June 2, 2025 • 35 mins
The medical world once viewed peptides as merely fancy skincare ingredients, but scientists and longevity experts have unlocked their remarkable regenerative potential. These small chains of amino acids function like biological text messages, signaling your cells to repair tissue, release growth hormone, or reduce inflammation with remarkable precision.
Unlike conventional pharmaceuticals that override your body's systems, peptides work by stimulating your natural processes. They're highly targeted, binding to specific receptors to trigger precise cellular responses with minimal side effects. This makes them ideal tools for personalized medicine, allowing practitioners to address the root causes of health concerns rather than simply masking symptoms.
Sermorelin, featured prominently in this episode, exemplifies this elegant approach. Rather than flooding your system with synthetic growth hormone (which can suppress your body's production), Sermorelin signals your pituitary to release your own growth hormone naturally. After 30, we lose approximately 14% of our growth hormone each decade, contributing to decreased muscle mass, increased belly fat, thinning skin, and poor sleep quality. By stimulating natural production, Sermorelin helps restore optimal levels while maintaining your body's control systems.
The benefits extend far beyond anti-aging – improved sleep architecture, enhanced recovery from exercise, increased lean muscle mass, reduced visceral fat, better skin elasticity, enhanced cognitive function, and even improved metabolic markers. Unlike pharmaceuticals that may produce immediate but artificial effects, peptide therapy works gradually, with subtle improvements beginning within weeks and full benefits unfolding over 4-6 months.
Discover why peptides represent the future of regenerative medicine and how they might be the missing piece in your health optimization journey. If you're tired of one-size-fits-all approaches and ready for truly personalized care that works with your biology rather than against it, visit harmonyhubhealth.com to learn if peptide therapy might be right for you.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
So let's rewind to the early2000s.
I know I'm 48 years old and2000 seems like yesterday.
But this is when most peoplethought that peptides were just
(00:43):
a fancy buzzword in high-endskincare.
But behind the scenes,scientists and longevity experts
were unlocking something farmore powerful Small chains of
amino acids with bigregenerative potential.
This is the world of peptidetherapy a frontier where
cellular repair, hormonesignaling and anti-aging
(01:04):
converge.
Repair, hormone signaling andanti-aging converge.
Peptides have actually beenaround since the 1920s when
insulin, which technically wasthe first therapeutic peptide,
was introduced.
But it wasn't until the pasttwo decades that their role in
longevity and functionalmedicine really took off.
With over 80 FDA-approvedpeptide drugs and more than 150
(01:25):
that are in active clinicaldevelopment, the science has
caught up with the hype.
And guess what?
The hype is actually real.
There's been such a boom ininterest from aging populations
that are seeking solutionsbeyond pharmaceuticals.
Biohackers and wellness seekersare chasing health span, not
(01:45):
just lifespan.
There is a podcast on that anddata from clinical trials are
showing real promise.
For example, cjc 1295 withipamorelin which is what my
husband is on it improves growthhormone secretion, muscle mass
and sleep quality, while bpc 157does help to repair the gut and
soft tissues.
(02:05):
So peptides are now a staple inthe toolbox of functional
medicine.
Whether you're targetinginsulin resistance, autoimmunity
, inflammation, fatigue orsimply looking to turn back the
biological clock, peptides maybe the key to unlocking your
next health milestone.
So stay tuned to this podcastbecause we're going to break
(02:26):
down how peptides work, whatmakes them different from
hormones or supplements, and howthey're changing the landscape
of regenerative and personalizedmedicine.
But let's start with just goingover what is a peptide and why
you should care.
So peptides are short chains ofamino acids usually between 2
and 50, and they act asbiological messengers.
(02:47):
So think of them kind of likelittle text messages your body
sends to itself hey, repair thattissue, or release more growth
hormone, or tell the fat cellsto chill out, right.
So peptides bind to specificreceptors on cell surfaces and
this triggers a very precisecellular response from collagen
(03:09):
synthesis to hormone secretion,to immune modulation, and
because they mimic natural bodysignals, peptides are highly
targeted, often with minimalside effects.
