Historical occurrences of human placentophagy Human placentophagy

human placenta

in 1979 volume of bulletin of new york academy of medicine, william ober’s article “notes on placentophagy,” evaluates possibility ancient cultures practiced human sacrifice may have practiced human placentophagy, including egyptians, tasians, badarians, amrateans, gerzeans, semainians.

placentophagy might have occurred during siege of jerusalem (587 bc), due excessive famine experienced judeans, according scholar jack miles in pulitzer prize-winning god: biography. miles argues curse in deuteronomy 28:56–57, written in form of prophecy, far vivid not have been seen author of verses.

human placenta has been used traditionally in chinese medicine, though mother not identified recipient of these treatments. sixteenth-century chinese medical text, compendium of materia medica, states in section on medical uses of placenta that, “when woman in liuqiu has baby, placenta eaten,” , in bagui, “the placenta of boy specially prepared , eaten mother’s family , relatives.” chinese medical text, great pharmacopoeia of 1596, recommends placental tissue mixed human milk overcome effects of ch’i exhaustion. these include, “anemia, weakness of extremities, , coldness of sexual organs involuntary ejaculation of semen.” dried, powdered placenta stirred 3 wine-cups of milk make connected destiny elixir. elixir warmed in sunlight, taken treatment. not known how traditional remedy was, nor how far dates.

ober identified many cultures known have practiced placentophagy medicinal purposes, , 1 flavor.

medicinal purposes

dried human placenta medicine - ziheche (紫河车)

the araucanian native americans of argentina dried , ground child’s umbilical cord, giving child little of powder when sick.

in jamaica, bits of placental membranes put infant’s tea prevent convulsions caused ghosts.

the chaga of tanganyika place placenta in receptacle 2 months dry. once dry, ground flour porridge made. porridge served old women of family way of preserving child’s life.

in central india, women of kol tribe eat placenta aid reproductive function. believed consumption of placenta childless woman “may dispel influences keep barren.”

flavor

the kurtachi of solomon islands mixed placenta mother’s supply of powdered lime chewing areca nut.