Placenta Encapsulation The placenta is a temporary organ that begins developing as early as one week after conception. This amazing organ acts as the lungs, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal, endocrine and immune systems for your baby while they grow inside of you! It also acts as a gland, secreting crucial hormones necessary for your baby’s growth, and also preparing your body for breastfeeding. The placenta carries the oxygen and nutrients your baby needs directly into the baby’s bloodstream via the umbilical cord. Placenta Benefits: • Balance energy depleted by labor & birth • Replenish hormone loss in the early postpartum period • Enhance milk production • Improve energy and quality of sleep • Replenish iron, minerals & vitamins • Reduce postnatal bleeding • Reduce "baby blues" and the onset of postpartum depression • Complement your body’s effort in returning the uterus to its pre-pregnancy state • Speeds postpartum recovery After the early postpartum period, your placenta tincture can be used to aid in a variety of ailments for you and your child. I prepare your tincture using a small piece of your placenta in 120 proof alcohol which preserves it indefinitely while maintaining the nutrients and hormones for future use. Tincture Benefits: • Reduce menstrual discomfort and PMS symptoms • Ease childhood rashes and cold like ailments • Reduce colic and teething in baby • Aids in trauma reduction, transition, emotional distress (weaning, growth spurts, etc.) • Balance hormonal fluctuations during menopause • Decrease insomnia and sleep disorders I offer two methods of placenta preparation, Traditional Chinese Method (TCM) and Raw Method. Unless otherwise requested, I use the Raw method for most encapsulation. In both methods, I fully dehydrate the placenta before grinding it into a powder and placing it into vegetarian capsules. Both methods offer the same benefits but Raw is stronger and yields more capsules. Traditional Chinese Method uses steaming to reduce potency, help seal in nutrients and bring warmth into the body. I recommend the TCM form of encapsulation to clients with sensitivity to hormonal birth control or previous mood disorders. ​ TRADITIONAL CHINESE METHOD: The placenta has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many generations to treat a variety of disharmonies within the reproductive system. It is believed that the process of birth leaves an open, empty space within ones self, which is very yin (cold) and consuming the placenta helps to restore the yang (warmth) lost following birth, therefore helping re-balance the body. Additional heat is infused into the placenta through the use of lemon, ginger and chilli. The chilli adds heat, lemon is a grounding remedy, which alongside ginger aids in circulation and the distribution of healing properties throughout the body. By incorporating steam and warming herbs in the process, the final result is restorative, tonifying, and nourishing during the initial postpartum period. ​RAW METHOD: This method of preparation skips the heating and herbal process altogether and the placenta is carefully rinsed, sliced, dehydrated and then encapsulated. This method aligns with those following a Raw Diet. By avoiding the heating process, the placenta is more potent in hormones and nutrients and provides more energy upfront as opposed to the slow and steady release of energy in the TCM method. Raw method will also yield the most amount of pills possible and because they are more potent, less need to be consumed each day. This method is not recommended if you have a history of anxiety or depression. After I pick up your placenta, I will carefully prepare it using one of the two methods above and return it to you. You will receive approximately 100 capsules and the optional tincture and umbilical cord keepsake along with ongoing support if you have any questions after you receive them.