I know in past podcasts I'veeven talked about how they are
like lock and key.
Some examples would besermorelin it binds to pituitary
receptors to stimulate naturalgrowth hormone release.
(03:31):
Bpc-157 signals the body toaccelerate tissue repair.
And if we want to comparepeptides versus hormones versus
supplements, so a peptide is anamino acid chain that signals
specific action.
A hormone is a chemicalmessenger that's made in your
glands, okay.
Supplements are nutrients orcompounds that are made to
(03:54):
support your body functions.
Peptides triggers your body'sown response.
So your own body responds tohealing, to fat burning, to
growth hormone production.
Hormones are a replacement orsupplement when you have a
deficiency in that.
Direct hormone.
Supplements replenishmicronutrients or support
(04:16):
metabolic pathways All right.
Peptides are very, very specific.
They work on single receptors.
That's where that locking keycomes in.
Hormones are more broad and hasa more systemic effect and the
hope is that it gets to thosereceptors as well.
Supplements they'renon-specific support.
(04:38):
Peptides are used for biohacking.
It's widely used for targetinganti-aging performance,
metabolic resets.
Hormones are used in HRT orhormone replacement therapy or
endocrine disease, and thensupplements are used to correct
deficiencies or just support thefunction.
(04:59):
Peptides have really low riskbecause it mimics the natural
signals.
Hormones can have a slightlyhigher risk because it can
suppress natural hormoneproduction in some people.
Supplements are very low riskbecause they are amazing, but
with quality that risk kind ofvaries.
(05:20):
Peptides are customizable andhighly targeted, so you don't
have to flood the system, youjust tap the exact receptor to
get the response you want.
This is the future ofpersonalized medicine Targeted,
responsive and minimal sideeffects.
I'm actually attending a well,I'm doing it virtually.
(05:41):
It's a peptide convention inJune and they're popping up
everywhere because it's soexciting.
There's so much to know,there's so much to learn and it
is fascinating.
Instead of replacing what'smissing, many peptides help your
body produce its own hormones,your own enzymes and your own
(06:01):
regenerative proteins.
That's true regeneration, notdependency.
So instead of injecting HGH,our human growth hormone, which
can suppress pituitary function,we use sermorelin to simulate
the pituitary to work naturally.
Isn't that amazing.
So peptides can also be stackedlike Legos so you can combine
(06:24):
fat burning with muscle building, with gut healing, whether it's
bpc 157 and tb 500 for injuryrepair, or that cjc 1295 and
ipamorelin for performance andrecovery.
Stacking lets you tailorresults to your goals.
So you can have all theselittle keys for all of those
little locks.
Many, many peptides have shorthalf-lives, so your body uses
(06:46):
what it needs and then it clearsout the rest.
That's part of why they'regenerally well-tolerated and
safer than synthetic hormonemegadoses like those pellets.
The future of regenerativemedicine is peptidic.
I read that and I had to readthat like four times when I was
doing my research because Ithought that was just a cool
(07:06):
word and statement.
But for chronic disease youcould use peptides to modulate
inflammation.
That would be like the thymusand alpha-1.
If you have gut healing, thatneeds to be done, which is
almost all of my functionalmedicine patients because of
leaky gut and just poor guthealth.
That's where KPV and BPC-157come in.
(07:26):
If you just want that longevity, you know growth hormone
secretogogs and mitochondrialboosting peptides like MOTC
amazing, even though that'sgetting harder to find right now
.
People that have brain fog, youknow there's Selang, there's
Samax, there's Dihexa and forthose that have hair loss or
(07:48):
skin aging or muscle atrophy,even sexual dysfunction, there's
a peptide for that.
Peptides are not just anothersupplement trend.
They represent a massive leapforward in personalized medicine
, regenerative therapies andbiohacking.
So they work with the body, notagainst it, stimulating what's
(08:08):
supposed to happen to just moreefficiently.
