American Elk Velvet and Rheumatism
American Elk Velvet and Rheumatism:
One of the many health conditions elk velvet antler is said to have an effect on is rheumatism. Rheumatism affects millions of people worldwide. There are two types of rheumatism: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have shown that elk antler velvet have positive effects on both.
What happens when you have rheumatism?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in your joints. It causes inflammation in the synovium. The main symptoms are joint pain and swelling. The inflammation is caused by a build-up of fluid and cells in the synovium. There is an increase of blood flow in the area so it turns red, swells, produces extra fluid and causes pain. As a result, the inflamed joint may feel warmer than usual.
Your nerve endings are irritated by the chemicals produced by the inflammation. The capsule (synovium) is stretched by the swelling in your joint. When the inflammation goes down, the capsule stays stretched and can’t hold your joint in its proper position. This can make your joint unstable, and it can move into unusual or deformed positions.
What happens if you have osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition where one’s joints deteriorate, causing pain and stiffness. More specifically the cartilage between bones, articular cartilage, which allows your joints to properly articulate or bend, degenerates. There are three major causes of osteoarthritis - a poor diet, free radicals and other environmental pollutants, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Elk Antler Velvet and Rheumatism
There are substances found in elk antler velvet that have been helpful in alleviating symptoms associated with rheumatism – chondroitin sulfate, collagen, glucosamine sulfate, hyaluronic acid and growth factors.
Glucosamine sulfate has the ability to repair cartilage, with even more success when combined with chondroitin sulfate. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is also present in elk antler velvet, which encourages the absorption of chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine sulfate. Hyaluronic acid lubricates joints.
Studies Done Between Elk Antler Velvet and Rheumatism
- Recent clinical tests suggest oral intake of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate — both found in velvet antler — may help stimulate cartilage repair. Placebo-controlled double-masked studies of both humans and animals on the therapeutic effects of these glycosaminoglycans appear to confirm these investigations.
- Randomized studies of glucosamine indicate the compound not only inhibits cartilage degradation but also helps repair damaged cartilage. An eight-week double-blind trial of glucosamine on 40 osteoarthritis sufferers found that the compound had significantly longer-lasting benefits than the commonly prescribed pain killer ibuprofen.