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What Is Peptide Therapy? | How It Works | Types of Peptides Used | Benefits | FAQs | Tips for Pursuing Peptide Therapy
Peptide therapy is a form of treatment that utilizes peptides to promote targeted therapeutic effects in your body. Benefits include weight loss, anti-aging effects, improve cognitive function, and more.
Have you heard of the benefits of peptide therapy and want to know more? If so, you aren’t alone. According to a study published in January 2024, the use of peptide therapy has increased by an astonishing 75 percent in the last five years — and with good reason.
I know firsthand because when my mom passed away five years ago, the loss hit me hard and I experienced a variety of symptoms, from feeling emotionally lost and stressed to struggling with weight gain, fatigue, and insomnia.
After trying to “power through” for a while, I knew I needed to do something. Fortunately, I knew exactly where to turn: peptide therapy. And the results were amazing!
Within one month, I realized that even though I was still grieving my mom’s loss, I was sleeping better and had more energy. And even more importantly, I was starting to feel like myself again!
Now, you may be wondering how peptide therapy helped me so much and how it can help you, too. So let’s discuss what peptide therapy is, how it works, and the benefits you can expect from this powerful treatment option.
What Is Peptide Therapy?
Peptide therapy is a form of treatment that utilizes peptides (short chains of amino acids) to improve your health in a variety of ways.
Peptides are naturally occurring molecules in your body that play important roles in numerous functions throughout your body, specifically regulating hormone production, enhancing cell-to-cell communication, supporting immunity, promoting healthy skin, aiding in tissue repair, supporting muscle building, and more.
Peptide therapy aims to restore or optimize these functions by supplying your body with specific peptides known to benefit certain body parts and areas of health.
How Peptide Therapy Works
The use of peptides in therapy is not a new concept. In fact, peptides have been used in medicine for decades, primarily to help treat hormone deficiencies. But due to advancements in scientific research, the medical community has been able to expand how we use peptide therapy.
One of the key benefits of peptide therapy is its targeted approach. Unlike with traditional medications that often have widespread effects on your body, peptides can be designed to specifically target certain receptors or pathways, which helps to minimize potential side effects and create more personalized treatment options based on your individual needs.
The peptides utilized in peptide therapy can mimic or enhance the activity of your naturally occurring peptides, which helps to influence different functions and processes throughout your body.
One key mechanism of action that makes peptide therapy so useful and exciting is the ability of peptides to stimulate the production and release of growth factors, which play a critical role in tissue repair, regeneration, and your overall health.
By influencing the production of growth factors, peptide therapy can promote healing, improve your immune function, and enhance your overall well-being.
Additionally, peptides can act as signaling molecules, communicating messages between cells to regulate different physiological processes throughout your body. This signaling function allows peptides to coordinate complex activities within your body, including cell growth, metabolism, immune response and even collagen production.
Different Types of Peptides Used in Therapy
There are several different types of peptides used in peptide therapy, and each has its own unique properties and benefits. Some of the top peptides we use here at The Dearing Clinic in Nashville include:
Sermorelin. This growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates your pituitary gland to produce and release more natural growth hormone. It’s commonly used for anti-aging purposes, improving sleep quality, and enhancing muscle mass.
GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1). GLP-1 is a hormone that enhances your insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, and slows gastric emptying. It’s often used to help manage type 2 diabetes and obesity by improving your blood sugar control and promoting weight loss.
Collagen. Collagen peptides are short chains of amino acids derived from collagen protein that are crucial for maintaining the structure and integrity of your skin, hair, nails, and joints. In fact, they’re popular and widely used to promote skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and support joint health.
Insulin. Insulin is the first peptide ever discovered, and it’s a peptide hormone produced by your pancreas that regulates the glucose levels in your blood. It’s essential for managing diabetes and helps to control your blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into your cells.
Creatine. Creatine is a peptide that supplies energy to your cells, particularly your muscle cells, by replenishing adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It’s most often used to enhance athletic performance, increase muscle mass, and improve strength.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide). VIP is a neuropeptide that has vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects. As a result, it plays an important role in regulating your immune system, relaxing your smooth muscle tissues, and enhancing your circulation. As such, it’s commonly used to help treat conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and respiratory disorders.
Thymosin Beta 4. Thymosin Beta 4 is a naturally occurring peptide that promotes tissue repair and regeneration. It facilitates wound healing, helps to cool inflammation, and improves recovery from injuries by promoting cell migration and helping to form new blood vessels.
BPC-157. BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide based on a protein found in your stomach that’s known for its potent healing properties. In peptide therapy, it’s used to accelerate the healing time for injuries, protect against gastric ulcers, and cool inflammation in muscles and tendons.
Glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant peptide that protects your cells from oxidative stress and also detoxifies harmful substances. It’s commonly used to boost immunity, improve liver function, and promote overall health and wellness.
GHK-Cu. GHK-Cu is a copper peptide complex known for its regenerative and anti-aging properties. Because it stimulates collagen production, it’s known to promote wound healing and improve skin elasticity.