And that's why we don't justchase symptoms and functional
medicine.
We help the body remember howto heal so collectively.
If I had to go over why peopleuse peptides, it's a pretty long
list and it's used inpersonalized medicine.
So some people use peptidetherapy to boost metabolism and
(08:29):
burn fat.
There are some to enhancecognitive performance and memory
, improve sleep quality and yourcircadian rhythm.
Some people need fasterrecovery.
These are the athletes and theyneed to build muscle.
Or you may want to restore skinelasticity and reduce wrinkles.
That's that huge GHK-CU that'severywhere and I do prescribe
(08:50):
some medical-grade skin carethat has that.
That's compounded at thepharmacies.
There's some to support immunefunction.
There's some to stabilize moodand repair neurological pathways
, and then again that softtissue injury and to heal leaky
gut.
So peptide therapy what's a goodway?
It's like a biological softwareupdate for an aging body.
(09:15):
I just tried to come up withsomething very technical and
there it is Software update foryour aging body.
So instead of blasting it withdoses of hormones or chemical
drugs, you're using targetedinstructions to restore natural
production of key hormones tostimulate regenerative pathways
like that.
Collagen synthesis andmitochondrial biogenesis.
Reduce that chronicinflammation of key hormones to
stimulate regenerative pathwayslike that.
(09:35):
Collagen synthesis andmitochondrial biogenesis.
Reduce that chronicinflammation and oxidative
stress those are the twohallmarks of aging and protect
your telomeres, enhance DNA,repair enzymes and improve brain
plasticity.
And, of course, sleep, which isone of the main pillars of
health I talk about with everypatient.
We want to improve sleeparchitecture and increase that
(09:57):
growth hormone release whichdeclines with age.
So you age slower, stay sharper, heal faster.
Aren't those the main things?
Peptide therapy is a precisiontool and biohackers are obsessed
with optimization, as you cantell.
I am too.
But there's reasons why.
One of them is because it'scustomizable.
(10:20):
You can stack peptides totarget energy, fat loss,
cognitive health or immunesupport.
There's very low side effectsbecause they mimic what the body
already produces.
Peptides have way fewer risksthan pharmaceuticals.
And the fast results Many usersreport feeling better within
weeks.
I'm not going to lie.
A lot of my patients onpeptides message me generally
(10:43):
within three to five days, eventhough the science says you know
it's more long term.
This is not a quick fix and youcan track changes in labs, in
your IGF-1, in your CRP forinflammation and your body
composition, so this makes it ameasurable upgrade.
You can even pair it perfectlywith other biohacks like NAD+,
(11:06):
intermittent fasting, coldplunges or that wearable tech
data.
Like I wear my Oura ring and Ilove to see how my HRV is doing
so.
Unlike one size fits all or Ishould say one size fits none
medications, peptides align withroot cause and system based
(11:27):
medicine, so they're used tonudge your body back into
homeostasis, not overwrite it,and that makes peptide therapy
one of the most elegant,targeted and regenerative
therapies in the functionalmedicine toolbox.
But today I do want to focus onCermorelin.
That's going to be the MVPtoday.
Cermorelin is a syntheticanalog of growth
(11:48):
hormone-releasing hormone thatGHRH.
Specifically, it's the first 29amino acids of the naturally
occurring 44 amino acid GHRHthat's produced in your
hypothalamus and despite being afragment, those 29 amino acids
are fully bioactive, so this isFDA approved.
(12:09):
This is why it's so easy tofind, compared to some of these
other peptides that areabsolutely amazing.
Originally, cermorelin wasdeveloped for kids with growth
hormone deficiency, but it'sbeen repurposed in anti-aging
and functional medicine circles,so Cermorelin has gained
popularity in recent years,especially in functional
(12:32):
medicine and anti-aging, for somany reasons.
Number one it's a growth I'dsay natural.
It's a natural growth hormonestimulator.
