Why does deer antler velvet work

First, the hormone aids in building up a matrix or base—essentially a building block of protein—that's needed for cells to grow.

Then, the substance increases the number of new cells that accumulate on that base, which get busy healing the injury. IGF-1 has shown promise for helping kids with stunted growth or people with dwarfism, as well as for healing cartilage or tendon injuries.

It should not be used without a doctor's care, especially as a performance enhancer. But as far as linebacker Lewis goes, since he's "looking to improve his recovery, I don't think he's necessarily doing anything wrong," noted Popovitz. That said, "we have to be mindful that professional athletes are not typical athletes," Popovitz said, noting some are known for taking extreme measures. All rights reserved.

We asked a few medical experts to give us the facts on deer antler velvet. What Is It? What Does It Do? How Does It Work? What's the Bottom Line? For your average weekend warrior, he said, "it's a little too soon to be rushing to use it.

Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London Love them or hate them, there's no denying their growing numbers have added an explosion of color to the city's streets.

Please re-read the blog below for more information. Take antlers on deer. In all deer species, the stags grow antlers female caribou or reindeer also produce antlers. Around 6 months of age, a buck fawn will develop a pair of bumps called pedicles , the base from which antlers will grow.

The growth cycle typically starts around April when the days are lengthening. As the antlers begin the early surge in the summer months, they are not yet hard bone but instead feel spongy to the touch. While they are dynamically forming, they are rich in blood vessels and nerves. These are especially dense in the outer covering, a hairy skin called velvet. The stag needs velvet for antler formation because its blood vessels and nerves deliver growth factors and hormonal biochemicals.

If the velvet is cut or removed during this time, it bleeds profusely and is very painful for the deer. Meanwhile, mineral deposits such as calcium and phosphorus gradually fill in and replace the spongy tissue, turning the antlers into true bone. As summer turns to fall, the increasing bone deposition starts to cut off the blood supply to the velvet. When this is complete, the velvet dries up and sheds from the antlers. The stag may rub its antlers against trees to facilitate the shedding, and deer have been observed eating their shed velvet.

In traditional Chinese medicine, antler velvet has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In short, science supports theoretical health benefits. In particular, velvet is rich in insulin-like growth factor 1 IGF-1 , a hormone that potentially offers anti-aging and performance-enhancing effects, but which may promote cancer development.

Here is just a shortlist of what people take antler velvet for:. If you're taking deer antler velvet to improve muscle mass, but you're not lifting weights, it's not going to work. If you're taking antler velvet for the anti-aging benefits , but you're also drinking alcohol and laying in the sun all day, the benefits will be diminished.

Taking pills or capsules don't work: Some brands sell DAV in capsules or pill form. The reason we don't is because taking antler velvet in pill or capsule form won't maximize how much of the growth factors you absorb. If you're not maximizing the growth factors absorption, then you likely won't unlock all of the health benefits. Not taking it long enough: Sometimes, depending on your goal, you need to take deer antler velvet for a long enough period to notice its progress.

Full results are typically experienced within 30 - 90 days. Make sure you are patient before you give up taking it. Darrell April 29, Leave a comment Name.

Back to Deer Antler Velvet Blog. A company called Now Foods is now making deer antler velvet lozenges. Lentini says like any product category, all brands aren't the same.

He insists that he has the harvest rights to the best deer antler velvet and says that those who use his product will feel a difference in as soon as two days.

He also says that he's not going to wait for the next big study to come out. His next move? Funding his own clinical study to prove skeptics wrong.