Pilose Antler (鹿茸 Lurong)

Northeast China is known for its three treasures. Pilose Antler, a precious medicine, is among them. The other two are ginseng and marten pelt. But pilose antlers, which are so tender it has not ossificated and filled with blood capillaries, grow only on young stags and they are covered with down-like hair.

A young stag grows its first pair of antlers when it turns two; and they are good enough to be cut in the third year. Spring and summer are the seasons for collecting pilose antlers.

Another pair of antlers shall grow where the first pair were cut, which means a young stag has to endure the painful and bloody experience once a year. There are cases in which a stag has its antlers cut twice a year and those cut in winter is known as “snowflake pilose antlers” which are very precious among all Chinese medicinal materials.

The Chinese came to know the medicinal value of pilose antlers as early as 2,000 years ago. In his Compendium of Materia Medica, the celebrated Ming Dynasty herbalist Li Shizhen pointed out that pilose antlers promote the secretion of marrow and other body fluid, preserve blood and increase the sexual potency, and strengthen the physique. It provides ideal cure for physical weaknesses, ear and eye diseases, and helps extend one's life span.