From kneecap necklaces to umbilical cord keepsakes: the risks of keeping and consuming human tissue
The Surprising Trend of Keeping Body Parts: A Look at the Risks
Elton John's recent decision to wear kneecap jewellery sparked a fascinating discussion about the growing trend of keeping and consuming human tissue. While it might seem like a unique choice, it raises important questions about the boundaries between personal keepsakes and medical considerations. But here's where it gets controversial... Are we crossing a line when we hold onto parts of our bodies or those of our loved ones?
From Baby Teeth to Placentas: The Sentimental and the Surprising
Many people keep baby teeth or their children’s first lost tooth as sentimental objects. Social media is also full of stories about people preserving removed tonsils, adenoids, an appendix, or a newborn’s umbilical stump. Some of these are biologically inert keepsakes. Others carry medical and safety considerations. For instance, while keeping the umbilical stump after a baby is born can be a cherished memory, it also poses a risk of infection if not kept clean and dry.
The Medical Perspective: Risks and Considerations
Handling human tissue can pose risks, especially for professionals working in operating theatres or pathology labs with unfixed tissue. Unfixed tissue has not been treated with chemicals to preserve it and kill microbes. Healthcare staff who use needles or sharp instruments are particularly vulnerable to exposure to blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis or HIV. In most cases, tissue removed during surgery is handled very differently. It is usually sent to a laboratory for testing, known as pathology, to confirm a diagnosis or check for disease. After that, it must be disposed of safely as clinical waste because it can carry biological risks.
The Placenta Debate: From Keepsake to Consumption
The most debated example of keeping human tissue comes after childbirth. Following delivery of the baby, the placenta is also delivered. Some people choose not only to keep the placenta but to consume it, a practice known as placentophagy. The idea comes from the belief that because the placenta nourishes the foetus during pregnancy, it must contain nutrients that can help the mother recover after birth. However, claims about the benefits of placentophagy are not strongly supported by scientific evidence. The nutrients present in placental tissue can generally be obtained through a balanced meal.
Health Risks and Uncertain Benefits
While some people consume the placenta in various ways, there are also potential health risks. The placenta contains elevated levels of oestrogen, and high concentrations of this hormone in the bloodstream can increase the risk of thromboembolism. The placenta also acts as a filter during pregnancy, limiting the transfer of certain substances to the baby. Studies show that some heavy metals and other ions can accumulate in placental tissue, meaning levels may be higher in the placenta than elsewhere in the body. At present, more robust studies are needed to determine whether placentophagy offers any genuine health advantages.
The Line Between Sentiment and Safety
Whether transformed into jewellery, kept in a memory box or blended into a smoothie, once tissue leaves the body it moves from the personal and sentimental into the medical and biological. The meanings people attach to it vary widely, but the scientific questions about safety, benefit and risk remain the same. So, while keeping and consuming human tissue might seem like a personal choice, it's important to consider the potential risks and the scientific evidence behind any claims of benefit. What do you think? Do you have any experience with keeping or consuming human tissue? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
