ANTLER VELVET
An Ancient Sexual Tonic

Velvet antler’s reputation as an aphrodisiac is widespread, but is this reputation deserved? After all, velvet, along with herbal remedies such as ginseng, have been used by wealthy Asian men for centuries as a sexual tonic to improve potency. Chinese Taoists, for example, use an extensive array of herbal aphrodisiacs to increase sexual energy in the belief that it enhances their overall health. They have a fundamental understanding that the flow of sexual energy within the body is the basis of physical and mental well being.

An aphrodisiac is defined as an agent that stimulates sexual desire, however, velvet antler appears to have a much more profound affect upon the organism than the temporary arousing of desire. In traditional terms it is held to harmonize the yin and yang energies, to bring the vital energies of the body into balance at a deep and fundamental level. It appears to affect the balance of hormones necessary for healthy sexual functioning, and to restore the body's reserves of energy depleted by stress or exhaustion. It is said to increase physical stamina and sexual vitality.

“Sexual functions are controlled by the hypothalmic brain areas. Any agent, therefore, which can tune body functions hormonally would be expected to improve sexual energy.”¹

The effects of velvet antler and pantocrin (velvet antler extract) on patients with sexual disorders has been widely documented, especially by Russian clinical researchers, with the result that while ginseng used to be famous for treating sex problems in Russian clinics, now pantocrin has taken over for this purpose. It is regarded as one of the most effective known remedies for impotence. It increases the libido and the general sexual function, and is widely prescribed for women as well as men.

Research has shown that velvet antler demonstrates androgenic and gonadotrophic effects, meaning that it helps to regulate the activity of the sex organs.

“A series of investigations by Pavlenk et al. (1969) has shown that pantocrin (velvet antler extract) contains biologically active substances of both the male and female sex hormone types.” ²

The sex hormones estrone, testosterone and a substance similar to progesterone have been identified at low levels in velvet, and the estrogen hormone most affected by velvet is estradiol, which is a precursor to testosterone. Experimentally, velvet has been shown to boost testosterone and estrogen levels in rats, and according to modern research, it can stimulate growth and increase the weight of both the seminal vesicles and prostate.

“When ginseng, eleutherococcus, rantarin (reindeer antler velvet) or pantocrine were given continuously to young male mice, the weight of their sexual glands increased by up to 50 per cent, depending on the preparation and the dose...Only pantocrine and rantarin had a measurable effect in mature as well as immature animals.” ¹

Also, perhaps as an unexpected side effect:
“Rantarin treatment of arteriosclerotic patients led some to recover sexual functioning and experience a return of potency and libido.” ¹

There is no doubt that antlers play an important role in the sexual life of the deer. The larger the antlers the more potent the stag is considered to be and the largest, superior grade velvet is traditionally regarded as much more valuable than the smaller antlers.

Velvet antler is harvested when the stag is coming into the mating season and the levels of testosterone are reaching their highest concentration in the blood which is circulating throughout the cartilage of the antler. At this precise time the velvet antler becomes a very potent source of hormones, minerals, amino acids and cartilage.

“Testosterone is an extremely important hormone that stimulates growth and sexual potency... the primary hormone that elicits the sex drive in both men and women... In aging men, as testosterone levels decline, there is a resulting commensurate loss of sex drive and potency. And, while there are many reasons why a man may not be able to achieve and hold an erection, certainly the loss of testosterone could be one of the most important.”³

High levels of testosterone and a hormone called leutinizing hormone were found by New Zealand scientists in the blood of stags as the antlers began their rapid growth from the pedicles on top of the head. Leutinizing hormone (LH) is secreted by the pituitary gland and is the testosterone master-hormone, it gives the signal for testosterone to be produced. There was another peak of testosterone production when the antler begins to calcify into bone, when the rutting season begins. Here the stag is at his most virile and aggressive, constantly herding his harem from other stags and impregnating the hinds to pass his powerful genes into the next generation.

Some of the reasons behind the problem of erectile dysfunction in men include tension, anxiety and stress, all of which affect sexual performance, and in a society plagued by ever increasing levels of stress, it's not surprising that impotence is becoming a major health problem, affecting men both psychologically and physically.

According to research, there is a proven incompatibility between the production of stress hormones and the production of sex hormones.

“As ACTH (the stress master-hormone) goes up, LH (the testosterone master-hormone) goes down. The male sex hormones are therefore reduced in direct relation to the amount of stress hormones in circulation...Ginseng and the harmony remedies [of which velvet antler is the prime animal remedy] limit the production of stress hormones, returning ACTH and the glucocorticoids to normal more rapidly and efficiently. Thus they preserve sexual capacity during the stresses of life.”¹

The extraordinary worldwide publicity and demand for the 'impotence pill' Viagra reveals something of the hidden depth of this problem. But while such drugs may be a temporary fix there are side effects reported, and while other treatments, such as injections of testosterone, may affect a temporary solution in restoring sexual capacity for older men, it goes hand in hand with the possibility of speeding up the decline of the body's own production of sex hormone.