So, unlike synthetic HGH, whichdelivers growth hormone
directly, you can actually buyHGH or human growth hormone and
inject it in yourself.
It is very, very expensive andinject it in yourself it is very
(12:58):
, very expensive.
Cermarillin stimulates thebody's own production of growth
hormone by mimicking that growthhormone releasing hormone.
So this makes it a morephysiologically aligned and
safer option long-term.
So instead of taking somethingsynthetic, you're taking
something that is just signalingyour body to make more growth
hormone.
It is FDA approved and it'slegally prescribed, so it's
(13:20):
approved for diagnostic use andit has been safely used in
pediatric endocrinology and ifthey're willing to use it in
these kids, it's definitely goodto use.
So in functional medicine it'scompounded and prescribed
off-label for adult growthhormone deficiency and
age-related decline.
Cermorelin has been dubbed thesmart peptide for aging because
(13:43):
of its role in improved sleepand recovery, enhanced lean
muscle mass and metabolism,better skin elasticity and hair
health, reduced belly fat yesplease and boosted energy and
vitality.
Peptides in general are having amajor moment in biohacking and
regenerative medicine.
Cermorelin is part of that wave.
(14:04):
I want to say it kind ofstarted the wave.
I think when I first learnedabout peptides, cermorelin was
the first one and it's the moststudied and it's the most well
tolerated.
So Cermorelin supports a morenatural feedback loop so it
doesn't suppress your pituitarythe way exogenous human growth
hormone can.
This lowers the risk oflong-term hormone suppression
(14:27):
and abnormal growth markers.
And it's often stacked withpeptides like ipamorelin or cjc
1295 for synergistic effect,especially, you know, in
programs that are targetingmetabolic health, muscle
building, weight loss, sleepimprovement.
You can kind of just like legos, you can kind of build your own
peptide cocktail.
(14:47):
Celebrities and athletes alllove this.
High profile mentions and useby celebrities and athletes have
helped it gain public awarenessand that cool factor as a
biohacking tool.
These are not againstregulation, so a lot of athletes
can use this and it is legit.
So if we talk more about howCermorelin works, all right,
(15:12):
this is when I do my littlenerdy breakdown.
Sermorelin works All right,this is when I do my little
nerdy breakdown.
So Sermorelin binds to thosegrowth hormone receptors on the
pituitary, somatotrophs.
I know that sounds fancy, butjust think of Sermorelin.
It's going to bind to thatreceptor and this stimulates the
natural pulsatile release ofendogenous growth hormone,
(15:33):
exactly how your body wants todo it.
So you're not taking growthhormone, you're just having your
body make it.
Growth hormone travels to theliver and your peripheral
tissues and triggers theproduction of IGF-1.
This is called insulin-likegrowth factor one, and if you
are one of my peptide patients,that might sound familiar,
because this is one of the labsI require us to do before we
(15:55):
start therapy.
Okay, so IGF-1 really is thereal MVP when it comes to tissue
repair, lean body mass, bonedensity, collagen production,
neuroprotection and more.
And it is so different fromtaking synthetic GH like
somatropin, which bypasses yourown regulatory system and it can
suppress your natural growthhormone production by negative
(16:18):
feedback.
So this is why I don'trecommend taking growth hormone
directly.
Not only will it break the bank,but you know sermorelin mimics
that natural physiology,pulsatile growth hormone release
.
There is a lower cancer risk,you know, less IGF-1 spikes
(16:40):
compared to exogenous growthhormone.
And sermorelin doesn't shutdown your pituitary function and
it has a shorter half-life thangrowth hormone.
So there's more control.
And not just that, but it'slegally easier to prescribe.
Growth hormone is highlyrestricted.
Cermorelin is not a controlledsubstance and there's a lot of
clinical benefits with data.
(17:00):
So there is that increased leanbody mass with decreased fat
mass, especially that visceralfat.
There's an improved sleeparchitecture, especially that
slow wave, deep sleep, okay.
There's enhanced recovery andexercise performance.
