What are deer velvet's therapeutic uses?

Overview

Deer velvet is the common name of a product made from the still-growing antlers of deer, during a stage when they are covered in soft velvety hair. New Zealand is a major exporter of deer velvet, shipping tens of millions of U.S. dollars worth to Asia and the United States each year.

According to Asian tradition, deer velvet has tonic properties, meaning that it tends to enhance energy and vitality. More recently, it has been called an adaptogen. This term, invented by early Soviet scientists, refers to a hypothetical treatment that can be described as follows: An adaptogen should help the body adapt to stresses of various kinds, whether heat, cold, exertion, trauma, sleep deprivation, toxic exposure, radiation, infection, or psychological stress. Furthermore, an adaptogen should cause no side effects, should be effective in treating a variety of illnesses, and should help return an organism toward balance regardless of the cause of illness.

The only indisputable example of an adaptogen is a healthful lifestyle. By
eating right, exercising regularly, and generally living a life of balance and
moderation, a person will increase physical fitness and the ability to resist
illnesses of all types. The herb ginseng is widely said to have
adaptogenic properties. However, there is no reliable evidence that any herb or
supplement actually has adaptogenic properties, and the term is not accepted by
conventional medicine.

Therapeutic Dosages

A typical dosage of deer antler is 1 gram daily, taken all at once or divided throughout the day.

Therapeutic Uses

In the 1960s, an injectable form of deer velvet was used by Japanese physicians
to treat male sexual dysfunction. Deer velvet first gained popularity in the
United States beginning in the late 1990s. Numerous books and Web sites claim that
deer velvet can enhance sexual performance by increasing levels of male hormones.
However, these claims are based on extremely preliminary research. Only
double-blind,
placebo-controlled studies can actually prove a treatment
effective, and the one study of this type reported for deer antler failed to find
evidence of benefit.

In this study, thirty-two healthy men age forty-five to sixty were given either
deer velvet (1 gram [g] daily) or placebo for twelve weeks. The results showed no
significant change in sexual function or male hormone levels in the treated group,
compared with the placebo group. Also, a six-month, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study of 168 people with rheumatoid
arthritis failed to find that elk velvet antler enhanced the
effectiveness of conventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Deer antler contains cartilage. On this basis, and based on
one study in dogs, cartilage has been promoted as a treatment for osteoarthritis; however, cartilage is not a proven treatment
for this condition. Numerous other proposed benefits of deer velvet are based on
test-tube studies or other forms of evidence that are too preliminary to rely
upon. These claimed benefits include cancer prevention, drug addiction support,
immune support, liver protection, osteoporosis treatment, pain control, and sports
performance and bodybuilding enhancement.

Safety Issues

Other than occasional allergic reactions, deer velvet does not appear to cause many obvious, immediate side effects. However, there are concerns based on contamination with the tranquilizers and anesthetics used during the process of removing the horn from the deer. One of the substances used, xylazine, is carcinogenic, and studies have found that low but potentially dangerous levels of xylazine are contained in deer antler products.

Another set of risks derives from the proposed effects of deer velvet: raising male hormone levels. If deer velvet does increase male hormones as it is advertised to do, this could lead to a range of potential problems; however, as noted, there is no real evidence that deer velvet actually does raise such hormones. Finally, safety of deer velvet use in young children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.

Bibliography

Allen, M., et al. “A Randomized Clinical Trial of Elk Velvet Antler in Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Biological Research for Nursing 9 (2008): 254-261.

Conaglen, H. M., J. M. Suttie, and J. V. Conaglen. “Effect of Deer Velvet on Sexual Function in Men and Their Partners.” Archives of Sexual Behavior 32 (2003): 271-278.