), and return the finished capsules within a few days. Costs generally range from $200 to $400 in the United States. There is no national certification or licensing requirement for placenta encapsulation in most countries, though some providers hold voluntary certifications from training programs. Ask about their steaming temperatures, dehydration times, and sanitation practices. If a provider is vague or dismissive about food safety, that is a red flag.
DIY encapsulation is possible and there are kits and online guides available. You will need a food dehydrator, a way to steam the placenta thoroughly, a coffee grinder or similar device for powdering, and empty capsules with a capsule-filling machine. The advantages are lower cost and full control over the process. The disadvantages are that you are handling raw biological tissue during an already exhausting postpartum period, and any lapse in temperature control or sanitation raises infection risk. If you go this route, use a food thermometer to verify that the internal temperature of the tissue reaches at least 130°F during dehydration, and that steaming is thorough throughout.
Regulatory Landscape
Placenta capsules occupy a regulatory gray zone in most countries. In the United States, the FDA does not classify them as a food, drug, or dietary supplement, and does not regulate their preparation. Some states and municipalities have begun creating guidelines, but there is no federal framework. In the United Kingdom, the practice is legal but similarly unregulated. Some hospitals have policies about releasing the placenta to parents; others require you to sign a release form.
This lack of regulation means there is no quality control, no contamination testing, and no required labeling. You have no way to independently verify what is in the capsules, what temperature they were processed at, or whether bacterial testing was performed. Essentially, you are trusting an individual provider’s competence and honesty in the same way you might trust a home caterer.
Why Humans Are the Exception
Nearly all placental mammals eat their placentas immediately after birth. Dogs, cats, horses, rodents, and all studied non-human primates do it. Given how widespread the behavior is, you might assume it serves an important biological purpose and that humans are missing out. But a cross-cultural survey of human societies found that maternal placentophagy is conspicuously absent from the ethnographic record. Across hundreds of documented cultures, researchers found essentially no tradition of mothers routinely eating their placentas.14PubMed. In search of human placentophagy: a cross-cultural survey of human placenta consumption, disposal practices, and cultural beliefs
Why the gap? The leading hypotheses focus on the different pressures at play. For wild animals, consuming the placenta removes a blood-rich scent marker that could attract predators. It also provides a caloric and nutritional boost at a moment of extreme vulnerability. Humans, with their social support structures, cooking technology, and relative safety from predators, simply never faced the same selection pressure. The modern placenta encapsulation movement is not a revival of ancient human tradition; it is a recent phenomenon that dates back only a few decades, drawing more on alternative health culture than on evolutionary or historical practice.
What the Placebo Effect Can and Cannot Explain
Many people who take placenta pills feel better afterward, reporting more energy, calmer moods, and an easier recovery. These experiences are genuine, and they matter. But the controlled research consistently fails to find differences between placenta capsules and placebos. The pilot trial on mood found no significant group-level differences. The iron study found no differences. The prolactin study found no differences.
The postpartum period is one of the most emotionally intense experiences a person can go through, and feeling that you are doing something proactive for your recovery has real psychological value. The ritual of taking capsules, the sense of agency, and the positive expectations created by enthusiastic online communities are all well-documented drivers of the placebo response. None of this makes the subjective experience less real, but it does mean you should weigh the cost and the (small but documented) safety risk against benefits that are indistinguishable from what a sugar pill would provide. If placenta encapsulation brings you comfort and you understand the evidence, that is a personal decision. Just be cautious about anyone who frames it as medically necessary or scientifically validated.