Placentophagia in Tribal and Modern Societies: Navigating the Thin Line Between Risk and Benefit
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Abstract
Objective: Eating the placenta after birth, or placentophagia, is common in mammals but questionable in humans. There is little scientific evidence to support the claims made by practitioners that it promotes lactation, prevents depression, and aids in postpartum healing.
Materials and methods: This paper reviews the historical background, cultural relevance, ethical considerations, advantages, and potential risks of human placentophagia. The placenta does contain hormones and nutrients, but their efficacy and bioavailability have not been established. Furthermore, safety concerns (such as bacteria and endocrine disturbance) raise doubts about its practice.
Results: Placentophagia is not recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because the production of human placentophagy products is unregulated and presents potential health risks.
Conclusion: This review considers the benefits or harms of placentophagia on human health, summarizes recent studies, addresses ethical and medical viewpoints, and emphasizes the need for further research.
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2. Botelle R, Willott C. Birth, attitudes and placentophagy: a thematic discourse analysis of discussions on UK parenting forums. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):134.
3. Ober WB. Notes on placentophagy. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1979;55(6):591-9.
4. Kristal MB. Placentophagia: a biobehavioral enigma (or De gustibus non disputandum est). Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1980;4(2):141-50.
5. Selander J, Cantor A, Young SM, Benyshek DC. Human maternal placentophagy: a survey of self-reported motivations and experiences associated with placenta consumption. Ecol Food Nutr. 2013;52(2):93-115.
6. Young SM, Gryder LK, Zava D, Kimball DW, Benyshek DC. Presence and concentration of 17 hormones in human placenta processed for encapsulation and consumption. Placenta. 2016;43:86-9.
7. Buser GL, Mató S, Zhang AY, Metcalf BJ, Beall B, Thomas AR. Notes from the Field: Late-Onset Infant Group B Streptococcus Infection Associated with Maternal Consumption of Capsules Containing Dehydrated Placenta - Oregon, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66(25):677-678.
8. Young SM, Benyshek DC. In search of human placentophagy: a cross-cultural survey of human placenta consumption, disposal practices, and cultural beliefs. Ecol Food Nutr. 2010;49(6):467-84.
9. Reed R, Gabriel L, Kearney L. Birthing the placenta: Women’s decisions and experiences. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):140.
10. Rono A, Maithya H, Sorre B. Culture and birthing: Experiences from a rural community in Western Kenya. Sociol Anthropol. 2018;6(1):56–63.
11. Aziato L, Omenyo CN. Initiation of traditional birth attendants and their traditional and spiritual practices during pregnancy and childbirth in Ghana. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):64.
12. Panwar A. Amulets and Cord Blood: Understanding Banking and Regenerative Medicine in Chennai, India. Med Anthropol. 2023;42(2):121-135.
13. Pan SY, Chan M, Wong M, Klokol D, Chernykh V. Placental therapy: An insight to their biological and therapeutic properties. blood. 2017;4(11):12.
14. Schuette SA, Brown KM, Cuthbert DA, Coyle CW, Wisner KL, Hoffman MC, et al. Perspectives from Patients and Healthcare Providers on the Practice of Maternal Placentophagy. J Altern Complement Med. 2017;23(1):60-67.
15. Gryder LK, Young SM, Zava D, Norris W, Cross CL, Benyshek DC. Effects of Human Maternal Placentophagy on Maternal Postpartum Iron Status: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2017;62(1):68-79.
16. Vaughn R. Food, blood, nutrients: On eating placenta & the limits of edibility. Food Cult Soc. 2019;22(5):639–56.
17. Bosco CB, Díaz EG. Placentophagy: A controversial trend. Int J Res Med Sci. 2018;6(6):1841.
18. Sharma S, Van Teijlingen E, Hundley V, Angell C, Simkhada P. Dirty and 40 days in the wilderness: Eliciting childbirth and postnatal cultural practices and beliefs in Nepal. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):147.
19. Farr A, Chervenak FA, McCullough LB, Baergen RN, Grünebaum A. Human placentophagy: a review. Am
J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(4):401.e1-401.e11.
20. Mota-Rojas D, Orihuela A, Strappini A, Villanueva-García D, Napolitano F, Mora-Medina P, et al. Consumption of Maternal Placenta in Humans and Nonhuman Mammals: Beneficial and Adverse Effects. Animals (Basel). 2020;10(12):2398.
21. Beacock M. Does eating placenta offer postpartum health benefits? Br J Midwifery. 2012;20(7):464–9.
22. Hart Hayes E. Placentophagy, Lotus Birth, and Other
Placenta Practices: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?
J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2019;33(2):99-102.
23. Johnson SK, Pastuschek J, Rödel J, Markert UR, Groten T. Placenta - Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagia: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2018;78(9):846-852.