There's increased bone density.
There's improved recovery andexercise performance.
There's increased bone density.
There's improved skinelasticity and collagen
production and better cognitionand mood.
(17:22):
That's by the IGF-1's effect onbrain-derived neurotropic
factor, which is also known asBDNF.
So a study in the Journal ofClinical Endocrinology showed
that Sermorelin in older adultssignificantly increased GH and
IGF-1 levels, with improved bodycomposition and mood.
But yes, it sounds great, butnothing goes without side
(17:44):
effects and risks.
The risks and side effects ofSermorelin.
Of course there's temporaryinjection site reactions because
I do give this by injectionHeadache, flushing or dizziness
from that surge of growthhormone.
Sometimes it is rare and it istransient, but there can be some
increased cortisol.
And you know, sermorella maynot work well in people with
(18:05):
pituitary burnout orhypothalamic dysfunction.
But who it is best for?
If you're 35 or older withsymptoms of growth hormone
deficiency, you can just raiseyour hand if you have fatigue or
if you have poor recovery or ifyou have cognitive fog, belly
fat, low libido or thinning skinI'm sure that's nobody
(18:27):
listening or those with lownormal IGF-1 but intact
hypothalamic pituitary axis.
Men and women seeking healthyaging support without going full
on HGH.
And there are so many perks toit.
Just the stackability withteslamorelin, cjc 1295,
ipamorelin or GHK-CU for skinand cognitive optimization.
(18:51):
It's just at bedtime to enhancethat natural growth hormone
pulses during sleep.
And often you combine thesewith lifestyle protocols.
So that would be resistancetraining, intermittent fasting,
deep sleep routines.
Peptides are available indifferent forms.
You know there are injectablepeptides.
(19:11):
I prefer subcutaneous, you cando them intramuscularly, and I
prefer injectable because theybypass the gut and the liver and
they go straight intocirculation.
So there's higherbioavailability, often greater
than 90%, which means morepeptide reaches those target
tissues and there's consistentdosing.
So you know exactly what yourbody is getting.
(19:32):
A lot of the popularinjectables are the Cermorelin,
the BPC-157, cjc-1295,ipamorelin and AOD-9604, which
also has been kind of hard tofind.
There are oral peptides.
They're least effective of mostpeptides and it's because your
GI tract is a war zone.
(19:53):
Enzymes break down peptidesinto amino acids before they
even get a chance to work.
You don't even get that key tothat lock.
So there's low bioavailabilityand there's inconsistent
absorption and it often requiresmodification or higher doses
just to survive that digestion,which raises costs and the risk
of those side effects.
You know there are somemodified peptides, like oral
(20:16):
semaglutide, which is Ozempic'scousin, that are around, but
they do require specialformulations and I've never had
somebody tell me that they tookan oral peptide that worked
anywhere near the efficacy of aninjectable.
There are sublingual um, or youknow trochies that we call them.
(20:39):
They're the, the um, how did Iwant to?
I guess I'd call it a mixed bag.
They are absorbed through yourmucous membranes and they also
avoid the digestive tract.
You can just put it in theinside of your, your mouth and
it kind of goes through.
Um, I think they got the uh, I,it's on the top of my head,
(20:59):
buckle, buckle.
Buccal peptides buckle, butthat just means when you put it
in, that I never use them, so Ican't even know how to pronounce
the word buckle, but that'swhen it goes in, that like the
side of your cheek, and it isbetter than oral, but it's less
consistent than injections andthere's limited peptide types
available in that format.
So I think MK-677, it's alsoknown as Ibutamorin, it's used
(21:24):
that way.
I don't ever use any that aresublingual.
There are also topical peptides.
They're mostly used inaesthetics.
In the aesthetic world I do usethe I call it copper, but it's
the GHKCU because it's good forskin regeneration, so it can
target skin or local areas forwound healing, wrinkles.
There's even some in foam thatyou can use for hair loss, but
(21:49):
there's minimal systemicabsorption so it's just morally
targeted superficially sothey're not ideal for internal
healing or for any type ofhormonal regulation.
