7 Weird Ways To Use Your Placenta

Placentas are back in the news again this week after it was reported that a firm that makes raw placenta smoothies could be shut down over health concerns.

The Independent Placenta Encapsulation Network (IPEN) have been taken to court by the council over concerns about ‘bacterial contamination’ from mums having the drink.

We rounded up the 7 weirdest ways you can use your placenta (including in smoothie form, if that floats your boat)…

1.    Eat it

Placentophagy - the act of eating the placenta – has been around for centuries but recently hit the headlines when January Jones and Kim Kardashian preached the practice.

It’s renowned for being rich in nutrients and can help reduce the risk of post-natal depression as well as increasing breast milk supply. Jan Jones took it in capsule form while Jennifer Aniston is said to munch on placenta crisps - however others prefer to make placenta fajitas, placenta chilli and placenta lasagne out of it. Yum.

2.    Drink it

If you don’t fancy chomping down on it, you can drink it in smoothie form for your convenience (although we recommend getting a professional to whizz it together!)

According to the IPEN, you just need to mix 3-4 pieces of fresh placenta, a handful of fresh berries, 1 whole banana and water for a ‘simple and delicious’ drink. A Japanese firm also makes placenta ‘health drinks’ out of the stuff. We think we’ll stick to our Pret smoothie, thanks.

3.    Put it on your face

Placenta facials were first tested by scientists in Russia and are most commonly given to patients whose skin is damaged by the sun or acne.

The treatment involves a normal facial before a mask that contains actual human placenta tissue – that’s first treated to prevent contamination - is massaged into the face. Fashion designer Victoria Beckham is said to enjoy a sheep placenta facial every once in a while, just FYI.

4.    Frame a photo

When you think photo frame, you think 6”x4” from IKEA, Paperchase or Accessorize. But if you fancy something that will get your guests talking, you could put your new placenta photo frame on the mantelpiece.

Yup, one university graduate has created an entire photo frame out of human placenta that is designed to display your baby’s first photo. The University of Brighton graduate has already had orders from eager parents across the country. Whatever floats your boat…

5.    Take a bath

Why settle for a traditional bubble bath when you could relax in a tub of your own placenta? A doula (labour assistant) in Ontario offers a spa day that includes a ground placenta bath.

“Your ground placenta is added to Epsom and/or Dead Sea Salts, combined with your choice of essential oils, flowers and/or herbs,’ she said. Apparently lavender, rosemary and mint are popular combinations. Ooook then.

6.    Put it on your wall

The Gulf Coast Placenta Lady (we’re not sure that’s her real name) offers a placenta keepsake in the form of a ‘beautiful print’.

The fetal side of the placenta is printed onto paper and forms an ‘astonishing design’ that’s the perfect memento for you and your baby. She also offers the same but for umbilical cords. The choice is yours.

7.    Cuddle it in your bed

Designer Alex Green has created a fun way to keep your placenta after birth by turning it into a cuddly teddy bear.

The Twin Teddy Kit ‘celebrates the unity of the infant, the mother and the placenta’ and enables preparation of the placenta so it can be transformed into a teddy bear. Unfortunately, we’ve seen it and it looks absolutely GROSS.

Not enough? Deer placenta has been used as a herbal supplement to increase sexual desire while sheep placenta also been used as a natural health treatment as pseudo-medicine.  

How will you get your fix? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter now.

[The weirdest beauty treatments in the world (including THAT sperm face mask)]

[I ate my placenta]