Ask a sceptic about the aphrodisiac properties of deer antler, and they will roll their eyes and give a clever explanation of how it's all psychological. The buck is a large, masculine animal with phallic horns, and its only natural that primitive people around the world would consume deer antler to try and capture the spirit of the beast. The sceptic will assure you its sympathetic magic or placebo.

Had the sceptic bothered to read to read the scientific literature, he would discover dozens of published studies that have found that deer antler is packed with biologically active molecules. The idea that antler can be used to treat low sex drive is no more preposterous than the idea that eating liver can correct a disease like anemia. There is a reason that Chinese medicine has long considered antler to be one of the finest libido boosters.

Deer Antler is one of the fastest growing tissues in any animal - it can grow an inch or more a day. And the antler (especially the immature, or velvet antler) contains some unusual chemicals, including:

• Monoacetylglycerides that stimulate the metabolism and red blood cell production.
• Dialkyl Phosphatidylcholines that stimulate spleen cells.
• Small but significant amounts of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors that increase levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin.
• Ganglioside Ceramides that nourish connective tissues
• Unknown compounds that block the effects of morphine and prevent dopamine receptor hypersensitization.

Placebo my ass.

Here is part of what the esteemed herbalist Michael Tierra has to say about deer antler in his book The Way of Herbs:

The antler of the sika red deer of Northern China is one of the most potent Yang tonics. It is as prized as expensive ginseng, and its high price reflects the high regard the Chinese have for its tonic properties ... It is a powerful aphrodisiac for both men and women.

Today, deer are raised on farms for their velvet antler. The horns are removed in a humane fashion, year after year. New Zealand is the largest producer, but production has been rising in the U.S. and Canada. Elk also produce antler velvet, and the large size of the horns makes them economically attractive to raise.

Side Effects and Dosage

Deer Antler has not received much scrutiny with respects to its toxicity - most toxicologists and nutritionists seem to assume it is just a type of meat. In one study that was done on mice, no toxic effects were seen after 14 days. When the mice were given a large dose (1 g/kg) for 90 days, the only effect seen was a slightly smaller (but otherwise healthy) liver. (PMID:11038235).

In a second study, rats exposed to a large dose of deer antler velvet (10% of the diet) starting in the womb and through the 88th day of their life were normal in terms of their development. The only difference the high level of deer antler caused was a slight elevation of one liver enzyme, which was higher in male mice than in the females. The researchers suggested that the mild elevation in gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase might be due to an androgenic effect of the antler.

This androgenic, or masculinizing effect of antlers has led some researchers to raise a cautionary flag with respect to women who are of child bearing age. Because the earliest stages of human development are sensitive to so many medicines, this is a reasonable concern for those trying to conceive.

The typical antler product on the market today contains 250 mg per tablet or capsule, and the recommended dose varies from 2 to 6 capsules a day. Some products, like Deer Antler Plus, also contain Zinc, B-vitamins, and small amounts of the herbs ginseng and cnidium. While the amounts of ginseng and cnidium present is probably too small to have an effect on its own, it may have a synergetic effect when combined with the antler and other ingredients.