DIY Placenta Lotion & Salve Recipes
Your placenta powder and placenta tincture may be mixed into many different types of oil or lotion to use topically. Placenta containing lotions should only be used on closed wounds that show no sign of infection, and should not be used on open wounds such as cesarean incisions, perineal tears, or cracked nipples. Making your own placenta lotion/salve is as simple as opening capsules and mixing in with a small amount of coconut oil, fluffy shea butter, or other carrier oil such as almond, avocado, or apricot oil. Some prefer to use a few drops of tincture instead of powder (since it can be gritty) in the same fashion.
Placenta lotions and salves have a very short shelf life, so making as needed is a great way to ensure your placenta is not wasted due to spoilage. It is important to use clean dry hands when gathering salve product on your hands. This will lengthen the life of the salve by preventing any cross contamination. Average shelf-life in a clean cool dry place is 4 weeks.
Unless under the care and advice of a licensed medical/naturopathic/homeopathic practitioner it is my recommendation that placenta remedies, including lotions and salves, should only be used by who birthed the placenta.
Herbs &/or essential oils of your choice may be added to lotions & salves, but it is important to remember that your constitution may have changes with pregnancy & postpartum, so it is important to test for possible allergic reactions prior to mixing anything in with your placenta powder or placenta tincture in order to prevent your placenta from being wasted due to negative skin reaction from added ingredients.
Below are some DIY recipes adapted from Placenta: The Gift of Life by Cornelia Enning -
Placenta Lotion
2 oz base ointment/lotion
3 drops of placenta tincture
Warm the ointment in a water bath and stir in the placenta tincture. Let set for several days before using.
Placenta Ointment
3/4 tsp placenta powder
1 tsp carrier oil
1 1/2 oz Eucerin Aquaphor ointment
Heat oil together with the placenta powder to 120° F. Use a blender to dissolve the powder until the grains are as fine as possible. Cool to 98.5°F and mix in the Aquaphor ointment. Let it set until completely cooled. Can be stored for three weeks
Placenta Emulsion
1/3 oz emulsifier
1 oz distilled water
1/2 tsp of placenta powder
Dissolve the emulsifier in distilled water at 120°F. Add placenta powder as soon as the solution has turned into a paste. Simmer at the same temperature while stirring swiftly, until the powder has dissolved completely. Remove from heat and let soak. Cool at room temperature while beating it well with a whisk.
Placenta Ghee (Mother Butter)
3 1/2 oz base ointment/lotion
1 tsp placenta powder
jar for 3 1/2 oz of ointment
essential oil of choice (optional)
Melt the base ointment and skim off the foam while allowing it to simmer on the stove. The add placenta powder and stir. Let the moisture set for approximately five hours in the oven or on the stove at 120-140°F (50-60°C). Stir until the powder has dissolved, using a blender if necessary. Pour the mixture into a jar. Let it cool at room temperature, not in the refrigerator. Store in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.
Variation: Depending on personal preferences and sensitivity of the skin, a drop of essential oil can be added. The somewhat disagreeable odor of the placenta will improve with an essential oil of lemongrass, ylang-ylang and others.
Placenta lotions and salves have a very short shelf life, so making as needed is a great way to ensure your placenta is not wasted due to spoilage. It is important to use clean dry hands when gathering salve product on your hands. This will lengthen the life of the salve by preventing any cross contamination. Average shelf-life in a clean cool dry place is 4 weeks.
Unless under the care and advice of a licensed medical/naturopathic/homeopathic practitioner it is my recommendation that placenta remedies, including lotions and salves, should only be used by who birthed the placenta.
Herbs &/or essential oils of your choice may be added to lotions & salves, but it is important to remember that your constitution may have changes with pregnancy & postpartum, so it is important to test for possible allergic reactions prior to mixing anything in with your placenta powder or placenta tincture in order to prevent your placenta from being wasted due to negative skin reaction from added ingredients.
Below are some DIY recipes adapted from Placenta: The Gift of Life by Cornelia Enning -
Placenta Lotion
2 oz base ointment/lotion
3 drops of placenta tincture
Warm the ointment in a water bath and stir in the placenta tincture. Let set for several days before using.
Placenta Ointment
3/4 tsp placenta powder
1 tsp carrier oil
1 1/2 oz Eucerin Aquaphor ointment
Heat oil together with the placenta powder to 120° F. Use a blender to dissolve the powder until the grains are as fine as possible. Cool to 98.5°F and mix in the Aquaphor ointment. Let it set until completely cooled. Can be stored for three weeks
Placenta Emulsion
1/3 oz emulsifier
1 oz distilled water
1/2 tsp of placenta powder
Dissolve the emulsifier in distilled water at 120°F. Add placenta powder as soon as the solution has turned into a paste. Simmer at the same temperature while stirring swiftly, until the powder has dissolved completely. Remove from heat and let soak. Cool at room temperature while beating it well with a whisk.
Placenta Ghee (Mother Butter)
3 1/2 oz base ointment/lotion
1 tsp placenta powder
jar for 3 1/2 oz of ointment
essential oil of choice (optional)
Melt the base ointment and skim off the foam while allowing it to simmer on the stove. The add placenta powder and stir. Let the moisture set for approximately five hours in the oven or on the stove at 120-140°F (50-60°C). Stir until the powder has dissolved, using a blender if necessary. Pour the mixture into a jar. Let it cool at room temperature, not in the refrigerator. Store in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.
Variation: Depending on personal preferences and sensitivity of the skin, a drop of essential oil can be added. The somewhat disagreeable odor of the placenta will improve with an essential oil of lemongrass, ylang-ylang and others.