But it is chef's kiss foranti-aging, for skin, um, that
GHKCU.
So that is something that I dooffer through my pharmacies, the
compounding pharmacies, forpeople that really want a step
(22:10):
up to their skincare, um, andare willing to pay for peptides
on their skin.
I have tried them and I willsay it is very nice, very, very
nice.
There also are nasal peptides.
It is a niche use but it isgrowing in popularity.
Some peptides are beingformulated nasally for direct
(22:32):
brain delivery Because they'reknown as neuroprotective or
nootropic effects of the brain.
They're still experimental andthey're still less precise than
injectables but they're gettingsome really great reviews and I
have read some research that theSelenic and Semax nasally
really is effective and it doesbypass that whole GI tract.
(22:56):
But I still at the end of itall, I still prefer the
injectables.
You can do them at home, youdon't even have to have me do
them because you do.
Because of the short half-lifeyou do take them more frequently
but you know you can controlthe timing, you can control the
dose.
It is really crucial forsyncing with circadian rhythms
(23:16):
or your healing cycles.
You get the full therapeuticeffect without worrying about
digestive enzymes ruining.
You know the absorption andresults come faster and they're
more predictable.
And it's more safe because youhave lower total doses needed
because anything oral, due tosuperior bioavailability, you
(23:37):
know there's fewer side effects.
Some of the takeaways, becauseit can still be a little
confusing if you're kind of newto functional medicine and
you're hearing all about hormonetherapy and now you hear about
peptide therapy.
So just you want to remember.
Sermirelin is a messenger.
Okay, it's not a hormone.
So just you want to rememberSermorelin is a messenger, okay,
(23:58):
it's not a hormone.
Sermorelin is a synthetic analogof growth hormone releasing
hormone GHRH.
It does not replace growthhormone, it just stimulates your
pituitary to produce your ownand that matters because it's
safer than HGH, because yourbody controls the release.
There's less risk of overdosingor shutting down that natural
(24:20):
growth hormone production.
And after you turn 30, I don'tknow why 30 is a magical age for
so many things growth hormonelevels decline by 14% per decade
.
I mean I'm 48.
I'm not willing to do the mathbecause I'm in denial, but by 60
, most adults have less than 25%of the growth hormone they had
(24:42):
when they were 20.
So this is often why Sirmirelinis often dubbed a longevity
peptide, because it addressesthe natural decline in a way
that works with your body andthe data.
There's so much data on it.
So Sirmirelin increases thatIGF-1, which is the insulin-like
(25:02):
growth factor one.
It's a key hormone for tissuerepair, metabolism and lean
muscle, and the studies showthat it enhances that delta wave
, which is your deep sleep,which is when natural growth
hormone is released.
So it also and who also doesn'twant just better sleep it helps
improve bone density, skinelasticity, fat metabolism and
(25:24):
even your mood.
I did read a study I think itwas from 2005, in the Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology andMetabolism and they found that
Sarmorellin improved sleeparchitecture and growth hormone
secretion in older adults.
You know, treated with that,and just there's so much
research out there.
(25:44):
A simple Google can show yousome.
I looked at some of the medicalresearch stats and what I found
was participants over 55 showeda 5% to 10% increase in lean
body mass after six months ofCermorelin.
Up to 50% improvement in deepsleep cycles in older adults
using GHRH analogs likeCermorelin.
(26:07):
Cermorelin users in a 12-weekprotocol showed significant
reduction in visceral fat,especially when combined with
exercise.
There was improved executivefunctioning, energy and focus in
aging populations and this isone of the reasons why I put my
husband on.
It was the improved lipidpanels and lowered CRP and
(26:28):
fasting insulin in a lot ofpeople.
So, unlike that exogenous GHwhich is banned by WADA and
associated with cancer risk,sermorelin doesn't override
natural feedback loops.