6 Benefits of Peptide Therapy
As you can see by its many uses, peptide therapy offers a wide variety of benefits by harnessing the power of the naturally occurring peptides in your body. Here are some of the major benefits.
1. Enhance healing and recovery
Peptides such as BPC-157 and Thymosin Beta 4 are instrumental in accelerating the healing process, cooling inflammation, and promoting tissue regeneration. Athletes as well as those recovering from surgeries or injuries often turn to peptide therapy for faster recovery times and improved outcomes.
In fact, animal studies have shown that BPC-157 can significantly enhance the healing process and help to reduce pain in tendon injuries.
2. Improve metabolism and weight loss
GLP-1 and other metabolic peptides help boost metabolism, regulate blood sugar levels, and enhance insulin sensitivity, which can lead to significant weight loss and better management of metabolic conditions like diabetes. These peptides help to curb appetite and improve the body's ability to utilize energy efficiently, resulting in an average reduction of 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight.
3. Promote anti-aging and skin Health
Peptides such as collagen and GHK-Cu play important roles in maintaining your skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and promoting overall skin health. Research has shown that by stimulating collagen production and repairing damaged tissues, these peptides help you achieve a more youthful and vibrant appearance.
4. Enhance athletic performance
Creatine and sermorelin are two peptides that are commonly used by athletes to help improve muscle mass, increase strength, and boost endurance. They work to optimize growth hormone levels and supply energy to the cells in your muscles to enhance physical performance and recovery.
5. Support immune system
Peptides like VIP and glutathione have powerful immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects. They help to strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and protect against oxidative damage, leading to improved overall health and resilience against illnesses.
6. Improve cognitive function and mood
Certain peptides can positively impact your brain health and mental well-being. Specifically, VIP enhances your blood flow and helps to cool inflammation in the brain, potentially improving cognitive function and mood.
This makes peptide therapy a great treatment in post-concussion patients. Other beneficial peptides for this include Thymosin Beta 4, BC-157, and sermorelin.
There are many other benefits of peptide therapy as well, including relieving pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis, relieving symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, assisting with sexual health concerns (such as low libido and erectile dysfunction), and even relieving insomnia and symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
FAQs About Peptide Therapy
Now that you know more about what peptide therapy is, how it works, and its top benefits, let’s answer any lingering questions you may have, including queries about safety, cost, and more!
1. What are the downsides of peptide therapy?
While peptide therapy has shown promising results in many different areas, it may not be the perfect solution for everyone. The downsides of peptide therapy can include:
Cost. Peptide therapy can become costly if you’re considering long-term treatment.
Time commitment. Depending on the specific therapy you need, your therapy may require regular peptide injections or administration, which requires a longer commitment.
Individual response. The effectiveness of peptide therapy can vary from person to person, depending on someone’s individual factors and any underlying conditions.
2. Is peptide therapy safe?
Safety is always a concern when considering any form of therapy. But when peptide therapy is administered under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional, it’s generally considered to be safe.
Remember, peptides occur naturally in your body, which helps to reduce the risk of adverse reactions. However, it is important to seek treatment from a reputable clinic such as The Dearing Clinic in Nashville and follow dosage guidelines prescribed by your healthcare professional.
3. Is peptide therapy FDA approved?
Currently, the use of peptide therapy is considered an off-label treatment, meaning it’s not specifically approved by the FDA for all conditions. However, certain peptides are FDA approved for specific indications, such as growth hormone deficiency. Ask your healthcare provider for more detail on your specific peptide therapy plan to determine the best course of action for your specific needs.
4. Do peptide injections really work?
Peptide injections have been shown to have positive effects on your health and well-being. In fact, studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of peptide therapy in promoting tissue repair, enhancing immune function, and improving overall vitality.
Just keep in mind that individual results may vary, and it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to assess your specific needs and determine the most suitable treatment approach.
5. How much does peptide therapy cost?
The cost of peptide therapy varies depending on various factors, including the type of peptides used, the dosage required, and the duration of treatment. That said, treatment at The Dearing Clinic typically ranges from $150 to $300.
6. What are the side effects of peptide therapy?
As with any form of treatment, peptide therapy may have potential side effects. The most side effects include redness or slight discomfort at the injection site, which usually resolves quickly (within 5 to 10 minutes). Rotating the sides of your peptide injections will help with this.
Pursuing Peptide Therapy for Your Personal Needs
If you’re interested in pursuing peptide therapy in the Nashville area, you can contact us here or schedule an appointment directly with The Dearing Clinic.
If you’re considering peptide therapy outside of the Nashville area, it’s important to select a reputable clinic that specializes in this type of treatment. Specifically, look for clinics with qualified healthcare professionals who have experience in peptide therapy and a track record of success.
Additionally, make sure to read reviews and seek recommendations from trusted sources to ensure you choose a clinic that provides safe and effective treatment.
Remember, you deserve to get the most out of your peptide therapy treatment and achieve results that leave you feeling your best and ready to enjoy life to the fullest!