Placenta Tincture- As people begin to ask more questions about body literacy, more and more interest comes in health for families and babies. Making a tincture from your placenta is one of those acts where it has tremendous health benefits for both you and the baby. We dive in to what is placenta tincture, its use, shelf life, dosage and what is the difference between this and encapsulation. We also weigh the pros and cons of having this done.
What is Tincture?
A tincture is when someone uses herbs, such as herbal extracts and concentrates it by soaking any of the following: bark, berries, leaves, roots or plants and soaking them in either alcohol or vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The vinegar or alcohol then pulls the active ingredients from each and then it condenses in a liquid.
This process can take some time and should be done with a professional. Some plants or seeds of plants can be dangerous or even deadly. If used properly, it can have numerous health benefits.
Some people report having some side effects, depending on what ingredients are put in the tincture. For more information, be sure to discuss with your doctor.
Placenta Tincture
A placenta tincture is adding a blend of herbs to a piece of ones placenta and making it into a tincture. Placenta tincture use is becoming increasingly more common and wanted once the baby is born. After the tincture is ready, store in a cool, dark place and stir it on occasion. You will most likely receive your placenta tincture in a bottle with an eye dropper to distribute.
Here is many benefits for you and your baby. People practice placenta tincture themselves while some hire a company to do it for them. There are many benefits that people have claimed from placenta tincture. These benefits that people have claimed are included but not limited to:
hormonal balance- Many people claim their hormones balanced when they took placenta
Ease the pain of PMS – Do you have PMS symptoms that are very bad? Many say this will help ease the symptoms.
Regulate periods- If you notice that your periods are irregular after birth, many say that this will help.
Ease Anxiety- After birth, many suffer from high anxiety. This may help ease your anxiety so you can be in the moment.
General Health- People are said to feel that they are less cloudy and have more energy.
Some of the benefits people have claimed Placenta Tincture For baby include but are not limited to:
Eases teething pain- Teething can be so stressful and painful for baby. Many parents report their child’s pain reduces.
Eases Colic- Colicky babies are said to have a soothed stomach.
There are not extensive studies available on placenta tincture but the research is growing everyday and the results from thousands of parents around the world are generally positive. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you are curious about placenta tincture.
What Is The Difference Between Placenta Tincture and Placenta Encapsulation?
This is a great question and often times the two get confused. The difference between placenta tincture and placenta encapsulation is placenta tincture is the preparation of the placenta with herbs and a vodka or a cider making it into a liquid substance that you can ingest or apply to your skin. A placenta encapsulation is when the placenta is prepared (like a placenta tincture) and placed into tiny capsules that you can consume.
Placenta tincture is an oil that you can swallow or apply on your body and a placenta encapsulation is an oil or particles of a placenta in a capsule that you can swallow.
How Do I Find A Company That Will Make A Placenta Tincture
Firstly, parents will Google Placenta Tinctures near them and request whether they are put in capsules (placenta encapsulation) that you can swallow or put them in a placenta tincture where you can use it as an oil.
Parents prefer to look for someone who is a placenta specialist so they have had a lot of experience. Alternatively, you can look for someone who will do this for you that has learned DIY methods but that can be a use at your own risk situation. Speak to your doctor before you make the final choice.
How To Prepare Your Placenta for A Tincture
Preparation actually begins before birth! To prepare, it is encouraged that parents plan ahead. Before your birth, bring a cooler for your placenta or a few zip lock bags to keep it cold. Speak to your placenta tincture provider to see if they have specific needs. When bringing it to your specialist, it may take a few weeks to be ready. Generally , the wait is six weeks long.
It should be noted that if you have a challenge with your placenta or need pathology work done on your placenta, you might not qualify for a placenta tincture. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to avoid this happening. This is one of the many interesting things about birth, no matter how hard we try, we cannot plan well enough to stop the surprises that can happen during the birthing process.
What Kind Of Birth Do I Need To Have
It does not matter if you are induced, have a c section or a vaginal birth, your placenta should be ready after birth. Expect to give birth to your placenta a few minutes after your baby is born. You will feel a slight or strong urge to push again and your placenta will come out on its own. The birth process for a placenta is rather painless.
When you are ready to pick up your placenta, ask if you will need a cooler with your placenta specialist. You can expect your specialist to give you special instructions on how to use your placenta tincture.
READ: Why Placenta Encapsulation?
The Cost
Many placenta specialists offer “packages” to suit your needs. You can expect anywhere from $200 for a basic package to $400 for a more advanced package. Decide what is best for your budget and your needs. A good placenta specialist will break down their services, product and expense packages for you and be available to answer any questions that you may have.
How Long Is A Placenta Tincture Shelf Life
The shelf life of a placenta tincture is often times a life time. Your placenta specialist who makes it for you can go into more detail, but as long as it is kept in a cool, dark place and stirred once in a while, it should maintain a shelf life for a lifetime.
Studies About Placenta Tincture + Risks
We want to emphasize as we have been doing through out this post to talk to your doctor about placenta consumption, placenta tincture and placenta encapsulation. With that being said, there have been studies on consumption of the placenta. Unfortunately, many of these studies are over one hundred years old. There are many doctors who will not recommend the consumption of a placenta as some of the side effects can be very harmful to you and your baby. Since the demand for placenta tincture is growing, it is important that there are new studies that come out on the benefits and side effects of placenta tincture.
In 2016, it was discovered that an infant (through the consumption of breast milk) contracted Strep B Sepsis from babies mother consuming placenta capsules. The CDC warns against placenta encapsulation since 2017.
Risks of Placenta Consumption
There are many people who will tell you the benefits of placenta consumption. There are many businesses developed to help with placenta encapsulation and placenta tincture. However, we must give you the risks and warnings as well. As stated above, the CDC warns against placenta consumption. There are risks of placenta consumption. These include but are not limited to:
Consuming placenta raw and ingesting harmful bacteria.
Transferring a bacteria, strep B or doing harm to yourself and/or your baby.
A placenta can contain fungi, disease and other viruses that are dangerous or fatal to you and/or your baby.
Some people report getting sicker from ingesting their placenta, rather than getting better.
Placenta Tincture DIY
There are many sites that recommend placenta tincture DIY. Many people are drawn to this for a few reasons. Firstly, it is a passion project for parents and baby. Secondly, this may be an alternative to spending a costly amount hiring a specialist to do it for you.
We would urge parents to not do a DIY tincture of your placenta. If a mistake is made, the results can cause you great pain, side effects, hospitalization or worse for you and your baby. Read our CDC link above and some of the studies we have found over the last century. Be sure to speak to your health care provider(s) about your thoughts of placenta DIY.
Making A Tincture From Your Placenta
Whether you choose to have a tincture made with your placenta or are still wondering if this is for you, the first thing that is important to do is get a professional care team around you. Get a trusted doctor, whether that is your family doctor or OBGYN to bounce ideas off of. Secondly, speak to people about both sides, the pros and cons. Lastly, speak to a placenta specialist and what they offer. Any good person in your care team should be able to weigh pros and cons with you. From there you can make your choice. In the end, many people do this practice and it is becoming increasingly popular in North America.
However, The CDC (Center for Disease Control) warns against the consumption of your placenta , because of the harmful risks. We wish you well in your placenta tincture journey and would always encourage anyone to speak to their doctor before making any medical decision or lifestyle change.