You know, if your pituitary isasleep, sermorelin just kind of
nudges it back awake but itdoesn't force feed it growth
(26:48):
hormone and that makes it idealfor long-term use.
Or stacking it with those otheranti-aging peptides.
Stacking it with those otheranti-aging peptides and you know
, low growth hormone as you ageis associated with decreased VO2
max and exercise tolerance.
I know a lot of you if you'reusing those fancy machines at
your gym.
They measure your VO2.
(27:09):
It also is associated withslower wound healing, insulin
resistance and that increasedcentral adiposity.
So that's that huge belly fatfrom that visceral fat, so all
things that feel like aging, butit might actually be growth
hormone insufficiency.
If you want to read some otherreally good references, there is
one called Sermorellin a saferand smarter approach to growth
(27:33):
hormone restoration.
This was in Anti-AgingTherapeutics, volume 12 in the
A4M Journal.
I love A4M, or you know,there's Clinical Applications of
Growth Hormone.
Secretagogues in Frontiers inHormone Research.
That was back in 2004.
But if you want links to those,just let me know.
I can drop that to you.
One of the biggest takeaways Ijust want you to know, which I'm
(27:55):
sure I've said it a few times,is that Sermorelin does not
replace your hormones.
It just reminds your body howto do its job.
It's that nudge, not the push.
So for those pursuingfunctional longevity, this is
gold.
I practice what I preach.
After hitting my 40s or 30s ifwe're being generous with the
math I noticed the usualsuspects of stubborn fat, lower
(28:20):
energy, sleep that felt morelike a nap.
When I woke up, sermorellinchanged the game.
So I am taking Sermorellin.
It is very subtle but it's verypowerful.
When I do my workouts which Ishould do more often they are so
much improved.
My recovery time is shortened,my skin looks a little tighter.
I even get maybe slightly lessannoyed by group text, but
(28:44):
that's just slightly.
My husband is on CJC 1295 andipamirelin.
That was once the darling ofthe peptide world but thanks to
regulatory whiplash from the FDAand crackdowns on compounding
pharmacies, it is harder to findnow.
I don't even know if I'll beable to refill my husband's.
(29:05):
He may go to Cermorelin becauseof all of that.
Cjc is very potent.
It has a longer half-life thanCermorelin, but that just makes
it harder to regulate too.
So Cermorelin is shorter acting, but it is FDA approved, it's
easier to prescribe and it stilldelivers impressive results.
Big Pharma is definitely not afan of peptides, because you
(29:27):
cannot patent a peptide.
There's no billion dollarexclusivity to monopolize.
So instead of investing inthese body whispering molecules,
the pharmaceutical industrythrows its weight behind mass
marketable symptom chasers.
Peptides might be a little toobiointelligent, maybe too
affordable, maybe too effective,if that makes sense.
(29:48):
Really.
One of the only bad things Ican think of with Cermorelin or
these peptides is we are in asociety of instant gratification
, and Cermorelin worksindirectly by stimulating your
own pituitary.
So it's not like taking thatgrowth hormone, where effects
are immediate but artificial.
(30:11):
There's a gradual rise in growthhormone and IGF-1 and this
mimics your body's naturalrhythm.
So some people want to take itfor the first week and complain
like I'm not skinny.
Well, maybe we can talk about aweight loss peptide for that.
But it does take time forSermorellin to work.
I would say a good timelinewould be the behind the scenes.
(30:36):
Activation starts during weekone to two.
Okay, so morellin startssignaling your pituitary to
increase that natural growthhormone in IGF-1.
You're not going to feel verymuch, but that internal message
has been delivered, so it's beensent.
And some people do noticedeeper sleep or better recovery
during this time.
(30:56):
But I would never promise it.
But I usually do get that textmessage or that healthy, secure
chat within three to five daysthat are like OMG, I'm like okay
, but I get it.
Once you get to weeks four tosix, these are where the subtle
shifts really start to happen.
You spend more time in thatdelta wave sleep, so your sleep
(31:20):
quality is much improved.
