The famous medicine with flavor in traditional medicine is called [Hominis Placenta], which is the human placenta.
The ancients believed that it carried babies across heaven and earth, Yin and Yang, and Gan Kun came to the world. After baking patent medicine, it was purple again, hence the name “Hominis Hominis”. The folk believed that it was a great supplement. In modern times, some people extracted [human placenta] from it, claiming to be able to [resist aging, beautify and protect health]. In addition, many famous people spoke for it, and this product was wildly sought after.
What is the truth?
Placenta is what?
Placenta is an organ formed by human embryonic development. Its mission is to escort the development of the fetus to its birth. The placenta is connected with the blood vessels of the mother’s uterus and becomes the channel through which the mother transports oxygen and nutrients to the baby. In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, it secretes a variety of hormones, interferons, immune proteins and various growth factors.
Macroscopically speaking, it, like other internal organs, contains proteins, fats, sugars, vitamins, minerals, etc. In addition, it also contains hormones and other active substances related to growth and immunity.
Placental [big tonic]
Many mammals eat the placenta after childbirth. Perhaps the practice of [using placenta as medicine] originated from animal behavior. Zoologists have not yet understood why animals eat their placenta. Several common conjectures are:
1. Nutrition intake:
After all, the placenta is also equivalent to a piece of meat, which is very valuable for animal nutrition. However, this hypothesis obviously does not make sense to human beings, especially modern people who are extremely rich in food. The nutrition of the placenta can be obtained through conventional and reliable meat.
2. Remove traces to avoid being killed by natural enemies:
Not to mention whether this hypothesis is true or not, [natural enemy killing] is no longer a problem that parturients need to worry about.
3. Postpartum recovery:
The active ingredients in the placenta are helpful for postpartum recovery. Some animal experiments seem to support this hypothesis, but this does not support the claim of taking placenta [big tonic] [beauty] [anti-aging].
So, the efficacy of taking placenta or injecting placenta extract can only depend on those [active ingredients]. Is this [hope] reliable?
First of all, a large proportion of these active substances are protein macromolecules, For example, interferon, immunoglobulin, growth factor, gonadotropin and so on. To have physiological effects, they need to have natural spatial configuration. After the placenta is cooked, processed and digested, they not only lose their spatial configuration, but also their molecules are cut into small fragments, which will no longer have their original physiological activity.
As for those [placenta] injections extracted and isolated from placenta, Denaturation and inactivation of these active proteins can be avoided. However, Injecting macromolecules directly into the blood has a high risk of allergy or other infusion reactions. Especially for this complex extract, there is too much uncertainty and it is entirely [for the sake of indifferent benefits] to take [risks that cannot be ignored]. If you are a little less lucky, you will [steal chicken but not eat rice].
Other active substances are small molecules, For example, estrogen and progesterone are not easily degraded and can be directly absorbed. However, it is quite dangerous to supplement sex hormones at will. For example, excessive estrogen will increase the risk of breast cancer in women, while men will increase the risk of prostate cancer, girls may lead to precocious puberty, and boys-is supplementing estrogen to cultivate [pseudo-mothers]? As for those women who really need estrogen supplement because of their physical condition, they should also take estrogen products with clear dosage and reliable quality under the guidance of doctors. Placenta or products from placenta, estrogen activity is not clear, other impurity components are not clear, rashly taking, is tantamount to taking yourself as a mouse.
Think of so many female stars and you will know that there are so many [anti-aging], where will beauties die…
Scientific Research on Taking Placenta
Taking placenta is not a unique practice of Chinese folk or traditional Chinese medicine, but also exists in many parts of the world.
There has also been some scientific research to prove whether it has the legendary effect. In 2015, scholars from Northwestern University published a literature review entitled “Eating Placenta: Medical Miracle or Myth”? > >.
The author searched the published studies on the efficacy of placenta consumption on women since 1950 and concluded that [further research is needed on health efficacy and risks].
This academic conclusion, translated into everyday words, is:
Is it useful to eat placenta? I don’t know.
Is it safe to eat placenta? I don’t know.
It may not be worth taking unknown major risks for unknown [big supplement] [beauty] [anti-aging].