Mother Zhang next door and Mother Liu upstairs met at the door of the hospital, and as soon as Mother Liu saw Mother Zhang, she happily congratulated her son and daughter-in-law on giving birth to a fat doll. Mother Zhang was also so happy that she couldn't close her mouth, but when Mama Liu asked about the treatment of the placenta, her face immediately sank. She said she wanted to take the placenta home to eat, but her daughter-in-law adamantly disagreed, and eventually had to be dealt with by the hospital.
Mama Liu also feels a pity, because the folk have been circulating the saying that the placenta can replenish the body, especially in rural areas, this statement is more common.
But do they really know the placenta? Is this folk saying true and credible? And where did the placenta that was not taken away go? Let's take a look at the truth.
1. What is placenta? What is the original function of the placenta?
The placenta is an organ that is formed during conception in the mammalian mother and is closely connected to the fetus. The placenta mostly forms late in embryonic development and usually begins to form in the 3rd to 4th month of pregnancy. The shape, size, and structure of the placenta vary from species to species, but in general, the placenta usually consists of the chorion of the fetus and the uterine membrane on the wall of the mother's uterus.
The morphology and structure of the placenta vary from species to species. The placenta usually consists of two parts: the placental membrane and the placental tissue.
The placenta is divided into two layers: the outer layer is called the chorion, and the inner layer is called the amniotic membrane. The chorion is covered with a large number of villiform cells, which form contact with the trophoblast on the uterine wall of the mother, so that the blood of the fetus can exchange substances with the blood of the mother. The amniotic membrane is responsible for enveloping the fetus and protecting it from external aggression.
Placental tissue is composed of fetal and maternal tissue, which is mainly composed of the uterine membrane on the uterine wall. Fetal tissue consists of one end of the fetal umbilical cord and the peritoneum of the fetus. The umbilical cord is the structure that connects the fetus to the placenta and contains one umbilical blood vessel and two umbilical arteries. The umbilical vessels are responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, while the umbilical arteries are responsible for expelling waste and carbon dioxide from the fetus.
The main functions of the placenta are:
1. Nutritional supply: The placenta is an important transportation hub between the fetus and the mother, providing nutrients and oxygen to the fetus through nutrients, oxygen, hormones and other substances in the mother's blood, supporting the growth and development of the fetus. At the same time, the placenta also transfers harmful substances such as carbon dioxide to the mother's body through the mother's metabolites, protecting the fetus from harmful substances.
2. Immunomodulation: The placenta also has an immunomodulatory effect, which can isolate the immune system of the fetus and the mother, protect the fetus from the attack of the maternal immune system, and also deliver the mother's antibodies to the fetus, improving the immunity of the fetus.
3. Endocrine regulation: The placenta is an endocrine organ that secretes a variety of hormones and regulates the physiological functions of the fetus and mother. For example, the placenta can secrete hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone, and estrogen, regulate the metabolic and physiological state of the mother, and also affect the growth and development of the fetus.
4. Growth factor regulation: the placenta can also secrete a variety of growth factors, regulate the proliferation and differentiation of fetal cells, and promote the development and maturity of fetal tissues and organs.
5. Waste metabolism: In addition to excreting harmful substances, the placenta is also able to metabolize waste products produced in the fetus, for example, metabolizing the bilirubin of the fetus.
Second, the placenta supplement, is it true? Is the placenta so amazing?
The claim of placenta supplementation circulated by the people has no scientific basis and has not been confirmed by modern medicine. In the view of modern medicine, eating placenta can not play a great tonic effect, and there are potential risks and dangers.
In fact, the claim of placenta supplement may come from the worship and mystification of placenta in ancient times.
In ancient times, the placenta was regarded as a miraculous item, believed to have special efficacy and medicinal properties, able to treat many diseases and strengthen the body's immunity. According to legend, in ancient China, some emperors and nobles would make their placentas into elixirs and take them, believing that they could prolong life and enhance their health.
In addition, there is a folk tradition of making placenta into placenta wine or placenta soup for confinement women. This practice is also due to the cult and mystification of the placenta, which is rich in nutrients that help mothers restore their bodies and promote milk production.
However, there are also potential health risks to this practice, as the placenta can carry harmful substances or bacteria, and cooking and processing can also lead to contamination.
Although the folk claim of placenta supplementation lacks scientific basis, ancient Chinese medicine does have the practice of using placenta into medicine. Zihe Che is a precious Chinese medicine made from placenta in ancient Chinese medicine. According to legend, it got its name from the god of the purple river in the purple wall, because of its lilac color.
The method of making Zihe cart is very cumbersome and requires multiple processes, mainly including cleaning, drying, grinding, processing and other steps. The appearance of the purple river car made is light purple, with a delicate texture and a certain smell and taste.
However, the method of making Zihe cart varies according to the region and the mother's constitution, but the general production process is: take a fresh mammalian placenta, cut off the blood vessels, clean and dry, and then dry the placenta in a dry place with air circulation, and then cut the dried placenta into small pieces; Then grind into powder with stone mill or iron pestle, and then stir the powder with water, cook it into a thick shape and dry; After that, the dried thick is cut into small pieces, dried again, and finally ground the dried pieces into fine powders to make medicinal herbs.
