Is Deer Antler Velvet A Natural Remedy for Health

 

For 2,000 years, the Chinese have used the velvet from antlers as a natural remedy to cure numerous health problems. Today all over the world, you can find capsules of elk antler supplements right next to the vitamins and herbs. What ailments is deer antler velvet used for?

The natural remedy of deer antlers comes from the velvet of the antlers. Scientists and doctors have been studying the health benefits of deer antler velvet for many decades, mainly in China and Russia. Elk or deer antler velvet is a renewable source and does not harm the animal in any way, much like wool from a sheep. 

 

What Makes Deer Antler Velvet Special

Other than being another natural remedy used for thousands of years, deer antler velvet is thought to be a healing natural remedy because of the minerals they contain, which includes:

• Type II collagen
• Protein
• Lipids that replenish cells and energy.
• Calcium carbonate
• Calcium phosphate
• All essential amino acids
• Small amounts of estrogen and androgens
• Chondroitin sulfate, which is found in our cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions the joints
• Glucosamine sulfate is an anti-inflammatory and is one of the building blocks of cartilage
• Prostaglandins, which is a strong anti-inflammatory
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Selenium

Deer Antler Velvet as a Natural Remedy for Health

The traditional medicines of both China and Korea have used deer antler velvet for more than 2,000 years for health conditions such as:

• Promoting vitality
• Strengthening bones and joints
• Replenish the blood
• Treating impotence in men
• Anemia
• Improved blood circulation
• Improve the immune system
• Treating infertility in women
• Improved mental alertness
• Improving muscle strength
• Treating chills and cold hands and feet
• High blood pressure
• Back pain and knee pain
• Protecting the liver
• Better sex
• Osteoarthritis
• Anti-aging and promoting youthfulness

Depending on what web site you read, including WebMD, the list of health problems deer antler velvet can help is rather impressive. Today, across the United States and other countries, you can buy elk or deer antler velvet (It can be labeled either way) in any health food store, vitamin store, supplement store and online.

Deer Antler Velvet Studies

Most studies that I found were done in China or Russia. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be many studies from the US or Europe at this time.

A 2014 study found that deer velvet extract can reduce fatigue and it "changes whole body systemic condition, such as improving energy metabolism". [2]

Recently the North American Elk Breeders Association (NAEBA) announced the first health claim concerning deer antler velvet to be substantiated by scientific evidence that was in compliance with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dietary supplement regulations.

NAEBA executive director Ben Coplan said that the “Nutrinfo Report states there is a reasonable basis to claim that antler velvet helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis”. 

Due to United States law, health claims cannot be put on supplements, so you will not see the health claim on a bottle of antler velvet. Hopefully, this will spur further scientific studies in the US about elk and deer antler velvet.

There are stories on the internet about people who have been cured of rheumatoid arthritis by taking antler velvet. These people only had first names, so it is hard to know if this is just advertising or true stories.

Antler Velvet Health Concerns

It does appear there are no side effects with deer antler velvet with the usual dosage under 1000 mg (1 gram) per day. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding should not take antler velvet since not enough is known about this supplement. 

 

People who have hormonal cancers like breast or prostate cancer should not take this supplement.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there does seem to be some concern that chronic wasting disease (CWD) can be passed to humans who take antler velvet. 

 

The CDC believes that elk antler velvet could represent another way for humans to get CWD. But as of the 2009 report, there has been no evidence of an increase in CJD or CWD [1].

Conclusion

I know people with arthritis who take elk antler velvet say it really does help their pain and others say they have noticed no relief from their pain. I would like to believe all of these claims, they do sound wonderful and traditional Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years.

More independent studies need to be conducted in the United States and Europe that can verify these health claims of antler velvet. Until then, you can buy elk or deer antler velvet capsules at any health food store.

Note: Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Supplements taken with medications can be dangerous.
About the Author

Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Copyright © 2012-2019 Sam Montana

Resources:

[1] CDC - Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Elk Antler Velvet. Volume 15, Number 5—May 2009
[2] NIH - Deer Antler Extract Improves Fatigue Effect. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014: 540580. Published online 2014 Feb 20. doi: 10.1155/2014/540580
Examine - Summary of Velvet Antler