Anti-Inflammatory Properties
and Accelerated Wound Healing

In 1999, velvet antler was substantiated by clinical studies and scientific research, in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "to support healthy joint structure and function".

As many people will happily testify, one of the outstanding properties of velvet antler is its ability to alleviate the pain of inflammation, such as joint pain, swelling and tissue injury. While anti-inflammatories are widely prescribed in Western medicine for a large number of ailments, they can often cause severe and unpleasant side effects. In New Zealand pure velvet powder is widely taken to relieve the pain and symptoms of arthritis and has become popular among the elderly for this reason.

New Zealand velvet extract has shown strong anti-inflammatory effects in studies with mice (AgResearch, 1996), which are not due to cytotoxic activity. At this stage the reason for the effects are unknown.

It has been suggested that the high concentrations of hormone-like substances in deer velvet are responsible for the rapid tissue repair after injury, or even the cartilaginous concentration of the antler itself. When velvet antler is harvested it is still largely cartilage, containing such compounds as collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

Research microbiologist Dr Alex Duarte, has spent many years researching the powerful healing properties of cartilage and in his book The Benefits of Velvet Antler he refers to studies that have been carried out using cartilage in the treatment of serious degenerative diseases. In particular he refers to Dr John F. Prudden and other researchers who over thirty-five years ago discovered such elements in cartilage as N-Acetyl-Glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans and synoviocytes, all which have been associated with accelerated wound healing.

He describes glycosaminoglycans as being the "regulator of new cartilage production and turnover" and being "a very powerful regulator of synoviocytes, which regulate the integrity of the joint fluid." He cites studies in which people suffering from severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis showed overwhelmingly positive results when treated with bovine cartilage.

Glucosamine is formed from the combination of a sugar (glucose) and an amine, derived from the amino acid, glutamine. It is an important component in proteoglycans, which provide structure to the bones, cartilage, skin, nails, hair and other body tissues. It is essential for healthy cartilage and to maintain healthy joints and pain-free mobility.

The major GAG in velvet antler is chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin is formed from a long chain of sugar molecules which helps to attract fluid into the proteoglycans. This is necessary to provide nutrients and lubrication into the joint cartilage which has no blood supply of its own. Termed "chondroprotective" agents, glucosamine and chondroitin are today being widely promoted to help rebuild cartilage and improve joint mobility in arthritis sufferers with very beneficial effects.

Duarte also cites Dr Lester Morrison, who over ten years ago observed chondroitin sulphate A to be an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory agent which reversed the degenerative condition of arteriosclerosis and dramatically improved circulation. He conducted a six-year study demonstrating that chondroitin sulphate A could reduce the incidence of fatal heart attack and stroke by over 400 percent just by daily oral consumption.

Further studies by Dr Prudden, involving the treatment of advanced cancer patients were also dramatic. There was a positive response from 90 percent of the patients and it was discovered that "cartilage protected the patients from the severe side effects of chemotherapy" apparently by protecting and strengthening the immune system.

While these studies have found cartilage to be a powerful anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent, the cartilage from velvet antler itself is unique as it contains many other bioactive compounds that are still under investigation. These include anti-inflammatory prostaglandins which play a role in reducing the swelling associated with tissue injury, arthritis, infection and pain. Research shows that velvet prostaglandins, which are unsaturated fatty acids, can induce vasodepression, smooth muscle contractions and also modulate lipid metabolism.

In other studies from Japan, velvet extract has been shown to speed up the healing of damaged nerve tissue, and also aids in the recovery of patients suffering from cervical and whiplash injuries. Research has shown that long standing wounds and ulcers also respond well to velvet preparations, and the high level of phosphate, calcium and other minerals, as well as the growth hormone precursors, have been suggested as reasons why it is so effective in healing bones and wounds and helping with arthritic complaints.

The rapid yearly growth of antlers has provided a unique opportunity for the study of bone development by a research group at Lincoln University, Christchurch. The group has been studying the effect of the hormone oestradiol on antler tissue, in particular by activating receptors in the tissue which surrounds the antler bone beneath the skin.

Dr Graham Barrell writes, "Antlers are newly formed bones and the final burst of calcification depends on the secretion of sex hormones from the testes. Research at Lincoln and overseas has shown the hormone oestradiol is predominant in stimulating calcification of the antlers." This on-going research may become very important for future work on the treatment of bone disorders such as osteoporosis.

Reprinted with permission from:
Velvet Antler - Nature's Superior Tonic by Alison Davidson,
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