There are many anecdotal accounts on file from men who having taken antler velvet to increase energy, or to lower blood pressure, or alleviate the pain of arthritis, have enjoyed the bonus of greatly increased sexual interest and capacity. Velvet builds endurance, it seems, on every level.

Along with the natural hormones and substances with steroid like properties found in velvet antler are a wide range of minerals, nutrients and other bioactive properties, giving rise to the claims in Chinese medicine that it is an ultimate energy tonic, toning the kidney, liver and brain, strengthening the heart, increasing blood circulation and invigorating the dynamic Yang energy. Not only a medicine for the body, it is also believed to strengthen the mind and the central nervous system and to have a positive effect on the spirit.

When Chinese medicine refers to a herb or remedy being associated with the Kidneys and Liver, it is not just referring to the physical organs of the kidneys and liver. Rather it refers to very specific energy flows through the body which involve these organs - a system of channels or pathways through which the vital force or ch'i circulates from one organ to another. These pathways are known as “meridians” and are used in the traditional arts of acupuncture and acupressure.

There are twelve of these meridians and in order for all of the organs to be healthy, the ch'i energy must be flowing freely through each of the meridians. If the energy becomes blocked or the flow is insufficient problems arise in that part of the body, the organs cease functioning properly and illness can result. And this is where herbs play such an important role, as they are said to affect or to have an affinity with specific organ meridians.

Deer antler velvet in the Chinese materia medica is most strongly associated with the Kidney meridian, which includes the kidneys themselves as well as the adrenal glands. These very important glands produce a wide range of hormones with complex activities which include regulating the body's response to stress, regulating sugar metabolism, and directly controlling the reproductive hormone production of the gonads.

Of all the meridians the Kidney, known as the “Root of Life,” is considered the most important, “since strong Kidney function provides power to all the other organic systems and serves as a reservoir of highly refined stored energy. For this reason, the Kidney tonics of Chinese tonic herbalism are among the most important.” ⁶

There are volumes of documented research into the therapeutic benefits of velvet antler in Russia, China, Korea and Japan. From these reports, here are some excerpts which relate directly to its sexual benefits:

“Chinese herbal doctors use deer antler as a balancing agent for the endocrine system and in the treatment of penile erection dysfunction in men. Oriental physicians claim it is especially beneficial for men suffering from enlarged prostate glands and watery semen.” ⁵

“According to Dr Kong (1980) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong...Velvet preparations increase muscle tone, increase lung efficiency and increase appetite. It acts like a male sex hormone, animal tests showing it to be about half the strength of testosterone.” ²

“Pantocrin [velvet antler extract] has been proven to be beneficial to metabolism, to the heart, central nervous system and brain, to the reproductive system.” ⁶

“According to Brekhman (ND)...A number of reports particularly stressed the therapeutic effect of pantocrin [velvet antler extract] in various kinds of sexual disorders in men and women, especially associated with climacteric syndrome.”²

“Nikitina (1974) claims that in the East [velvet antler] is considered as a means ...for the heightening of the sexual function.” ²

“Wallnofer and von Rattausher (1975) In their book 'Chinese Folk Medicine and Acupuncture' claim that deer antlers... are an excellent excitant for men whose sexual potency is declining.”²

“Rennie (1980) when discussing the deer industry in Taiwan said that, as elsewhere, velvet antler is considered a general tonic and body rejuvenator, particularly good for... boosting sexual performance in men.”²

References
1. The Book of Ginseng And Other Chinese Herbs For Vitality, by Stephen Fulder, Healing Arts Press, One Park Street,  Rochester, Vermont 1980
2. Properties of New Zealand Deer Velvet, Part I, Search of the Literature, Volume 1, by Dr R. H. Archer and P.J. Palfreyman for Massey University and Wrightson NMA Ltd. 1983
3. The benefits of Velvet Antler - The 2000-Year-Old Health Food For All Reasons by Alex Duarte, O.D., Ph.D., 1995.
4. Acupuncture Is it for you? by J R Worsley, Element Books Limited, Dorset, England. 1988
5. New Health and Medical Findings from Around the World, Life Extension Magazine: Vol.14, No. 12, December 1994, pp. 99-103 A 2000 Year Old Medicine from Deer Antlers
6.Chinese Tonic Herbs by Ron Teeguarden Japan Publications, Inc., Tokyo and New York 1984