Deer Velvet - FAQ's
What is Deer Velvet?
Male deer or stags grow antlers which are deciduous, meaning that they fall off and re-grow each spring. Deer Velvet is the name given to the antlers during the early stages of growth, when the soft, cartilage-like tissue is covered with a furry coating.
What are the health benefits of Deer Velvet?
Deer Velvet has been described as a body supporter, probably because the established health benefits include; improved circulation, immunity to cold and flu, joint health, relief from arthritis, accelerated injury recovery, treatment of anaemia, and general well-being. The prepared powder can be used by people of all ages and has few known adverse effects.
How often should I take Deer Velvet?
Maintenance dose: Take one to two capsules twice daily as a food supplement or as professionally advised.
Acute dose: Take three capsules twice a day with a main meal.
We recommend taking Deep Blue Health Deer Velvet with food, preferably immediately before a meal.
One capsule should be taken at each end of the day, for example with breakfast and with the evening meal, to allow consistent uptake by the body.
Are there any Contraindications?
As with all dietary supplements, you should seek professional advice if you are on prescription medication (for example blood thinning drugs, especially Warfarin), before consuming Deep Blue Health Deer Velvet.
Are there any drug interactions?
Deep Blue Health Deer Velvet is a natural food supplement; you should not exceed the recommended daily dose unless otherwise advised by your healthcare professional.
Are there any adverse reaction/ side-effects?
Deep Blue Health Deer Velvet has few known side-effects.
According to Haines and Suttie:
“Remarkably few data on contraindications for velvet are available..... However the fact that velvet has been used by young and old, male and female alike for 2,000 years with few reports of adverse effects is evidence that velvet is a relatively safe preparation......Velvet antler can have a hypotensive (lowering of blood pressure) effect. Therefore anyone with a cardiac abnormality or abnormal blood pressure should consult a doctor before taking velvet antler in case the use of velvet exacerbates their problem. Some consumers have reported nose bleeds after taking velvet.” S R Haines and J M Suttie. Deer Velvet Technical manual Version 6.3 (July, 2009), Scientific Information Relating to Use of Deer Velvet as a Dietary Supplement. Deer Industry New Zealand.
Pg 87.
As with any food product, some people may experience allergic reactions. If you experience adverse reactions while taking Deer Velvet, you should stop taking the supplement and consult a healthcare professional.
Does it improve sexual function?
Recommended for centuries by traditional Chinese health practitioners to enhance male strength, stamina and virility, Deer Velvet does indeed offer many health-giving properties.
Clinical trials have demonstrated its usefulness for increasing muscle strength, endurance and possibly cardiovascular fitness. These are relevant to sexual function because muscle tone and vascular health are fundamental to erectile function in men. Think of it like the hydraulic braking system in a car: the integrity of the system is essential for effective braking. However, a weakness or leak in the hydraulic system makes the brake-pedal feel soft and spongy, and braking becomes unreliable at best! It is the same with the human vascular system, during an erection the system has to be able to tolerate a certain amount of pressure to make the sexual experience prolonged and enjoyable.
Naturally, Deer Velvet would produce the added benefit of improved sexual function provided there is no underlying health issue.
Scientific Research
A great deal of research has been conducted in the last 70 years. In New Zealand in particular, most research has been carried out by AgResearch by a team led by Dr J M Suttie.
“In New Zealand , where the standards of deer farming rank among the best in the world, deer velvet has great potential as a dietary supplement that can be used to complement conventional Western therapies.” S R Haines and J M Suttie. Deer Velvet Technical manual Version 6.3 (July, 2009), Scientific Information Relating to Use of Deer Velvet as a Dietary Supplement. Deer Industry New Zealand. Pg 11-13.
Animal Welfare
How is Deer Velvet harvested or collected?
New Zealand’s positively regulated deer industry is trusted for its commitment to farming excellence with an emphasis on animal welfare and management, and the traceability and sustainability of its products. In addition, Deep Blue Health ensures that our deer products are harvested under humane conditions to protect and promote animal well-being. The animal is given a small amount of local anaesthetic before the antlers (velvet) are removed by a trained professional.
Are the animals harmed when the antlers are removed?
No, the animals are not harmed in any way; in fact early removal of the antlers prevents the injury of other animals during the mating season, when stags often compete for dominance. The removal of the antlers (velvet) is carried out by trained specialists with an emphasis on animal welfare and to ensure maximum re-growth in the following season.
GENERAL:
What are the capsules made of?
Deep Blue Health capsules are all high quality capsules made from natural products. We use two types of capsule; soft and hard gel.
The soft gel capsules are filled with liquids and are made from animal-based, NZFSA approved gelatine. The gelatine is of the highest quality and is vital to the encapsulation stage.
The hard gel capsules are used for powdered products and may be one of three types; Vegicaps, Oceancaps and gelatine caps. Deep Blue Health provides all three variations because we recognise the benefits of the new product option being developed.
What is encapsulating material and why is it used?
Encapsulating material is a naturally inert material used to keep powders free-flowing to ensure the active ingredients remain evenly dispersed throughout the product. Inert means it does not react with the other ingredients and is not absorbed by the body.
What does extract equivalent mean?
Extract equivalent is the ratio of raw to dried product, for example a 10:1 ratio means that 10g of raw product was used to produce 1g of product.
How should I store health supplements?
Store health supplements in a cool dry place below 30oC, away from direct sunlight. Do not throw away the moisture absorbing sachet until the bottle is empty.
For how long should I keep health supplements?
Please refer to the expiry date on the side of the label.
Deep Blue Health products are natural supplements, which are processed and packaged to maximise shelf-life while retaining the nutritional content. Our products are guaranteed to retain the full nutritional content up to and, if stored correctly, beyond the expiry date.
What should I do if I notice my supplements have a strong odour?
Deep Blue Health supplements are concentrated forms of natural foods and as such may have a noticeable smell. The smell is a result of the high potency of the active substances in the product.
Take the supplements as directed on the label; if however you are not happy with the results please contact us via email.
Should I take these supplements while I am pregnant?
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant you should consult your health professional for advice before taking any supplements.
