Deer Antler Benefits
To an amateur, who is not too aware of Chinese medicine, it might seem odd that deer antler is an important component of many medicinal preparations. However, the efficacy of deer antler is slowly being understood by the West now, although it might surprise them to learn that deer antler as a medicine has been around for hundreds, probably thousands of years. Ancient Chinese texts cite deer antler as one of the ingredients for many medicinal preparations. In fact, it is considered only second to ginseng which is quite often the most important ingredient.
Deer antler is actually an extension of the bone and has similar properties. So, it is often boiled to make gelatin which is used in different ways. Known as Lu Rong in Chinese, deer antler is considered to be a primary ingredient in Chinese medicines, especially those designed to enhance the yin and strengthen the yang.
Primary producers of deer antler in the world are New Zealand, Australia and Canada. China is also an important producer as well as consumer. With deer farming options in place, the methods of acquiring deer antler has become rather simpler than before. Earlier, when a deer was killed, its antler was also removed for medicinal purposes. However, things have changed considerably since then.
Deer farms typically harvest or collect velvet. These are deer antlers but at an earlier stage before calcification and hardening sets in. Velvet was used to indicate the fine hairs on the antler but now it’s used to specify the stage of growth. Once antlers have ossified or calcified, they fall off and the uses are not the same as those would be from procuring velvet. So in deer farms, deer are locally anesthetized and then the velvet is removed. However, ossified antlers also have their own uses because one can make deer antler gelatin from it by boiling it.
Benefits
Deer antler has been used a general health supplement but there are plenty of specific uses as well. Of them, here are a few which have been listed.
- Deer antler is apparently very useful for people suffering from arthritis. This is because it contains glucosamine and chondroitin that helps in reducing pain effectively and also as they reduce swelling in the joints which is what usually causes arthritis.
- Deer antler can help prevent osteoporosis because of its high calcium content. Also, regular intake of deer antler can strengthen the bones significantly, even if osteoporosis has not set in.
- Deer antler contains collagens that help in promoting the health of the joints and repairing connective tissues.
- Bone marrow diseases can be prevented by regular intake of deer antler as it replenishes the bone marrow thanks to the Monoacetyldiglycerides that stimulates stem cell production in the marrow.
- Deer antler gelatin has numerous medicinal properties that help in nourishing the spleen and the kidney.
- Some of the more modern uses of deer antler include using it as a defense against cancer cells as it is cytotoxic to them.
- Deer antler is also known to boost the HB count in the blood and hence is good for people with anemia.
- Sexual disorders have been treated successfully with deer antler over the ages and its efficacy has not been disputed.
- It is known to increase stamina and actual physical strength while also improving mental capacity of people.
- Deer antler helps the heart, kidney, liver and blood vessels to work optimally and increases their function considerably.
- Traditionally deer antler has been used by physicians to help women who have vaginal discharge problems, flooding and spotting and it also helps in stanching excessive uterine bleeding.
Side effects
There are no obvious side effects of deer antler but there are some concerns about the method in which the deer antler or velvet is removed from the deer. For instance, deer velvet could be contaminated by the tranquilizers and anesthetics used in the process and some of these could be carcinogenic. Also, it is better to avoid administering deer velvet to young children, pregnant or nursing women because it can significantly raise the male hormone levels.
Uses
Deer antler can be sliced into thin rounds and eaten directly. It is also ground to powder and used in many preparations. Deer antler gelatin is also another way of consuming deer antler. To make deer antler gelatin, the antlers are boiled for several hours to release the gelatin that can be separated. After separating it, the residue can be used for topical applications such as treating boils, skin ulcers and eczema. For topical use, this material acts as an astringent and facilitates faster healing.
Also, deer antler is combined with other medicinal preparations to yield a combined result. Pills can also be taken along with different combinations of herbs such as with ginseng or royal jelly to name a few.
References –
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/antler.htm” http://www.itmonline.org/arts/antler.htm
http://www.natural-healing-for-all.com/Chinese_medicine_deer_antler.html
http://www.deer-departed.com/chinese-medicine-deer-antler.html
http://www.brighthub.com/health/alternative-medicine/articles/31897.aspx
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=104669
