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we accept
ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING INSIDE
THE US & PR
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The importation of New Zealand Velvet Antler requires much more regulation
than Velvet Antler produced in the US. FDA, USDA, and Fish & Wildlife
require permits and inspections of every shipment entering the US. This is
addition to the New Zealand regulations of farming and processing of
Velvet Antler. Government and Veterinary inspections and documentation are
required. Good Manufacturing Procedures are followed throughout the
processing and packaging procedures. Each lot is analyzed for IGF-1
content and microbial contamination.
US production and processing of Velvet Antler can be sketchy. Antlers
are purchased at auction, not knowing the conditions and health of the
animals or the quality of the antler. Packaging is supposed to be
performed under Good Manufacturing Procedures, but government
inspections are infrequent. In fact, there are some producers that harvest
their own antler and use a hand operated filler to fill capsules. They
slap a label on the bottle and they are in business. |
NEW ZEALAND 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.
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