The deer antler velvet is traditionally considered for its powerful rejuvenating qualities and has been appreciated in the Orient for more than 2000 years as a very safe and natural supplement.
Benefits Include:
- Natural source of IGF-1 and growth hormones
- Helps the recovery of physical effort and injuries
- It provides nutritional support for the structure and function of the bone and joint
- Higher energy levels
- Increases muscle strength, resistance, and lean body mass
- Build a powerful immune system
- Gives the look and feeling of youthfulness
- More juvenile skin and hair, and
- Improve sexual performance for both men and women
From the listed benefits, deer antler powder is a supplement used for muscle strength, stamina, detoxification, and sexual health.
The IGF-1 is a natural growth factor that is responsible for growth spurts in human children. Recently, bodybuilders have established the connection that this substance, when taken in the right way, can increase the gains when they work out in the gym.
Additionally, Deer Antler Velvet may aid in the treatment of Liver and Kidney diseases in a manner comparable to steroid-based pharmaceuticals.
Deer Velvet Antler, due to its Androgenic activity, increases the production of testosterone, and a study showed that Liver tissue damaged with chloroform was able to recover following Antler Velvet treatment.
In follow-up studies, the protein formation in both the kidney and liver was enhanced as a result of deer antler velvet on the enzyme RNS polymerase’s activity.
Deer Antler Powder as a Performance Enhancing Drug
Deer antler powder is not currently considered a performance-enhancing drug, but this, however, was not always the case.
Preceding 2013, any product which contained IGF-1 was classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as a prohibited substance, and some substances which are on this banned list include anabolic steroids, beta-2 agonists, diuretics, amphetamines, and cannabinoids.
In addition, the practices of blood doping and gene doping are also forbidden.
The deer antler velvet restrictions were eliminated by WADA after an investigation determined that there were inadequate amounts of IGF-1 in supplements to constitute a violation.
It is unclear whether this decision was a political move since it was suggested by CBS news that up to 20% of players in big leagues already use the supplement periodically.
Best Form of Deer Antler Supplements
Extreme methods for introducing growth hormones into the body, such as through blood or gene doping, are prohibited by law, and these methods, along with painful regular injections, are also impractical and unpleasant for almost all casual fitness fans.
Unfortunately, growth factor supplements which are legal and unrestricted, are nearly impossible to supplement through an oral pill, since pill and powder forms of delicate growth hormones are usually destroyed by stomach acids.
By the time these substances leave the liver, they are biologically inactive.
A solution that has been developed to solve this problem is through sublingual aerosol (spray).
Taking advantage of the tissue-lined in mucous streaks under the tongue, spray products can supply compounds directly into the bloodstream without going through the gastrointestinal system.
Thus, any compound which can be dissolved or broken down by saliva in the mouth can be administered under the tongue, and even though the deer antler powder may not survive digestion, fine mist sprays can be taken effectively.
Deer Antler Powder Efficacy
The efficacy of deer antler powder can be a controversial topic since not many formal studies have been done to confirm or deny the benefits which many casual users have reported online.
Some studies, such as the one reported by the New Zealand Medical Journal, have been able to verify the action of the supplement for bone growth, but not muscle growth.
The doctors of the specialists in bones and joints in New York have also tried and verified the effect of the supplement in the healing of damaged cartilage; the major reason why most professional athletes take the extract.
Even though the FDA considers the supplement safe for consumption, they have not evaluated the efficacy claims yet, and more human trials need to be performed.
Until that time, it is recommended that users or consumers might want to try the product for an introductory period of 1-2 months and note results before committing to longer-term treatment.