Now, women are claiming that ingesting the placenta will prevent post-partum depression. In these cases, the placenta is processed and taken in capsule form.

The medical community is skeptical.

The practice, known as placentophagy, is far from widespread and is received with great skepticism by more traditional medical experts. But among a small but vocal contingent of expectant mothers and proponents, it is strongly believed that the organ created by the woman's body to pass nutrients between mother and fetus and is expelled after birth is rich in chemicals that can help mitigate fluctuations in hormones believed to cause postpartum depression.

/2qtys4

Excellent topic Grady. There is very little evidence to show that the consumption of the Placenta has any affect at all on the person consuming it. In fact, in most clinical trials I am aware of there were such variances in the amount of affects that it had on the subjects that results were inconclusive. However, in some test subjects who consumed a certain molecule found in the amniotic fluid there were variances in the amount of pain experienced directly after birth, which could lend some credance to its beneficial properties. This could explain why most animals, insects, rodents, etc. consume and digest the placenta...not only as a means of nourishment, but also as a pain reliever. There is a slight difference in the reasons for consumption though. On one hand, most creatures are more vulnerable and weaker after they give birth and the placenta provides them with enough nourishment to regain some of their lost stamina. In humans, we are generally better nourished and don't have many natural predators that will take advantage of us during our weakend state, so the consumption of the placenta may not have as many beneficial properties.

The consumption of the placenta by the mother is a completely natural thing, and because of the taboo surrounding it's practice in the modern world, it has all but disappeared. This may be a blessing in disguise though, because as diseases have become more prevalent in humans (particularly viral diseases) the consumption of the placenta can be seen as an unhealthy way to get nourishment after birth. The reason being is that uncooked placenta can transmit diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

If you're eating your own placenta, there'd be no additional risk of disease. I doubt that any beneficial hormones would be active after it was cooked. Since all sorts of gross things taste good to a person with deficiencies, suspect eating it is good for some moms. They should just sign some kind of a waiver informing the risks and stating that they won't serve it to someone else. I also think that we should be respectful of those who wish to have some kind of ritual with it like burying it under a tree. Seems like a pretty harmless custom to me. For some cultures it has great religious significance.