Because of its high medicinal value, Zihe car was widely used in traditional Chinese medicine in ancient times.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Zihe Che is warm, sweet, slightly bitter, nourishing yin and replenishing blood, strengthening tendons and bones, regulating endocrine, improving immunity and other effects, and can treat anemia, irregular menstruation, insufficient milk, kidney deficiency and low back pain, rheumatism and other diseases caused by insufficient blood. In addition, Zihe car is also commonly used in gynecological health care and treatment of postpartum disorders, especially for postpartum recovery and breastfeeding has a good effect.
In addition to the above preparation methods and medicinal benefits, the purple river cart was also regarded as a high-grade medicinal herb in ancient times, and was often listed as a tribute to the royal family or important officials. In the Ming Dynasty's Compendium of Materia Medica, Zihe Che was listed as a treasure and considered a top-grade tonic for women. In the Qing Dynasty, the purple river cart was also listed as one of the court tributes and was a very expensive Chinese medicinal herb.
In addition, purple river carts are also widely used in folk culture and beliefs. In some parts of southern China, after a newborn is born, the placenta is made into a purple river cart and kept at home as a belief and ritual to pray for health and longevity. In other regions, purple river carts are also used as drinks or foods that are thought to nourish the body and improve health.
In short, as a traditional Chinese medicinal material, Zihe cart not only has important medicinal value, but also carries rich folk culture and belief connotations. Although the development of modern medical technology has limited the medicinal scope of Zihe Che, its history and status in the field of traditional Chinese medicine still deserve our respect.
But we can't confuse placenta with Zihe car.
Although the raw material of Zihe car is placenta, the treatment method and extraction ingredients in the production process make its medicinal effect more prominent and specific, mainly used to nourish yin and blood, strengthen tendons and bones, regulate endocrine, etc., and placenta may carry harmful substances or bacteria because it has not been processed, and the cooking and processing process is also easy to lead to pollution.
Third, why are you rarely heard about the placenta these days? Where did the placenta go?
In modern times, after giving birth, the placenta is usually collected and processed. In modern medical treatment, there are three main ways to deal with the placenta:
The first type: medical waste disposal: When the placenta is considered medical waste, it is usually disposed of through the medical waste disposal system inside the hospital. Disinfection, sterilization, packaging and other steps are carried out during the treatment process to ensure that the treated placenta meets the relevant prescribed hygiene standards.
The specific treatment methods vary from hospital to hospital, mainly divided into incineration treatment, chemical treatment, burial treatment, before treatment, hospitals need to comply with relevant laws and regulations and health standards to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment process.
At the same time, hospitals need to consider the opinions of patients and families and respect their choices. If patients want to manage the placenta on their own, hospitals also need to provide guidance and support.
The second type: placenta recycling: Placenta recycling refers to the preservation of the placenta, usually by freezing or processing, for future use in medical research, clinical treatment, etc. Placenta storage needs to comply with relevant regulations and regulations, and it needs to be properly handled and stored to ensure its quality and safety.
In medical research, the placenta can be used to study problems such as fetal development and placental function. In terms of clinical treatment, placenta can be used to treat some diseases, such as immune system diseases, blood diseases and other diseases, and also has potential effects and can be applied to stem cell therapy.
The third type: placenta storage: Placenta storage can provide a souvenir or a symbol of a treasure for the family. Some parents consider the placenta to be a symbol and memorial of the birth of a child, so they choose to deposit the placenta and save it as a memorial and memory.
When performing placental storage, the hospital needs to fully communicate and consult with the patient to ensure that the patient understands the relevant information and voluntarily performs the placenta storage. At the same time, hospitals also need to strictly abide by relevant regulations and standards to ensure the security and confidentiality of the hosting process.
IV. Conclusion
The placenta is an important presence in our journey of life. Starting from the embryo, it provides us with nutrition and support so that we can grow and develop safely in the mother.
However, after childbirth, the fate of the placenta is often overlooked. For a long time, people's understanding and use of the placenta was only stuck in folklore and some ancient medicinal secrets.
However, with the development of modern technology and medicine, we are beginning to understand more deeply the importance and potential of the placenta. We now know that placenta can be utilized through recycling and storage, opening up new possibilities for medical research and treatment. Placenta storage allows pregnant women to keep their placenta and use it when needed in the future. This offers hope for future stem cell therapies and a more personalized and safe treatment option for pregnant women.
In short, the placenta, as a source of life and a wonderful organ, deserves our greater attention and understanding. By recycling and depositing, we can maximize the potential of the placenta, opening up new opportunities for medical research and treatment. Hopefully, in the future, we can better understand and utilize the placenta so that it can contribute more to our health and happiness.
Bibliography:
1. WANG Dandan,ZHANG Fang,XU Feifei. Research progress of placenta. Chinese Journal of Practical Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2019, 35(7): 681-685.
2. GUO Xiaohong, ZHAO Wenjuan. The role of the placenta in fetal growth and development. Journal of Peking University (Health Sciences), 2015, 47(3): 426-429.
3. FAN Yinglun,ZHENG Wei,ZHENG Zhiju. Research progress on placenta and related drugs. Chinese Journal of Experimental Medical Formulae, 2017, 23(2): 223-227.