24. Johnson SK, Pastuschek J, Benyshek DC, Heimann Y, Möller A, Rödel J, et al. Impact of tissue processing on microbiological colonization in the context of placentophagy. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5307.
2. Botelle R, Willott C. Birth, attitudes and placentophagy: a thematic discourse analysis of discussions on UK parenting forums. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):134.
3. Ober WB. Notes on placentophagy. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1979;55(6):591-9.
4. Kristal MB. Placentophagia: a biobehavioral enigma (or De gustibus non disputandum est). Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1980;4(2):141-50.
5. Selander J, Cantor A, Young SM, Benyshek DC. Human maternal placentophagy: a survey of self-reported motivations and experiences associated with placenta consumption. Ecol Food Nutr. 2013;52(2):93-115.
6. Young SM, Gryder LK, Zava D, Kimball DW, Benyshek DC. Presence and concentration of 17 hormones in human placenta processed for encapsulation and consumption. Placenta. 2016;43:86-9.
7. Buser GL, Mató S, Zhang AY, Metcalf BJ, Beall B, Thomas AR. Notes from the Field: Late-Onset Infant Group B Streptococcus Infection Associated with Maternal Consumption of Capsules Containing Dehydrated Placenta - Oregon, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66(25):677-678.
8. Young SM, Benyshek DC. In search of human placentophagy: a cross-cultural survey of human placenta consumption, disposal practices, and cultural beliefs. Ecol Food Nutr. 2010;49(6):467-84.
9. Reed R, Gabriel L, Kearney L. Birthing the placenta: Women’s decisions and experiences. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):140.
10. Rono A, Maithya H, Sorre B. Culture and birthing: Experiences from a rural community in Western Kenya. Sociol Anthropol. 2018;6(1):56–63.
11. Aziato L, Omenyo CN. Initiation of traditional birth attendants and their traditional and spiritual practices during pregnancy and childbirth in Ghana. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):64.
12. Panwar A. Amulets and Cord Blood: Understanding Banking and Regenerative Medicine in Chennai, India. Med Anthropol. 2023;42(2):121-135.
13. Pan SY, Chan M, Wong M, Klokol D, Chernykh V. Placental therapy: An insight to their biological and therapeutic properties. blood. 2017;4(11):12.
14. Schuette SA, Brown KM, Cuthbert DA, Coyle CW, Wisner KL, Hoffman MC, et al. Perspectives from Patients and Healthcare Providers on the Practice of Maternal Placentophagy. J Altern Complement Med. 2017;23(1):60-67.
15. Gryder LK, Young SM, Zava D, Norris W, Cross CL, Benyshek DC. Effects of Human Maternal Placentophagy on Maternal Postpartum Iron Status: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2017;62(1):68-79.
16. Vaughn R. Food, blood, nutrients: On eating placenta & the limits of edibility. Food Cult Soc. 2019;22(5):639–56.
17. Bosco CB, Díaz EG. Placentophagy: A controversial trend. Int J Res Med Sci. 2018;6(6):1841.
18. Sharma S, Van Teijlingen E, Hundley V, Angell C, Simkhada P. Dirty and 40 days in the wilderness: Eliciting childbirth and postnatal cultural practices and beliefs in Nepal. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):147.
19. Farr A, Chervenak FA, McCullough LB, Baergen RN, Grünebaum A. Human placentophagy: a review. Am
J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(4):401.e1-401.e11.
20. Mota-Rojas D, Orihuela A, Strappini A, Villanueva-García D, Napolitano F, Mora-Medina P, et al. Consumption of Maternal Placenta in Humans and Nonhuman Mammals: Beneficial and Adverse Effects. Animals (Basel). 2020;10(12):2398.
21. Beacock M. Does eating placenta offer postpartum health benefits? Br J Midwifery. 2012;20(7):464–9.
22. Hart Hayes E. Placentophagy, Lotus Birth, and Other
Placenta Practices: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?
J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2019;33(2):99-102.
23. Johnson SK, Pastuschek J, Rödel J, Markert UR, Groten T. Placenta - Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagia: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2018;78(9):846-852.
24. Johnson SK, Pastuschek J, Benyshek DC, Heimann Y, Möller A, Rödel J, et al. Impact of tissue processing on microbiological colonization in the context of placentophagy. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5307.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 19, No 3 (September 2025) | |
| Section | Review Articles | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/jfrh.v19i3.20053 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Culture Hormonal Balance Maternal Health Midwifery Neonate Placenta Postpartum Tribe | ||
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How to Cite
1.
. M, Sharma S, . S. Placentophagia in Tribal and Modern Societies: Navigating the Thin Line Between Risk and Benefit. J Family Reprod Health. 2025;19(3):161-166.
