The Efficacy, Functions, and Methods of Consumption of Deer Antler Velvet

Generally, deer antler has various functions and benefits such as nourishing kidney and boosting yang energy, replenishing qi and blood, strengthening tendons and bones, stabilizing the conception vessel and controlling leukorrhea, and anti-aging. It can be consumed by soaking in alcohol, stewing with chicken, lamb, or pig's trotters, cooking porridge, etc. Details are as follows:

I. Functions and Benefits

1. Nourish the Kidney and Boost Yang Energy: Deer antler acts on the kidney meridian and helps nourish kidney function and enhance yang energy. It improves male sexual function and alleviates symptoms such as impotence and premature ejaculation. Additionally, deer antler treats symptoms caused by kidney-yang deficiency, including soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, cold intolerance, and fatigue.

2. Replenish Qi and Blood: Deer antler enriches essence and marrow, and when taken appropriately, it can replenish qi and blood. It helps improve symptoms such as qi and blood deficiency, pallor, and fatigue. Clinically, deer antler is often used to treat aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and other blood disorders.

3. Strengthen Tendons and Bones: Deer antler is rich in phospholipids, amino acids, proteins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and other components essential for bone health. It strengthens tendons and bones and helps alleviate symptoms such as muscle and bone weakness and osteoporosis. Moreover, deer antler promotes children's development and improves developmental delays and delayed closure of the fontanelle.

4. Stabilize the Conception Vessel and Control Leukorrhea: Deer antler also has therapeutic effects in gynecology. It can stabilize the conception vessel and control leukorrhea, treating conditions such as metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and infertility caused by cold uterus. When combined with traditional Chinese herbs such as donkey-hide gelatin (Ajiao), angelica root (Danggui), and Chinese yam (Shanyao), deer antler enhances therapeutic effects and improves women's reproductive health.

5. Anti-Aging: Antioxidants in deer antler remove free radicals, delay cellular aging, and thus provide anti-aging effects. It has a positive impact on improving skin condition and delaying skin aging.

II. Methods of Consumption

1. Soaking in Alcohol: Place slices of deer antler in white liquor, seal and soak. The soaking time can be adjusted according to personal preference and needs; it is recommended to soak for at least two weeks. Drinking an appropriate amount daily helps nourish kidney function, boost yang energy, and improve immunity.

2. Stewing with Chicken: Cut chicken into pieces, blanch briefly in boiling water, then stew with deer antler slices and ginger slices in an appropriate amount of water for 2–3 hours. Season before consumption. Both the broth and meat are rich in nutrients.

3. Stewing with Lamb: Cut lamb into pieces, blanch briefly in boiling water, then stew with deer antler slices and ginger slices in an appropriate amount of water for more than 3 hours. Season before consumption. The resulting broth is rich and nutritious, providing a nourishing and strengthening effect.

4. Stewing with Pig's Trotters: Cut pig's trotters into pieces, blanch briefly in boiling water, then place in a stewing bowl with deer antler slices and ginger slices. Add an appropriate amount of water and stew for more than 4 hours. Season before consumption. This dish is particularly suitable for women and helps delay skin aging.

5. Cooking Porridge: Wash rice and cook into porridge with an appropriate amount of water. When the porridge is nearly cooked, add deer antler slices, red dates, and goji berries, and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Season before consumption. The porridge is nutritionally rich, easy to digest, and readily absorbed.

It is important to control the amount consumed to avoid excessive intake that may cause bodily discomfort.