Qinghai Deer Antler

Qinghai Deer Antler

　　An ancient poem reads: “Even if the sea were to dry up beyond remedy, and elixirs refined nine times over be of no avail, nothing compares to the jewel atop the spotted dragon’s head, which can replenish the vital points beneath the jade hall.”

　　 Deer antler is one of Qinghai Province’s traditional export commodities and is also counted among the Eight Treasures of Qinghai-Tibet. There are mainly two types: blood-covered red deer antler and blood-covered sika deer antler. Qinghai deer antler is harvested from the unossified, densely velveted young antlers of male red deer, white-lipped deer, and sika deer, which inhabit the cold and desolate high mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at altitudes above 3,000 meters. After being sliced, it contains abundant deer serum and various essential amino acids required by the human body. It has the functions of invigorating kidney yang, enriching essence and blood, strengthening bones and tendons, and regulating all kinds of sores and toxins. It is primarily used for treating impotence and seminal emission, uterine coldness and infertility, emaciation and fatigue, stomach cold, cold pain in the lower back and spine, dizziness and tinnitus, deafness, abnormal uterine bleeding and leukorrhea, as well as non-healing vaginal sores.

　　 Currently, there are many types and specifications of deer antler products on the market. Depending on the original animal, they are divided into two types: flower deer antler (yellow-haired antler) and horse deer antler (green-haired antler). Based on the harvesting method, they are further classified into cut antler and sawn antler. Depending on the number of branches and tenderness, they can also be categorized into saddle antler, two-prong antler, horn-hanging antler, three-fork antler, flower-cut antler, lotus antler, and more.

　　 Deer antler grows in both spring and autumn, but the quality of that grown in spring is the best. After being sawn off, the antler undergoes processing which includes repeated scalding with boiling water to remove blood stains, followed by drying, cooling, and refining processes to become medicinal-grade deer antler. Deer antler holds very high medicinal value. Li Shizhen, the renowned pharmacologist of the Ming Dynasty, recorded in his Compendium of Materia Medica: "It generates essence and nourishes marrow, enriches blood and benefits yang, strengthens bones and tendons, and treats all kinds of deficiencies, deafness, dim vision, dizziness, and mental feebleness."

　　 Main Functions

　　 1. It has a powerful effect in enhancing the body’s immune system. When used as a primary medicinal ingredient and applied according to syndrome differentiation, it can increase white blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, and reticulocyte count.

　　 2. It stimulates the nervous system. It is the first choice of medicine for symptoms such as low or absent sexual desire in both men and women, impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, low sperm count leading to infertility, kidney-deficiency related back pain, cold-deficiency related leukorrhea, emaciation and fatigue, underdeveloped uterus, and long-term infertility—all of which respond effectively to this product.

　　 3. It treats developmental disorders in children or incomplete brain development, or cases where the fontanelle fails to close, along with weak tendons and bones, and delayed walking. When applied according to syndrome differentiation, it shows remarkable effects.

　　 4. It combats aging and serves as an excellent tonic for strengthening the body. It improves sleep and appetite and reduces fatigue. For conditions involving essence and blood deficiency, such as tinnitus, deafness, dizziness, forgetfulness, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, cold pain in the lower back and spine, weak tendons and bones, it can be used according to syndrome differentiation.

　　 5. It promotes growth and development, and the healing of ulcer wounds, proving especially beneficial for long-lasting cold abscesses that resist closure. This product is sweet, salty, and warm in nature. It contains 25 kinds of amino acids, sulfuric chondroitin A, estrone, as well as large amounts of bone collagen, protein, and minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. It acts on the kidney and liver meridians. It may easily stimulate yang and generate internal heat, but remains an effective tonic.