What Does Deer Blood Help With? Understanding the Traditional Uses and Modern Health Claims

December 6, 2025 •

4 min read

For thousands of years, traditional medicine systems in East Asia have utilized deer blood, with practitioners believing it possesses potent healing properties. This raises the question: what does deer blood help with, and do these ancient claims stand up to modern scrutiny concerning safety and efficacy?

Quick Summary

Processed deer blood is claimed to boost energy, improve circulation due to high iron and protein content, and support immune function. However, consuming raw deer blood is extremely dangerous and modern scientific evidence is limited.

Key Points

Traditional Uses: Historically, deer blood has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other cultures to boost vitality, energy, and blood circulation.
Nutrient-Rich: Processed deer blood powder contains high levels of bioavailable haem iron, protein, and essential amino acids, which can help with iron deficiency.
Fatigue Reduction: Animal studies have shown that fermented deer blood (FDB) can alleviate exercise-induced fatigue and reduce oxidative stress.
Immune Support: Evidence from traditional use and some animal research suggests deer blood may have immunomodulatory effects, supporting the immune system.
High Safety Risk: Consuming raw or improperly processed deer blood is dangerous due to the risk of infectious diseases like Brucellosis and Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE).
Processed Supplements: Safe consumption relies on proper sterilization and manufacturing, which is only possible with controlled, commercial products, not fresh blood.
Limited Human Research: Despite historical use and some preliminary animal studies, there is a lack of conclusive, peer-reviewed human clinical evidence for most claimed health benefits.

Historical and Traditional Use

Deer blood has a long and storied history within traditional medicine systems, particularly Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Historically, various parts of the deer, including blood, antlers, and bone, were prized for their perceived medicinal properties. Deer blood was often consumed as a tonic or made into a dried powder to treat a variety of ailments. It was believed to invigorate the body, strengthen bones, and improve overall vitality. In some Russian traditions, a broth made from deer blood and bone has been used to treat conditions from arthritis to eczema. These ancient remedies laid the foundation for the contemporary supplement market, where deer blood products are often marketed with similar historical claims of efficacy.

Potential Health Claims and Supporting Evidence

Modern deer blood products, such as sterilized powders and hydrolysates, are valued primarily for their nutrient profile. Unlike the often speculative claims of the past, some modern research focuses on the bioactive compounds within processed deer blood. While human trials are scarce, animal studies and anecdotal evidence suggest a few areas of potential benefit.

Combatting Anemia and Fatigue

Processed deer blood powder is a natural source of haem iron, protein, and amino acids. Haem iron is known for its high bioavailability, meaning the body absorbs it more efficiently than non-haem iron. This makes deer blood a potential supplement for individuals with iron deficiency anemia or general fatigue.

Supports Blood Production: Provides essential building blocks for red blood cell production.
Boosts Energy: The iron and protein content can help address fatigue caused by low iron levels.
Animal Study on Fatigue: A study on mice demonstrated that fermented deer blood (FDB) significantly reduced exercise-induced fatigue, improved antioxidant capacity, and modulated gut microbiota.

Supporting Immune Function

Traditional beliefs suggest deer blood can strengthen the immune system. Some research has investigated this, showing positive immunomodulatory effects in animal models. Components like peptides and other bioactive substances may play a role.

Enhances Resistance: Experiments have shown deer blood can enhance the phagocytic function of white blood cells and strengthen the body's resistance in immunocompromised mice.
Regulates Immunity: Studies suggest deer blood can positively regulate immune functions and inhibit inflammation.

Antioxidant and Anti-aging Properties

Deer blood hydrolysate (DBH) and fermented deer blood (FDB) have shown antioxidant properties in laboratory and animal studies, which could potentially translate to anti-aging effects.

Reduces Oxidative Stress: DBH was found to protect mice against premature ovarian failure by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis.
Natural Antioxidant: Fermentation processes can increase the antioxidant activity of deer blood.

Critical Safety Considerations and Risks

While potential benefits exist, it is critical to understand the significant risks, especially concerning consuming unprocessed or improperly handled deer blood.

Risk of Infectious Diseases

Consuming raw, unprocessed deer blood is extremely dangerous. Deer can carry a variety of pathogens that can cause serious illness in humans, and contact with an infected animal's blood and organs is a known risk factor.

Brucellosis: A bacterial infection transmitted through contact with infected animal tissues, blood, and fluids. Symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle pain.
Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE): Research has documented cases of HGE in people who handled infected deer carcasses without proper protection.
Other Pathogens: Wild deer can also carry other infectious diseases such as E. coli, Salmonellosis, and various tapeworms.

Contamination and Processing

For any deer blood product to be safe for human consumption, it must be sterilized to eradicate biological threats like bacteria and parasites. The sourcing and manufacturing process must be carefully controlled to prevent contamination. Lack of proper processing introduces severe health risks.

Allergies

Like any animal-derived product, deer blood can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Hunters have reported developing allergies to deer hair, blood, or stomach fluids, resulting in symptoms like skin irritation or respiratory issues.

Deer Blood vs. Deer Antler Velvet: A Comparison

It is important to distinguish between deer blood products and deer antler velvet, as they are often confused. While both are derived from deer and used in traditional medicine, their composition and properties differ significantly. NIH Study on Fermented Deer Blood and Fatigue


Feature	Deer Blood (Processed Powder/Hydrolysate)	Deer Antler Velvet (Powder/Extract)
Origin	Blood collected from farmed deer.	Soft, cartilaginous antler of growing deer.
Primary Components	High in haem iron, protein, peptides, and amino acids.	Contains growth factors (like IGF-1), proteins, amino acids, minerals, and hormones.
Traditional Uses	Boosts energy, combats anemia, supports blood circulation and immunity.	Supports vitality, promotes muscle health, and aids in recovery and joint function.
Scientific Support	Limited human evidence, but some lab and animal studies on specific effects.	Lack of strong human clinical evidence to support efficacy for most claims.

Conclusion

While deer blood has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for various ailments, modern science offers a more nuanced view. Processed deer blood products, valued for their haem iron and protein content, show some potential in animal studies for combatting fatigue and supporting immunity. However, human evidence is limited. Critically, consuming raw or improperly processed deer blood is extremely dangerous due to the high risk of transmitting infectious diseases. Consumers should exercise extreme caution, only consider highly sterilized and reputable products, and consult with a healthcare professional before use. The ancient claims should be weighed carefully against modern safety standards and the lack of robust clinical evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is extremely unsafe to drink raw deer blood due to the high risk of transmitting serious infectious diseases like Brucellosis and Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE).

Sterilized deer blood powder is used as a nutritional supplement, primarily valued for its haem iron and protein content. Traditionally, it was used to boost energy, combat anemia, and support vitality.

In traditional practices, it was believed to combat fatigue. Animal studies have shown fermented deer blood can reduce exercise-induced fatigue in mice, but human evidence is limited.

Deer blood comes from the animal's circulatory system, while antler velvet is the soft, cartilaginous antler in its growth stage. They contain different bioactive compounds, though both are used in traditional medicine.

Traditional medicine claims it boosts immunity, and some animal studies have shown immunomodulatory effects. However, conclusive evidence in humans is still lacking.

While properly processed supplements are generally safer, individual sensitivities can occur. People have reported allergies to deer-derived products. Always consult a healthcare professional before use.

Hunters and processors should wear protective gear, including gloves and face masks, to avoid contact with blood and bodily fluids from wild animals, minimizing the risk of infection.