Fisher calls the placenta “the forgotten organ.” In 2013, Tina Hesman Saey wrote a feature in Science News about new and growing efforts to understand the placenta.

The placenta keeps the fetus healthy in the womb and, after birth, can be donated to strangers to offer "miraculous" healing power. The Cleveland Clinic describes the vital role of a healthy placenta.

eLife. "Placenta plays active part in transferring vitamin D to fetus during pregnancy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 March 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2022 / 03 / 220308115808.htm>.

The placenta is freeze-dried and turned into pills. Some claim a variety of benefits, but doctors say there is little research to back up health claims and there can be potential dangers.

A high prevalence of polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene was observed in the placenta. A significant variation in size was found between various polymer types. Polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene ...