Embalming dates back thousands of years. It is a process in which blood is drained from the body and replaced with embalming fluid. Used primarily to preserve a body for viewing, embalming allows families to say their final goodbyes to their loved ones. Embalming not only slows decomposition but also enhances the natural appearance of the deceased during the funeral, providing a sense of peace, comfort, and a positive memory. It is a tradition deeply ingrained in many cultures and widely utilised in funeral homes nationwide.
Embalming is typically done by a qualified funeral director/embalmer (in New Zealand, funeral directors are also embalmers). These professionals are trained to follow specific guidelines and practices, ensuring proper and safe body preservation.
Despite embalming being a common practice, myths and misconceptions continue, sometimes fueled by social media and bad press. Here are some examples.
Myth #1: Embalming is Only for Open-Casket Funerals
Fact: Embalming is primarily done to make an open-casket visitation or viewing possible, but that is not the only purpose. Embalming may also be necessary for other reasons such as when a body will be transported over a long distance or when there will be a long delay between death and the funeral.
Myth #2: Embalming is required by law.
Fact: Embalming is not required by law IN New Zealand. However, funeral homes usually suggest it when an open-casket visitation is selected. There are some other instances where embalming may be required, such as when a body is being shipped internationally. Additionally, it is the policy of some cemeteries that a body be embalmed if entombment is to take place in a crypt within a community mausoleum.
Myth #3: Embalming Preserves the Body Forever
Fact: While embalming can temporarily preserve a body by delaying decomposition, it does not preserve the body forever. The embalming process typically slows the natural decaying process for a certain period. Factors such as the body’s condition before embalming, environmental conditions, and even embalming techniques can influence the duration of preservation, with some bodies remaining preserved longer than others. Eventually, the body will still decompose.
Myth #4: Embalming is Harmful to the Environment
Fact: There is a common misconception that embalming is a toxic process and harmful to the environment. However, it’s important to understand that embalming fluids used in the process are regulated by government agencies and are required to be safe for use. While embalming fluids contain chemicals such as formaldehyde, they are used in controlled amounts and are not harmful to the environment when proper disposal procedures are followed. What’s more, formaldehyde is naturally occurring and organic. And here’s the key point: formaldehyde also breaks down into organic substances when exposed to the air, soil, or water. This natural breakdown process underscores the eco-friendliness of modern embalming techniques, with many funeral homes offering green embalming options that use non-toxic or biodegradable fluids.
Myth #5: Embalming is a Modern Practice
Fact: Embalming has been practiced for thousands of years by various cultures around the world. The ancient Egyptians, for example, are well-known for their elaborate embalming techniques. Their pursuit of preserving the deceased in a lifelike state led to the development of mummification, a process that eliminated all moisture from the body, resulting in a desiccated form that resisted rapid decay.This was not merely a process, but a deeply ingrained part of their culture and religion.
Myth #6: Embalming is Always Necessary for Viewing
Fact: Embalming is not always necessary for viewing, particularly if it’s a brief one. In these situations, temperature control can be used to preserve the body for identification or a quick farewell. It’s important to note that embalming is not required for direct cremation or direct burial, where no other service or viewing will take place.
Myth #7: Embalming is a One-Size-Fits-All Process
Fact: Embalming is a highly individualised process that can be tailored to the specific condition of the remains. Different techniques and products can be used depending on whether the remains were autopsied and are dependent on factors such as whether the death was from natural causes, heart attack, cancer, or a violent or traumatic death. Embalmers, skilled in reconstruction, can often make it possible for families to view a loved one who died from a car accident or a gunshot wound.
Myth #8: Embalming Makes the Body Look Unnatural
On the contrary, one of the goals of embalming is to restore a deceased person to a more natural look, and skilled embalmers work hard to ensure that the body looks as natural as possible for viewing. Emaciated features, often the result of a lingering illness, can be filled out for a more pleasant, pleasing look. Ultimately, embalming can help loved ones remember the deceased in a dignified and peaceful manner. One of the best compliments an embalmer can hear from a bereaved family is, “Thank you for giving my loved one back to me.”
Myth #9: Embalming is a Mutilating Procedure
Fact: Embalming takes place in a designated preparation room within a funeral home. It can be likened to a hospital’s sterile and private surgical facility. Simply put, it involves draining blood from the body and replacing it with embalming fluid through a small and inconspicuous incision. In response to some of the questions posed on Instagram, internal organs are not removed during a regular embalming, eyes are not sewn shut, and legs are not severed on tall people to make them fit into a casket.
Myth #10: Most People Do Not Choose Embalming
Fact: Contrary to popular belief,embalming continues to be one of the most requested services. Moreover, the recent pandemic has significantly influenced the decision of some families (who might not otherwise have opted for one) to have an open casket visitation. During the height of the pandemic, many were denied this option and are still grappling with the inability to say goodbye.
In mortuary school, instructors instill the belief that embalming is the cornerstone of deathcare. The act of viewing the deceased, we are taught, confirms the reality of death. This belief, rooted in the past, still holds today.
