Alternative uses for placenta

Abstract

The placenta is an organ which links the fetus to the mother in mammals for transfer of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and fetal waste products to the mother. Many species of mammals consume their placentas. Additionally in many human cultures placenta's are consumed. This may be for nutrition but often it has a cultural significance. For more information about the ritual consumption of placenta see Placenta#Cultural_practices_and_beliefs. Human and animal placenta's are also widely used as a source of extracts to be used as ingredients in various consumer products such as pharmecuticals, cosmetics, hair care products, health tonics, and food products other than ritual consumption by the mother or family.

Use in Cosmetics

At least three companies currently sell hair or skin treatments which contain extracts of animal placenta. The most common type of placenta used is sheep. Aledgedly the placenta extract serves as a source of protein and hormones, predominantly estrogen and progesterone in the cosmetics in which it is used. Data on the exact purpose of the placenta extract is sketchy and hard to find. In fact there is a definate sense that manufacturers avoid claiming that it does anything particularly. For example Alleghany Pharmacal Corporation, manufacturer of the Hask brand of hair conditioners which extensively use sheep placenta extract, maintains no brand website for their Hask brand and the parent company website Template:Link url = www.alleghanypharmacal.com is a blank construction page.

The FDA maintains that placenta extract may be potentially hazardous and its use is subject to restrictions and requirements of warnings in at least some products. In one study four girls between one and eight years of age developed breasts or pubic hair two to 24 months after starting the use of estrogen- or placenta-containing hair products. Their breasts and public hair regressed when they stopped using the products. No other cause for early sexual development was found.

Use in Pharmaceuticals

Placentas are a source of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hCG, a naturally produced substance which is used in the treatment of obesity, asthma, gastritis, neurosis, heart damage, hyperlipemias, hypercholesterolemia, eczemas, glaucoma, alcoholism, and more recently a cancer-like tumor appearing in AIDS patients, named Kaposi sarcoma

Deer placenta is an ingredient in "herbal supplements" to increase sexual desire and potency.

There is an unverified use reported as the injection of a placenta extract directly into damaged muscle or connective tissues to aide in healing. Evidence supporting this treatment appears to be highly anecdotal.

Use in Food

There are a number of foods, many with touted health benefits, that use placenta as a direct ingredient. This is in addition to ritual consumption by mothers and families in many cultures.

Plantec Co LTD in Japan makes a drink called "Placenta Drink" which contains placenta. The company claims that "It is a drink that used the placenta raw material" (SIC) and "The expectation that makes the body metabolism active can be done" (SIC) and "It is a drink of the apple taste" (SIC)