Placenta encapsulation, the practice of processing the placenta into pills for maternal consumption postpartum, has gained attention for its purported benefits, such as improving mood, boosting energy, and increasing milk supply. While proponents believe the organ retains beneficial nutrients and hormones, the scientific community remains cautious. The primary consideration is an objective assessment of the established safety concerns for both the mother and the newborn. Scientific consensus focuses not on the claimed benefits, which largely lack rigorous evidence, but on the potential risks introduced by the handling, preparation, and intrinsic biological characteristics of the encapsulated material.
The Methods Used in Placenta Encapsulation
Two primary methods are used to prepare the placenta for encapsulation, each involving different levels of heat treatment. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-inspired method begins by steaming the placenta, often with warming ingredients like ginger or lemon. This steaming step reduces the microbial load and aligns with traditional practices. After steaming, the tissue is sliced, dehydrated, ground into a fine powder, and placed into capsules.
The second option is the Raw Method, which bypasses the steaming process entirely. The raw placenta is cleaned, sliced thin, and immediately placed in the dehydrator at a lower temperature, typically below 118 degrees Fahrenheit, before being ground and encapsulated. Proponents of the Raw Method believe avoiding steaming preserves a higher concentration of hormones and nutrients. However, this method involves significantly less heat exposure than the TCM method, which is a critical distinction regarding safety standards. The temperature and duration of the heat applied are paramount in eliminating potential contaminants.
Infectious Disease Concerns and Preparation Standards
The most publicized safety concern relates to the potential for bacterial contamination and the survival of pathogens. The placenta is not sterile after delivery and can harbor bacteria from the birth canal or the hospital environment, including organisms like Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. Safe consumption requires preparation using temperatures sufficient to eradicate these pathogens.
A notable case report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described an infant who developed recurrent late-onset GBS sepsis linked to the mother’s consumption of contaminated placenta capsules. The pills contained the same strain of GBS that infected the newborn, suggesting the mother was repeatedly colonized by the bacteria from the capsules and passed it to the infant. The preparation process did not involve heating the tissue at a high enough temperature or for a long enough duration to eliminate the bacteria.
The Raw Method is particularly concerning because it avoids the steaming step, which is the most effective means of reducing the initial bacterial load. While dehydration reduces microbial counts, GBS is known to survive in a dry environment, requiring wet heat to be reliably killed. Without achieving internal temperatures comparable to pasteurization, the finished capsules pose a direct risk of reintroducing harmful bacteria into the mother’s system and subsequently to the baby.
Hormonal and Toxin Exposure Considerations
Safety concerns stem from the intrinsic composition of the placenta, including its role as a filter during pregnancy. The placenta is rich in reproductive hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, which encapsulation concentrates into pill form. Consuming these concentrated hormones can have unintended biological effects, such as a decrease in milk supply, because high levels of progesterone can inhibit prolactin production.
The placenta also acts as a repository for environmental toxins and heavy metals that the maternal body filters to protect the fetus. Trace elements like cadmium, lead, and mercury can accumulate in the tissue, especially with exposure to pollution or tobacco smoke. When the placenta is dried and encapsulated, these substances are concentrated, reintroducing filtered toxins back into the mother’s system. While concentrations may sometimes be below toxicity thresholds, the long-term effects of consuming these concentrated substances are not fully understood.
Lack of Regulatory Oversight and Standardization
A significant safety challenge is the near-total absence of regulatory oversight from health agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA does not regulate encapsulated placenta, as it does not fit neatly into the categories of a drug, food, or dietary supplement. This lack of federal regulation means there is no mandated quality control, standardized training, or required testing for the final product.
Consequently, the safety of placenta encapsulation relies entirely on the individual practices of the preparer, leading to extreme variability in hygiene and processing standards. There are no universal, enforced protocols for sanitation, proper storage, or the use of validated heat and dehydration temperatures necessary to kill pathogens. This regulatory gap amplifies the risks of infectious disease and chemical exposure because there is no systemic way to ensure that best practices for food safety are followed.