Velvet deer antler, aphrodisiac velvet deer antler, aphrodisiac
 Deer Antler Velvet
A 2,000-year-old scroll discovered in a tomb in Hunan Province, China, listed dozens of different diseases that could be treated with deer velvet. The 16th century "Materia Medica," a standard text of Chinese herbalists, lists deer velvet as one of the most highly prized natural medicinal substances.
        Antler removal is ideally done under strict regulatory processes. Once a year, male deer are brought into specially designed facilities for antler removal. The process is quick and painless, using local anesthetic, and within minutes of antler removal, the deer are back with their herds grazing. After removal, antlers are frozen and transported under sanitary conditions. The product is then dried and processed, which can include powder, extracts or slices.

Deer Antler Velvet, Planetary Formulas


 Deer Antler Velvet Supplement Facts:
Amount Per 2 tablets:
Calcium - 260 mg
Deer Antler Velvet - 500 mg

 Suggested Use: one deer antler velvet tablet in the morning before breakfast a few times a week or as directed by your doctor.

Deer Antler Velvet is available at Physician Formulas. You will also find a complete list of discounted products

What's in Deer Antler?
Deer antler is named after the soft, velvet-like covering that deer antlers have before they turn bony. Antlers are organs of bone which regenerate each year from the heads of male deer. In addition to bone, support tissues such as nerves also regenerate. Nerves grow up to 1 cm each day. Antler velvet contains many substances including amino acids, minerals, proteins, anti-inflammatory peptides, hormones, gangliosides and glycosaminoglycans, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1. The composition of velvet supplements depend on the diet of the deer, climate, time of year, age of stag and the various concentrations of substances in different regions of the antler velvet itself.

Velvet Deer Antler as an Aphrodisiac
Research studies with deer antler velvet in relation to sexual function are quite limited. A Russian study with pantocrin, an extract from deer antler velvet, showed the extract to stimulate sexual behavior in rodents more than ginseng. Another study showed velvet to have anti-inflammatory properties and potentially helpful in rheumatoid arthritis. No toxic effects have been found with deer velvet when tested in rodents. A recent study done in Canada did not find deer antler velvet to have muscle strengthening or exercise enhancing potential with this substance. For more information on another aphrodisiac, mucuna pruriens.

Deer Antler Availability
Deer antler velvet is sold in a variety of dosages, most commonly 250 mg. Since deer antler velvet products are available from many countries and regions, one can expect variations in composition between different products. I don’t yet have any personal experience with deer antler velvet and I don’t have any recommendations on its use.

Deer Antler Velvet Research Update
The effects of deer antler velvet extract or powder supplementation on aerobic power, erythropoiesis, and muscular strength and endurance characteristics.
Sleivert G, Burke V. University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5A3.
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2003 Sep;13(3):251-65.
To determine the effects of deer antler velvet on maximal aerobic performance and the trainability of muscular strength and endurance, 38 active males were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either deer antler velvet extract (n = 12), powder (n = 13), or placebo groups (n = 13). Subjects were tested prior to beginning supplementation and a 10-week strength program, and immediately post-training. All subjects were measured for circulating levels of testosterone, insulin-like growth factor, erythropoietin, red cell mass, plasma volume, and total blood volume. Additionally, muscular strength, endurance, and VO2max were determined. All groups improved 6 RM strength equivalently, but there was a greater increase in isokinetic knee extensor strength and endurance in the powder compared to placebo group. There were no endocrine, red cell mass or VO2max changes in any group. These findings do not support an erythropoetic or aerobic ergogenic effect of deer antler velvet. Further, the inconsistent findings regarding the effects of deer antler velvet powder supplementation on the development of strength suggests that further work is required to test the robustness of the observation that this supplement enhances the strength training response and to ensure this observation is not a type I error.

Deer antler velvet supplement questions
Q. Are there any problems combining deer antler velvet supplement along with herb?
   A. The combination should be fine as long as the dosages are low.

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