One of the fastest-growing breakthroughs in natural medicine today is Deer Antler Velvet, a product that is widely believed not just in Asia but also in other parts of the world to support health and wellness.
The deer antler velvet is a term used referring to “velvet antler” collected from the growing deer.
Each spring, the deer pass through a natural cycle where new antlers grow, which replace the old ones of the previous season.
The largest supply of velvet comes from red deer, specifically from the great deer farming industry in New Zealand; and most of these NZ velvet antlers are exported to Korea to be processed into health and well-being products.
The deer antler pills, as a recent addition to the bodybuilding and fitness supplement market, promise dramatic support for muscle growth and bone density, and Some forms of deer antler extract have been used medicinally since the beginning of time.
However, the same factor which makes certain types of antler extract so appealing is also its greatest stumbling block. And that is its bioavailability.
The key active ingredient in a deer antler pill is the IGF-1 and is sure to be almost completely destroyed by stomach acids when consumed.
This makes oral supplementation of the important growth factor practically ineffective.
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Deer Antler Velvet
Deer velvet is used to increase strength and endurance, improve the way the immune system works, counteract the effects of stress, and promote rapid recovery from disease and injuries.
The deer antler extracts had already been used in Chinese medicine since 150 BC.
At this time, they were cut, dried, and crushed into a very fine powder, which was prescribed for kidney health, sexual performance, and an overall boost of many systems of the body.
It was also believed to balance yin and yang energy.
However, if the powder was consumed in a tea, as was the convention then, it was vague as to how much IGF-1 actually reached the blood, since digestive enzymes and stomach acids would render this powder useless as an IGF delivery method.
This is the same problem that plagues the use of oral deer antler pills.
The Active Ingredient IGF-1
IGF-1 sounds like a marvelous compound to grow new muscle, recovering from both muscle and bone injuries, and increasing metabolism, and is absolutely capable of performing all of these functions, if it is able to reach the bloodstream intact.
Unfortunately, deer antler pills are not a reliable method for achieving these great benefits, since the pills are not able to survive the digestion process with the hormone intact.
For this reason, growth hormones like IGF-1 are frequently injected directly into a muscle, allowing the hormones to enter the bloodstream without being processed through the digestive system first.
Problem is that most casual sportspersons and fitness enthusiasts do not wish to inject themselves on a daily basis as part of a normal supplementation process, and there are reports of serious safety reasons that discourage people from trying the supplement in this form.
Furthermore, it would not even be legal to do so if you wanted to use an IGF-1 booster of this sort, since both steroids and IGF-1 are Schedule III controlled substances, meaning that they cannot be legally purchased or administered without a prescription.
And of course, doctors will not prescribe these medications for general fitness and bodybuilding, as they are mostly prescribed for people with severe growth problems or people who are recovering from serious musculoskeletal injuries.
For any medication that is considered very fragile, such as the growth factor of IGF-1 found in deer antler extract, swallowing through the pill is a method that makes sure that no active component reaches the bloodstream.
But the highly porous mucous membranes found directly underneath the tongue can provide a direct pathway for medication of all kinds to enter the bloodstream, as there is an abundance of capillaries in this tissue that provide direct access to the venal system.
For this reason, any substance which can dissolve easily with saliva may be taken under the tongue or sublingually, and once the substance enters the bloodstream, it can skip the usual process of passing through the gastrointestinal tract.
The Deer Antler Sprays form that is sprayed under the tongue is said to deliver small doses of IGF-1 to the user in an effective and safe quantity.
Conclusion
Clearly, it is preferable to take deer antler pills in another form such as the form that comes with a fine mist or spray.
Thus, by bypassing stomach acids altogether, such sprays have the ability to deliver significant amounts of IGF-1 to the blood, where it can proceed to generate muscle and bone effects and release other of its numerous benefits.
On a final note, keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages are important factors to consider.
Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your physician before using it.
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