What Is Embalming?

What Is Embalming?

The process of embalming is used to preserve bodies after people pass away. Specialists introduce embalming fluids into the body after they have died, which can help to make the dead body appear peaceful for viewing.

The body starts to degrade after death. The embalming chemicals help to slow down and even prevent decay for some time. When someone dies, several things happen to them.

The first thing is that the body starts to decompose, which causes bacteria to start breaking down the cells in your body.

This leads to more decay, and eventually, (if left untouched) the soft tissues in the body will completely decompose, and all that is left will be hard or calcified tissue, such as your bones and teeth.

The process of embalming involves injecting preservatives into the body. The fluid used in the embalming process consists of the chemicals formaldehyde, alcohol, and other compounds that prevent the body from rotting.

Why Might Someone Want To Be Embalmed?

There are many reasons why someone may want to be embalmed. Some people choose to be embalmed because they believe that it will give them peace of mind before they die.

They also think that it will keep the body looking better than if it’s decaying naturally, which can make a viewing or open-casket funeral more peaceful and reassuring for family and friends.

Often, the next of kin will decide to embalm their loved one’s body because they don’t want to see or think about it rotting. They may even choose to have their relative embalmed so that they can look at their loved one’s body again later on.

In addition, if some has died in a different country to where they have requested their funeral or burial, they may have to be repatriated. It is a legal requirement for them to be embalmed before they are transported for repatriation.

If you want to repatriate someone, there is only really one alternative to being embalmed, and that is cremation, followed by repatriation of the ashes.

Why Might Someone Choose Not To Be Embalmed?

However, there are some people who decide that they do not want to be embalmed, for a multitude of reasons. These include religious beliefs, personal preferences, or simply because they do not want to pay the extra money needed to have their body preserved.

Some families may wish to have their deceased loved ones cremated instead of being buried and they may choose to have their ashes scattered over a particular location. Others may prefer to donate their organs to science or donate their whole body to medical research.

For those who do not want to be preserved at all, they may opt-out of having an autopsy performed on their body.

Many people find that they are comforted by knowing that their body was examined during life, but others feel that they should not be disturbed by seeing their own body in its current state.

Green burial grounds usually prohibit embalming as well. You should speak to your funeral director if you’re unsure about having your loved one embalmed.

A Few Cases Where Embalming Is Inadvisable

There are also a few cases where embalming a body is inadvisable, or where it won’t be permitted:

• If the deceased followed a religion that prohibits embalming, like Judaism, Islam, and some forms of Christianity.
• When the deceased wished to be buried at a natural burial ground. Many green burial sites don’t allow embalming, as it can be very bad for the soil, nature, and wildlife, but regulations can vary between sites.
• If you nor any of the other mourners intend to view the loved one before the funeral.

Overall, if you and your loved one did not discuss embalming before their death, and you are unsure if they wanted to be embalmed or not, your funeral director should be able to advise you further as to the pros and cons of all of your options.

The Embalming Process

After someone has been pronounced dead, the body must be prepared for preservation by the chosen funeral provider. After the person dies, the body is washed with water to remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated on the skin.

Next, the body is cleaned with soap and hot water. Then, the face is wiped clean with cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol. Finally, the body is dried off with towels.

Then, embalming occurs. There are two common types of embalming – cavity embalming, and arterial embalming. Both processes take around 2 to 4 hours.

• Arterial embalming involves removing the blood from the body via the veins and replacing it with embalming fluids. This is done by inserting tubes into the body. Then, the tubes and a pump are used to circulate embalming fluid around the body in the bloodstream via the jugular vein in your neck or the femoral vein in your thigh.
• Cavity embalming is where the naturally occurring fluids inside the chest cavity and abdomen are removed, using a small tube and a suction machine. These fluids are then replaced with embalming fluid, and the small incision used to insert the tube is closed.

After the embalming process, the body is carefully washed again, and prepared for the service, by things such as setting the face with a peaceful expression and placing caps over the eyelids to keep them closed.

A Brief History Of Embalming

Artificial preservation was first discovered in Ancient Egypt, where the process of mummification was done by removing organs, drying out the body, and wrapping it with linen cloths. This could be described as an early form of embalming.

Resin and fat were applied in a mixture to the body. The ancient Egyptians believed that this practice allowed the soul to return to the preserved corpse after death.

This technique was later adopted by other civilizations such as the Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans.

Here, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the embalming process. Read on to learn more.

I hope this article has helped you understand the basics of embalming, and why a loved one might choose to be embalmed or not embalmed. Please leave any questions or comments below