Where Does Deer Antler Velvet Come From?
Deer antler velvet is a widely used international dietary and health supplement. The product is made from a growing deer antler. While an antler is forming, it is quite soft to the touch, covered in a fuzzy layer of skin, which is where the name deer antler velvet comes from. While antlers are growing, they are very abundant in a variety of beneficial nutrients such as amino acids, growth factors, collagen, calcium, chondroitin sulfate, and more.
A deer’s antlers will fall off naturally and grow back every year. Therefore, deer are never killed for their antler; deer antler velvet is collected without harm to the animal. Deer antler velvet must be obtained during the growth phase, before it becomes hard and calcified, to have therapeutic properties.
Deer antler velvet is usually derived from two deer species – the Cervus nippon – Japanese or Asian deer, and Cervus elaphus – European red deer. More than 2,000,000 lbs. of deer antler velvet is produced worldwide. New Zealand is the world leader in both production of and research on deer antler velvet. Other countries that produce deer antler velvet are China, Russia, United States and Canada.
What Are the Benefits of Deer Antler Velvet?
Contrary to public belief, deer antler velvet has been studied extensively. Studies have been conducted since the 1970’s in New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Japan, Korea and China. These studies show deer antler velvet / deer antler spray can assist the body to produce many potential benefits:
- Increases physical strength and builds muscle
- Increases fat burning
- Promotes hormonal balance (testosterone and estrogen)
- Enhances immune system
- Promotes nerve survival and development
- Helps workout recovery and wound healing
- Promotes joint health
- Boosts red blood cell and hemoglobin count
- Increases circulation and helps the heart, kidney, liver and blood vessels
- Strengthens skeletal system
- Increase stamina
- Nourishes spleen and kidney
- Improves mental capacity and mood
- Restores sexual function, combats impotence
- Improves skin tone
- Retards aging
- Reduces cholesterol
- Reduces blood pressure
- Reduces inflammation
No single compound or even group of compounds has been identified that could be responsible for the broad range of activity attributed to deer antler velvet. Scientists hope to one day understand the chemical mechanisms that spur the antler’s growth, which could lead to a breakthrough in understanding how to regenerate tissue, or even how to re-create organs in humans. Although widely accepted in traditional Asian medical communities, deer antler velvet has only recently attracted attention in the USA.
Given how far and wide deer antler velvet benefits reach, deer antler velvet is used by people for many different reasons. Whether it is to improve general health, treat a specific condition, or to function with an optimal body, millions of people rely on deer antler velvet’s amazing properties for better living.
How Do I Use Deer Antler Velvet?
Deer antler velvet can be made into different forms. In Asia, it is mostly dried and sold as slices or powdered. The slices or powder are mixed with other herbs and boiled in water to create a medicinal tea or soup. In the West, deer antler velvet is rarely consumed this way. Instead, westerners use deer antler velvet powder that has been encapsulated, or take a tincture of deer antler velvet extract, which is sometimes referred to as Pantocrin in Russia, or more generically as “deer antler spray”.
Deer antler velvet extracts are generally stronger than dried slices or powder because they are concentrated liquids. Furthermore, they are taken sublingually which results in higher absorption into the body.
The best place is buy deer antler velvet and deer antler spray is through New Zealand company Antler Farms. Antler Farms is the leading manufacturer of high quality deer antler velvet products. Available on their website are 100% pure deer antler velvet powder in capsule form and a potent 75:1 deer antler velvet extract in liquid and tablet form.