Bambi Antlers and Baseball

 

I sometimes wonder how people discover things. For instance, how did the caveman discover fire?  And when he did ascertain its value, how did he know to throw a carcass on that fire and call it steak?  Along the same wondering lines, I wonder how toilet paper came into being. Who decided that our lives would be so much easier if it existed? I guess throughout history we have learned– just as Plato said — “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

While necessity brings to light so many amazing discoveries, I am without a clue how baseball players now know that deer antler spray might be used to enhance their playing performance.  Yes, it appears that the velvet from immature deer antlers includes an insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) which controls the level of human growth hormone or HGH, which as we all know is at the center of many controversies in the sport of baseball.

Baseball is not banning all velvet deer antler products but one particular product, which might contain methyltestosterone, a banned steroid substance.  For those unfamiliar with deer antlers, allow me to explain.  Velvet deer antler might be a little misleading in that it does not refer to the velvety “skin” on growing antlers. To be honest, I never knew antlers had a velvety skin. I have never been that close to antlers to test that out. Sure, I see deer on the road, but never once did I stop and say, “Can I feel your antlers?”  I just thought it wasn’t really proper.

Anyway, the velvet refers to the cartilage of the antler in a pre-calcified stage. Typically the antler is cut off near the base after it is about two-thirds of its potential size, and before any significant calcification occurs. Let me also add here that no deer are harmed in the velvet removal process. The deer are anesthetized and then let back out into the forest to be with Thumper and Flower and their other woodsy friends.

The velvet antler is then dried and is used as a powder or in tea, or in the banned product’s case, a spray which is spritzed under the tongue. In defense of the velvet antler, it is not all about building muscle and trimming fat. Many in the natural health field believe that velvet antler is more effective as an anti-inflammatory than most prescription drugs without many of the dangerous side effects. Also, velvet antler is thought to be a good anti-cancer and immune stimulant, and it is known to enhance cardiovascular health and maybe sexual “vitality”. Let me stop right here and say, I am not a doctor or homeopath — nor do I pretend to be, and I am only reporting what I read on the internet so take it with at least one grain of salt.

I understand and do believe that the best medicines are found in nature, but I am still curious who thought about cutting off a deer’s antler and turning it into powder or spray that can be used as a remedy for anything from arthritis to impotence.  Was there a group of hunters sitting around a campfire discussing deer antlers when one said,

“Do you think antlers are tasty?”

“ I don’t know if they taste good,” answered another,  “But I bet my bottom dollar that if we cut the antlers and pulverize it into powder we can stop disease and maybe get a good erection to boot.”

“Deer are so helpful for all our body concerns,” said the third hunter. Let’s go get us some antlers.”

This scenario can’t be that farfetched.  Someone, somewhere had to look at deer and think,” Hm, I wonder what we can use the antlers for?”

My first and only thought to that query would have been a coat rack.  I never would have gone beyond the obvious. I can guarantee you that the thought of searching the antlers for medicinal or muscle enhancing properties would never have entered my mind.  But then again, I know I would never have thought about throwing dead meat on the fire in the caveman days and calling it a barbecue. Hell, I would not even have had the foresight to combine chocolate and peanut butter to make a great piece of  candy. If I can’t imagine a peanut butter cup, my chances of making an earth-shattering medicinal discovery from deer antlers are slim at best.

Well, luckily there are other people out there whose imaginations can project where banned substances might be found or what plant might be used to heal.  As for the baseball players who are embracing velvet antler products, I say this: The League knows about Bambi and his friends and they are going to catch you in the act if you use the banned product. Is a little velvet antler worth an entire career?  Ask Bambi, he would probably know best.

 

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/31143287

http://www.raysahelian.com/deer_antler_velvet.html


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17 thoughts on “Bambi Antlers and Baseball”

  1. My best bet is it started with the virility claims, considering these come from stags. Afterwards, the muscle claims would naturally follow as a secondary manly claim.

  2. With some of the weird stuff I’ve seen on the web, I’d guess the Japanese came up with the idea.

    1. I’m not sure Jack. It is interesting though. They say it doesn’t have anywhere near the bad side effects as prescription drugs, so go figure. I still want to touch the real antler though to see what everyone is talking about. 🙂

        1. You call it “expertise”, I call it “being force fed random craziness by my dad for years”

        2. Uh, Mae, have you eaten Italian food. I’m not sure of all the animals but there is a lot of entrails in their delicacies. That is why I always ask what animal the dish came from.

          1. Entrails are sooo yummy! I’ll take entrails over that black mucous stuff in turtle shells any day!

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