The Serious Problem with Deer Antler Pills

A recent addition to the bodybuilding and fitness supplement market, deer antler pills promise dramatic support for muscle growth and bone density.

Some forms of deer antler extract has been used medicinally since the beginning of human history.

But the same factor which makes certain types of antler extract so appealing is also its greatest stumbling block – bioavailability.

The key active ingredient in a deer antler pill – IGF-1 – is sure to be almost completely destroyed by stomach acids when consumed. This makes oral supplementation of the important growth factor practically impossible.

Or does it? New forms of deer extract products are arising which may offer solutions to the problem. Here are the facts about this remedy, and why it’s worth finding a viable way to supplement it as part of a total fitness routine.

Deer Antler Extract

Bodybuilding Supplement

Bodybuilding

Joint Health

Sexual Health

How It Works:

• Source of IGF-1 for Muscle Growth
• Supports joint health & functionality
• May aid sexual function & anti-aging

Dosage:

Varies depending on formulation

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Historical Forms of Antler Extract

Alongside the rise of animal husbandry in China, new applications for animal based health remedies began to be explored in earnest.

Deer antler extracts had already been used in Chinese medicine since as early as 150 B.C.

Later, in 1584, one of the first Chinese scholars to write about the remedy, Wu Kun, described its use in his book Study of Prescriptions. At this time, the antler tips of newly grown cartilage attached to the skulls of wild deer were clipped, dried, and crushed into a very fine powder.

This powder was prescribe for kidney health, sexual performance, and an overall boost (tonification) of many systems of the body. It was thought to balance yin and yang energy.

The active component of this remedy was IGF-1, a growth factor which forged the development of the deer antler into bone. However, if the powder was consumed in a tea, as was the convention, it is unclear how much IGF-1 actually reached the blood.

Digestive enzymes and stomach acids would render this powder useless as an IGF delivery method. The same problem plagues the use of oral deer antler pills.

Can the Active Ingredient IGF-1 Be Supplemented?

IGF-1 sounds like a wonder compound for growing new muscle, recovering from injury to both muscle and bone, and increasing metabolism. In safe and responsible quantities, it absolutely can perform all of these functions, if it is able to get to the bloodstream intact.

Unfortunately deer antler pills are not a reliable method for achieving this. While the extract itself is rich in IGF-1, pills are not able to survive the digestion process with the hormone intact.

For this reason, growth hormones like IGF-1 (and other anabolic steroids, such as DHEA) are frequently injected directly into muscle. This method allows the hormones to enter the bloodstream without being processed through the digestive system first.

Of course, most casual sports and fitness enthusiasts do not wish to inject themselves on a daily basis as part of a normal supplementation process. There are serious safety reasons that discourage people from trying the supplement in this form.

As it turns out, it would not even be legal to do so if you wanted to use an IGF-1 booster of this sort. Both steroids and IGF-1 are Schedule III controlled substances. This means they cannot be legally purchased or administered without a prescription.

Doctors will not prescribe these medications for general fitness and bodybuilding. They are prescribed for people with severe growth problems, or people who are recovering from serious musculoskeletal injuries.

Anyone who wishes to increase the levels of growth hormone in their own bodies must find another method for safe, legal supplementation. Deer antler extract can be just such a method, provided it is supplemented in an effective delivery form.

Deer Antler Pills vs. Spray Supplements

For any medication which is deemed very fragile such as the IGF-1 growth factor found in deer antler spray, swallowing via pill form is a guarantee that no active components will reach the bloodstream.

However, the highly porous mucous membranes found directly underneath the tongue can provide a direct pathway for medication of all kinds to enter the bloodstream. An abundance of capillaries in this tissue provide direct access to the venal system.

For this reason, any substance which can dissolve easily with saliva may be taken under the tongue or sublingually. Once the substance enters the bloodstream, it can skip the usual process of passing through the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Deer Antler Sprays placed under the tongue are said to deliver small doses of IGF-1 to the user in a safe quantity.

Deer Antler Pills Placebo Effect?

It is possible that muscle gains which have been anecdotally observed from deer antler pills are the result of a placebo effect. Placebo effect is a real phenomenon wherein actual physical and mental results can arise even when no effective medication is taken. So, even though deer antler extract in pill form is not likely to be effective at all, users may still note some results.

Often, a heavy duty training program such as often accompanies such supplementation natural produces gains which the user might attribute to the supplement. In any case, it is clearly preferable to take deer antler pills in another form such as a fine mist.

By bypassing stomach acids altogether, such sprays have the ability to deliver significant amounts of IGF-1 to the blood, where it can proceed to generate muscle and bone effects. Explore these IGF effects in more detail in this article.

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