: Possible side effects of deer antler velvet My doctor suggested I try deer antler velvet. But I am not sure about it. Does deer antler velvet have any side effects? Does it help growth? Are there any scientific studies about

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There are several on-line resources to begin a survey of deer antler velvet. Most are adverts which appear to only offer a glowing picture of its properties, for example Antler Farms claim:

Modern scientific research indicates that deer antler velvet may have beneficial effects related to:

improvement in general health
increase in blood supply and circulation
reduction of blood pressure
increase in energy levels and endurance
increase in muscular development and strength
improvement in flexibility and joint mobility
increase in muscle recovery
prevention and reduction of inflammation
improvement in sexual health
development of the skeletal system
stimulation of the immune system function
improvement in mental health
anti aging effects

and all for 9/month!.
Antler Farms lists the ingredients of DAV, and a more commercialized version:

Our product contains the full growth factor matrix:

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II
Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-A)
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B)
Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
Erythropoietin (EPO)
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9)
Interleukins
Nerve growth factor (NGF) and other neurotrophins
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
Vascular endothelial growth factor

and possible side effects as:

Caution:
Symptoms of deer antler velvet overdose include bloody nose, dizziness, headache or red eyes. Some people report upset stomach. In these cases, reduce the dosage or discontinue use. Information regarding safety and efficacy during pregnancy and lactation is lacking, so please avoid use during these times. Xylitol, a natural sweetener contained in our deer antler velvet extract, is toxic to dogs. Do not give deer antler velvet extract to pets.

For scientific studies, the product is not recognised by the US FDA.
The Deer Industry of New Zealand has guidelines for the DAV production processes, and the New Zealand Medical Journal has an article which disputes some of the claimed properties.