Does Deer Antler Spray Work? Pros and Cons

Does deer antler spray work to improve the body’s natural ability to grow muscle and bone?

Supporters claim that the substance can shorten recovery times from athletic injury, speed metabolism in order to burn fat, and power high levels of endurance.

The main issues which generate controversy with the supplement are bioavailability challenges, and side effects associated with any hormone supplementation.

Neither of these concerns have prevented the spray from widespread use in professional sports and gyms around the world.

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

Top Related Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Does Deer Antler Spray Work?

Any serious investigation of this animal-based fitness supplement would have to look back to its origins in ancient Chinese medicine.

Once culled from the growing antlers of wild roaming deer, antler extracts were prescribed as a tonifying remedy for the balancing of yin and yang energies.

Dried powder made from the velvet-like fuzz which accompanies a deer’s antler growth cycle was thought to:

• purify blood
• improve kidney function
• increase sexual function
• improve overall vitality

Read about the history of deer antler extract in Chinese medicine in this article. Today, modern deer antler supplements are gathered from vast deer “farms” where the animals are raised for meat food sources as well as the growth hormones present in their antlers. Next we’ll look at how world class athletes use the supplement.

Are Deer Antler Supplements Banned?

The core ingredient in deer antler sprays that makes them work is IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor). This natural protein regulates many functions of growth in muscle tissue, and is likely responsible for most of deer antler extract’s effects.

This substance is actually so potent that it is considered a performance enhancing drug by almost every major athletic institution in the world. As such, its use is as strictly prohibited as steroid, in sports from cycling to pro football.

Controversy surrounding deer antler spray reached all the way to the 2013 Super Bowl, when star linebacker Ray Lewis became an inadvertent spokesperson for the use of deer antler spray in the media rush surrounding the big game. The World Anti-Doping Agency and the NFL were forced to remove bans on the spray due to public pressure.

At the time, both agencies claimed that the spray did not constitute a doping offence. It continues to be wildly popular among professional athletes, who use it because it works. They say it allows them to to gain a legal edge under incredible physical stress. Explore the legal issues surrounding deer antler spray in this article.

Why Supplementing IGF-1 Is Difficult

IGF-1, like Human Growth Hormone, is difficult to directly supplement, as it is very delicate. Does deer antler spray work if you swallow it as a pill?

Acids in the stomach are thought to consume the majority of oral supplements. The typical fitness enthusiast does not wish to inject these substances.

For this reason, spray versions of the product like those produced by BioAntler make delivery of the compound directly to the blood possible (by dissolving under the tongue).

Deer Antler Spray for Sexual Health Issues

One of the main uses for deer antler spray besides muscle growth is as a sexual performance supplement. Even in ancient Chinese medicine, the compound was thought to boost libido and solve impotence. Whereas the Chinese thought this was accomplished by balancing yin and yang energy, modern scientific research suggests that deer antler’s sexual benefits arise from its activation of estrogen receptors and myosin.

Myosin is a muscle protein which assists in contraction and nerve transmission. Both of these factors contribute to heightened sexual control and stamina. This article goes into more depth about the use of deer antler as a sexual health booster.

Side Effects Fears

While research shows that deer antler spray works for muscle building, sexual health and improved recovery time, there is still a question of whether it is safe for regular use. Excess growth hormone levels can create unwanted side effects. This is one of the key arguments against the use of anabolic steroids. In addition to muscle gains, steroids can unfortunately also create pre-disposition to tumors and cancers.

While there is no direct link proven between IGF-1 supplements like deer antler spray and cancers, it is thought that anyone who is already sensitive to hormone imbalances should avoid the supplement. This is especially true in the case of estrogen imbalance, such as in reproductive issues in the uterus and ovaries.

For men, an imbalance in estrogen response could result in the appearance of feminine secondary sexual characteristics. While these are all possible dangers of IGF-1 excess, it is unclear if deer antler sprays can result in enough IGF-1 hitting to the bloodstream to generate such negative effects.

Does deer antler spray work for men despite these side effects fears? This is still a matter of debate. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have claimed that spray applications are insufficient to deliver any substantial amounts of IGF-1. Positive user reviews across bodybuilding websites continue to disagree. Compare before and after results of deer antler extract usage at this link.

Combining Deer Antler with Other Herbs to Increase Efficacy

Various proprietary deer antler extracts on the market add other natural herbs and extracts to enhance benefits. For example, the popular BioAntler product employs the following additional components:

• L-Arginine – a protein building amino which enhances immunity
• Horny Goat Weed Extract – a Chinese herb which is famous for its ability to increase male sexual performance
• Tribulus Terrestris extract – a fruit plant which fights ED by increasing testosterone levels
• Tongkat Ali root extract – a noted testosterone booster and aphrodisiac

How does deer antler velvet extract affect the body when combined with other supplements? When used with the above ingredients, the sexual health benefits are amplified. The muscle and bone support that the spray is already noted to provide is unaffected, and continues to deliver fitness-oriented results with regular use.

Read our review of another commercial deer antler spray, Deer Antler Plus, here.

Rate This Article

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)