Tree of Life Placenta Services
Placenta Encapsulation: Traditional Chinese Method
For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has recognized the placenta as powerful medicine used to increase scanty lactation and tonify Qi, life energy, after the birth. Today, many women look to placenta encapsulation as a natural way to even their hormones after birth and avoid postpartum depression. I use Traditional Chinese Medicine methods to gently steam, dehydrate, powder and encapsulate the placenta. I usually use several different herbs during the steaming process to enhance the warming and healing properties of the placenta. I will ask you a few simple questions about your birth and adjust the herbs accordingly.
Each placenta is different in size and substance so the amount of capsules it makes can vary from 90 to 140. The standard dosage is up to 2 capsules, 3 times a day for the first 2 weeks. After 2 weeks you can start to decrease the dosage down to 1 or 2 pills a day as needed. By ingesting your placenta in pill form you can reap the benefits of your placenta medicine without the aversion that some people feel about cooking and eating it after the birth. Additionally, you get a longer, sustained application over the first month postpartum than if it was ingested immediately after the birth. Some people even save some of their remaining placenta capsules and freeze them for later, knowing they can be useful during other physically/hormonally stressful times.
Each placenta is different in size and substance so the amount of capsules it makes can vary from 90 to 140. The standard dosage is up to 2 capsules, 3 times a day for the first 2 weeks. After 2 weeks you can start to decrease the dosage down to 1 or 2 pills a day as needed. By ingesting your placenta in pill form you can reap the benefits of your placenta medicine without the aversion that some people feel about cooking and eating it after the birth. Additionally, you get a longer, sustained application over the first month postpartum than if it was ingested immediately after the birth. Some people even save some of their remaining placenta capsules and freeze them for later, knowing they can be useful during other physically/hormonally stressful times.
Placenta Encapsulation: The Raw Foods Method
This method is different from the traditional method in that the placenta is not steamed or cooked in any way before dehydrating. It is still dried, powdered and encapsulated and the dosage is similar but mothers who utilize this method often report a more immediate energy burst after taking these placenta pills.
This method is a good option for those who already follow some degree of a raw foods diet or for those who are particularly interested in the freshest hormonal benefits of placenta encapsulation. There are however a few situations where raw encapsulation would not be ideal, like if the mother had a suspected infection during labor.
This method is a good option for those who already follow some degree of a raw foods diet or for those who are particularly interested in the freshest hormonal benefits of placenta encapsulation. There are however a few situations where raw encapsulation would not be ideal, like if the mother had a suspected infection during labor.
Or, Choose Both Options
If you are curious about experiencing the energy burst from the raw method but would also like to benefit from the tried and true traditional method, I can do both for you. Some mamas will also have me cut up a few small pieces of raw placenta to use in smoothies for the first week.
