VELVET ANTLER

Background & Tradition

The  generic term "deer velvet" is the name given to male Deer and Elk antlers during growth, before they harden into weapons for territorial defense and fighting. Deer are widely farmed in New Zealand on pastures of rye grasses, clovers and naturally occurring herbs. The annual removal of growing antlers prevents injuries, as well as yielding a valuable tonic. Velvet antlers are humanely removed under anesthetic in a method approved by New Zealand's Animal Welfare Advisory Council. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has known about and used velvet antler as an herb for over 2000 years. Its medicinal value was recorded in the history of the Roman Empire as well. Later the Russian and central Europeans noted its benefits in promoting "well being" and good health. This traditional use has now been shown by research to have significant therapeutic benefits. 

Composition

Elk and deer velvet represent the only renewable form of cartilage. Much more than that, it is a natural source of amino acids, steroids, hormones and prostaglandins and contain the trace minerals iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfur and phosphorus. Its glycolipid fraction (which contains gangliosides and phospholipids of known bioactivity) has a composition not found in any other tissue.1 The following more specific compounds are found in Velvet Antler: Linolenic acid; Phosphatidyl choline; Collagen types II and I; proteoglycans (mucopolysaccharides); Chondroitin sulfate, Glucosamine sulfate, and other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as Keratan sulfate, Hyaluronic acid, and Dermatan; the following growth hormones - IGF-I, TGF, FGF8, BMP4, and NT3; nucleotides Hypoxanthine and Uridene; polyamines Spermine and Putrescine; an unknown 68-amino acid peptide having antiinflammatory effects plus a unique growth factor speculated to promote bone healing.  These ingredients are especially valuable to vegetarians who can not obtain these compounds from other non-meat sources.

Quality

A premium "feel the difference" tonic, the product was designed in consultation with the world leaders in deer research - AgResearch Invermay. Our Elk velvet is grown "on farm" to strict guidelines or sourced from the best available to achieve a premium product. Less than ten percent of New Zealand velvet antler meets our initial criteria. All processing is conducted in licensed facilities and the final powder is subject to microbiological quality control. Although Velvet Antler is available from other sources around the world, including Canada, Argentina and the US, we feel that  the pristine, pollution-free countryside of  New Zealand produces the purest, most beneficial Velvet Antler in the world.

Immunostimulatory Effects

Traditionally, Koreans take a course of deer velvet at the onset of winter as a tonic to help ward off infections. Dr Glenn Buchan of Otago University's Department of Microbiology was commissioned to investigate the scientific basis for this practice. He measured the ability of various velvet extracts to stimulate the production of lymphocytes (while blood cells), using human recombinant interleukin 2 as a positive control. Although some extracts were more effective than others they all exhibited a high level of immunostimulation.2 There was even significant activity from one extract at the very low level of 15mcg/ml. 

Anti-inflammatory Effects

There are many anecdotal reports of velvet antler capsules being used to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, and some preliminary Korean research on osteoporosis showed good results. Dr Glenn Buchan was commissioned to investigate further. He measured inflammatory response by counting neutrophils - the more inflammation the more neutrophils. He compared deer velvet extracts with a corticosteroid (dexamethasone) for ability to negate a standard inflammatory challenge. Two of the velvet extracts were able to suppress inflammation to the same degree as the corticosteroid at 50mcg/ml while the other extracts had little or no effect.3 The same velvet got a good result in the immunostimulatory trial above. To test whether the suppression was due to a cytotoxic response rather than a true anti-inflammatory response healthy peritoneal macrophages were cultured with the antler extracts. No cytotoxic effects were noted. 

Athletic Performance Effects

A trial was undertaken using 24 physical education students; with neither athletes nor coordinator knowing which treatment each group was receiving. The project was conducted at Otago University supervised by sports physician Dr. David Gerrard and exercise physiologist Dr Gordon Sleivert. A strong trend was identified. The group taking deer velvet showed almost twice the improvement of the group taking a placebo in the amount of work they were able to do in a strength test. The athletes were also tested for changes in body composition using a sophisticated DEXA scanner. Although all students lost body fat as a percentage of their body weight, the group taking deer velvet lost more body fat than the control group. Scanning showed no bulking up of muscles, which suggested the positive results were due to an improvement in the muscle dynamic activity of the students taking deer velvet.4 

Anti-aging Effects

Researchers at Japan's Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University fed senile male mice very strong deer velvet extracts for eight successive days. They found this "had significant restoring effects on the physiological degenerations associated with the development of senile symptoms".5 A later study by the same group found an enrichment of liver and kidney protein in mice given the extract for 20 days. The scientists hypothesized that this effect may in part explain the traditional clinical prescription of deer velvet for anti-fatigue or restorative effects.6

Therapeutic Performance

Users of Elk and deer velvet report significant relief from the symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism and other muscular and skeletal problems, resulting in less pain, more mobility and less morning stiffness. Users have also reported a noticeable absence of flu and/or the common cold symptoms since taking velvet. Others have found velvet antler extract improves cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol, thinning the blood and reducing the possibility of blood clotting. In most cases it takes up to 4-6 weeks before the therapeutic benefits are experienced, however some have reported noticeable benefit after only seven days.

Usage & Precautions

Deer Velvet is classed as one of the ultimate purveyors of 'Yang' in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Asian tradition is that Antler Velvet is taken as a course for a specific period to achieve a specific objective. This may be in part due to the high price they have historically had to pay for the product. Research and experience now show that as a long term Health Supplement Velvet Antler may be in a class of its own. As a premium quality natural 'Adaptogen',  Velvet has no known toxicity and assists the body to normalize and re-vitalize its functions by covering a wide spectrum of human metabolism and body functions. Data from various sources , and client experience, suggest that 500 -1000mg of Pure Velvet Antler equivalent should be taken daily as a preventative or Health Supplement and 900 - 2000mg daily for restorative or Therapeutic effect. The higher dosages should be halved and taken morning and night 1 hour before or after food to receive maximum benefit. Our Pure Antler Velvet and Extracts are wholly natural products, and as such have no known toxicity with any other product or medicine to date. IF IN DOUBT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVISOR BEFORE TAKING ANY NEW PRODUCT.

Great for your pet Dog or Cat too!

 References

1. J M Suttie, S R Haines, Evaluation of New Zealand Velvet Antler Efficacy and Diagnostic Testing, AgResearch Invermay, 1997, p24. 2. Dr J Suttie, personal communication, 09/02/98. 3. J M Suttie, S R Haines, The Effect of Aqueous Velvet Extracts on the immune System, VARNZ Ltd, 1996, pp5-7. 4. Ibid. pp8-10. 5. Deer Velvet Link With Athletes, New Zealand Game Industry Board, 18/02/98. 6. Ben-Xiang Wang et.al. Effects of Repeated Administration of Deer Antler Extract on Biochemical Changes Related to Aging in Senescence-Accelerated Mice, Chem. Pharm. Bull 36 (1998) pp2587-2592.

 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

SOLUTIONS UNLIMITED

871 ENGLEVILLE ROAD

SHARON SPRINGS, NY 13459-2117

(518) 284 2203

FAX (303) 568 2465