Illegal human placenta trade in China using medical waste, funeral homes, despite risk of diseases like HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B
- The trade is unregulated, meaning there are no checks to determine whether the organs contain contagious viruses like hepatitis B, HIV, or syphilis
- One illegal trader said he sourced placentas illegally from a hospital where a cleaner stole them for him
For many mainland Chinese human placenta or ziheche as it is known in TCM, is believed to be a legitimate treatment for those with weak immune systems and for help treating various illnesses such as tuberculosis and hypohemia, and for reproductive health.
According to the report, the trade in illegal placentas is mainly based in Bozhou in Anhui, Pizhou in Jiangsu, and Yongcheng in Henan. Traders collect placenta at around 80 yuan (US$12.30) each from hospitals, medical waste plants — even funeral homes. There are no regulations meaning there are no checks to determine whether the organs contained contagious viruses like hepatitis B, HIV, or syphilis.
Lin Xiu, an obstetrician from The Reproductive Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said eating placenta is no different from eating meat but that placenta has no special function when consumed.