Introduction
The placenta, which produces many hormones,
is not known to produce oxytocin. This
hormone is produced in the posterior pituitary
and primarily responsible for uterine contraction during labour. Although oxytocin receptors are
present in the endometrium and, on activation,
cause the decidua to produce prostaglandins, especially
PGF~ (Ganong, 1985: Wathes et al.,
1993), it is doubtful if the chorion from which
the foetal part of the placenta arises, synthesizes
any prostaglandins (La Barbera, 1993). It was
therefore of great interest when a female traditional
medicine practitioner, during a discussion,