posted
In my hunt to restore my hormone imbalances, I found a piece from the Insights into Lyme Disease book in a section by the maker of the Cowden Protocol.
He suggested using Deer Antler Velvet as a substitute for actual HGH replacement because this Chinese extract will restore the pathways for HGH to build.
Curiously, I googled this extract and found it interesting that it's being touted as the newest performance enhancing substance used by professionals of the NFL -- and already banned at that.
Apparently, the extract aids in recovery, and helps build and strengthen tissue. Sounds good to me.
Looks like I found my next supplement experiment.
Anyone else heard of this?
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
I thought that it also increased testosterone as well. The problem with HGH is that you manufacture the same amount but release less as you get older. Trans-d-tropin is good for stimulating you to release more. I wonder if you would need to take both if you are older.
Posts: 47 | From nj | Registered: May 2004
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Yes, I've read about this recently as well. I believe it was Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens who was talking it up.
It is not a Chinese product exclusively. A lot of it is manufactured in New Zealand and Korea.
Some say it's snake oil so not sure who to believe. If your IGF-1 is low, it may be worth a shot. Lyme can lower IGF-1 and GH output.
Since hormones can be somewhat dependent on each other, a spike in GH may cause some spike in T as well and vice versa.
HPTA disruption has been one of my biggest lyme hurdles so anything that can get GH going north is worth a shot.
Just make sure you try established product though and not anything bogus.
eds, have you used Trans-d-tropin? I know it costs as much as gold...better work for those prices
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
The idea is that Lyme causes dysfunction with endocrine system or the HPA. Leading to hormonal imbalances and other endocrine issues.
Maybe as we get older, the pathways for distribution of HGH become blocked. Could this be double trouble if we're battling chronic illness that is assisting in the pathway blockage?
When I did a search for Low HGH symptoms, I fit the profile very well.
It's make a lot of sense to work on this area, considering all the issues I'm having treating Babesia.
If a spike in GF would assist production of T-cells, then it must have a beneficial effect on the Thymus gland -- which is implicated as a target in the infection of Babesia.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
The more I research this product, I'm finding amazing things behind it. And not a lot of negatives either.
I viewed 2 ten minute videos about Deer Antler Velvet. The guy goes into full detail about it's origin, uses, benefits, and history. It was interesting and pretty persuasive.
Then I searched their product on Amazon, and read:
"IMMORTAL VELVET TM contains a powerful blend of growth factors in a naturally occurring matrix. These naturally occurring growth factors are
involved in every cellular function in the human body, from metabolism to immune response. It provides a solution to the age-old quest for the
fountain of youth, by giving us a naturally occurring concentration of anti-aging components that can turn back the hands of time. Clinical
research shows that this proprietary IGF matrix supplement has a profound ability to produce more red blood cells that help deliver oxygen to your
muscles therefore, dramatically aiding muscular endurance in addition to providing enhanced muscle and injury recovery. Clinical research
also shows the ability for this extract to produce more immune system aiding white blood cells. These are essential for aiding in the
combat of free radical cellular development which are the main proponents of muscle degeneration and wasted work out sessions. "
That sounds like everything we need to feel better. It's a pricey product and I wish I could find some experienced users on it, but I've never felt more excited about a product.
nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
You have to be careful of products using animal parts promoted to be a cure. It encourages poaching. A lot of bears are poached for their gall bladder. Deer to not have velvet in hunting season.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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Lymeorsomething
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posted
In New Zealand at least, they harvest the antlers with no injury to the deer. I don't know anything about deer, but I believe the antlers regenerate?
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Yes, the antlers grow and fall off every season. Apparently, it's the only thing in the animal kingdom that regenerates with this kind of growth.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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Camp Other
Unregistered
posted
Wolfed Out,
You said,
"I viewed 2 ten minute videos about Deer Antler Velvet. The guy goes into full detail about it's origin, uses, benefits, and history. It was interesting and pretty persuasive."
What did you find persuasive about the presentations on the antler velvet?
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posted
Not the camera's guy reaction to trying it! LOL Although, I'm sure it probably has some pretty instantaneous kick to it.
More so, the history provided behind it's use in chinese medicine, the potential benefits and healing properties.
The stuff being touted as youth rejuvenation. The key to improving the HGH pathways with amino acids.
I don't know how much of this is snake oil. But my feeling is if a renowned LLMD suggests it's use is capable of opening blockages to the pathways to HGH, and he would rather use this over supplemental injected hormone, there could be some merit behind the claims.
My other feeling is that generally healthy people won't feel much of the effects. But, in the case of the chronically ill, where it's becoming much more evident how much our endocrine systems are played with in Lyme disease, it may provide a warming relief.
All this is speculation on my part. I have to have hope! Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
I read about the antler deal years ago and looked at the pros and cons. Whole Foods, who is picky about what supplements are put on their shelf sell Vital HGH or at least they did a year or so ago. At the time it was the only over the counter supplement/spray that studies had been taken to prove that HGH was increased. It was the only product Whole Foods would carry to increase your HGH at the time.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I don't think you can increase your hgh with a supplement. You have to be careful of supplements no matter who is promoting them... Cross reference the research. Maybe look on PubMed for studies.
I had a test & my hgh was really low. To make a long story short - I took injections, raised my hgh as per a new test & didn't feel significantly better.
So, what's the moral of the story? I don't know. It's hard to say if this is something worthwhile or not.
I think getting good sleep in a dark room may help with hgh production. I'd be cautions of spending alot of money on this but we all are different.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Deer and Elk are in 'velvet' in the summer. It's when their antlers grow. It's a covering on their horns that is rich in blood. It actually looks like velvet.
They will 'rub' off the velvet towards the start of fall... and because of the bleeding, it will turn their antlers the darker color that you see them all have.
I agree with Nefferdun.. this would promote poaching. Not everyone would do it in a controled animal type farm setting.
If this truly has medical possiblities,why haven't we in the US jumped on this band wagon? We're loaded with Deer and Elk.
-------------------- Lyme, Babs, Fry Bug..... Whatever it is, may a treatment be discovered to make us all whole again! Posts: 941 | From AZ-MT | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I have read something about that. In the study you sourced, if I understood it correctly, suggests that this is a problem with Elk and not Deer Antler.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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I don't know enough about the supplement to defend it, but you can search for sports sthletes using it as a performance enhancer, and how commissions are looking into how to regulate it.
The process is banned in several countries. New Zealand is one of a couple that have government regulated farms to allow for this product to be manufactured.
Aside from that, all I'm going to say about the US is we're not exactly rolling in front of the curve. Big Pharma has huge stakes in how people spend their money to treat illnesses. I'm sure they don't want us to know about something like this.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Wolf it's both deer and elk unfortunately. It's definitely something I would have tried though.
Well, the study did look at elk only but apparently the same problem is seen with deer too.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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These deer and elk antlers as a supplement are at risk for passing on a disease on to humans similar to "mad cow disease". With prions in it, cooking it at typical temperatures won't kill it. And if you did cook it, what would that do to the HGH?
I wouldn't consider trying it worth the risk.
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