People notice increased focusor reduced brain fog and they
have that slight mood lift andthen they start noticing better
stamina or muscle recovery ifyou're exercising.
And at this point is when I getthe message that says I feel
great and I'm thinking all right, just hold on tight, just keep
it up.
When you get to months two tothree, this is where you see
(31:44):
noticeable change Increased leanmuscle, reduced body fat,
especially that visceral fat.
I love looking at the shapescale, so if you are a client of
mine in person, hop on theshape scale and we can see how
your visceral fat is doing.
Your skin may look more firmer.
The message that I've beenreceiving is that they feel more
hydrated, so their skin looksmore hydrated.
(32:05):
Yes, that is amazing and itdoes make you look much younger
when your skin looks hydratedand your skin looks more firmer.
But the improved endurance, thelibido and the mental clarity.
Months two to three and thenthis is where I usually can see
the IGF-1 levels increased,based on labs.
And then, once we get to monthsfour to six, this is when the
(32:27):
full benefits come in.
So I don't recommend anybodystarting peptide therapy unless
you can commit to four to sixmonths.
But at the four to six months,this is the improved strength,
body composition, energy andimmune support.
This is when you start with thefaster wound healing.
Your nails seem strong, yourhair just looks very healthy.
You're more sustained in thatanti-aging and regenerative
(32:53):
effects and many report you justfeel biologically younger.
So that is the four to sixmonths.
So and this is also you know,for I guess my pro tip would be
consistent sleep schedule.
You need to keep that.
You need to do some type ofstrength training, even if it's
only two days a week.
(33:14):
You need to take your proteinand you can still stack it with
other peptides.
So this is the timeline that Iwould say to commit to to see
the full benefits of Cermorelin.
Peptide therapy, like Cermorelin, is not just for pro athletes,
hollywood biohackers or sciencenerds although I love all three
(33:35):
of them.
It's for anybody ready tooptimize how your body heals,
how your body feels, how yourbody functions and how you age
on a cellular level.
If you're tired of the band-aidsolutions and you want a
smarter, more personalized pathto health, it might be time to
explore what peptides can do foryou.
You can book a functionalmedicine consultation with
(33:57):
Harmony Hub Health and we candive deep into your health
history, your goals and yourlabs to see if peptide therapy
is a fit for you.
I don't do one-size-fits-allhere, just science-backed,
personalized protocols that workwith your body and not against
it.
You know, peptides are powerfuland promising, but they are not
magic potions.
(34:17):
Okay, they should only be usedunder the guidance of a licensed
provider, preferably one whodoesn't roll their eyes at
methylation cycles or biohacking.
Side effects can occur,especially if you're buying from
sketchy sources and I see thoseresearch-only websites.
But at Harmony Hub Health weuse medically prescribed
peptides from trustedcompounding pharmacies, with
(34:39):
quality, safety and yourlong-term health in mind.
So come and find me atwwwharmonyhubhealthcom.
You can also email me atMichelle that's Michelle with
one L M-I-C-H-E-L-E atharmonyhubhealthcom.
Come and see me in person atMonarch Beauty and Spa.
I am in Manchester, maryland,and this is one of my favorite
(35:01):
things.
So come and see me and I can'twait to help you.
Aging may be inevitable, butwith Sermorellin, feeling old
does not have to be.
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
So let's rewind to the early2000s.
I know I'm 48 years old and2000 seems like yesterday.
But this is when most peoplethought that peptides were just
(00:43):
a fancy buzzword in high-endskincare.
But behind the scenes,scientists and longevity experts
were unlocking something farmore powerful Small chains of
amino acids with bigregenerative potential.
This is the world of peptidetherapy a frontier where
cellular repair, hormonesignaling and anti-aging
(01:04):
converge.
Repair, hormone signaling andanti-aging converge.
Peptides have actually beenaround since the 1920s when
insulin, which technically wasthe first therapeutic peptide,
was introduced.
But it wasn't until the pasttwo decades that their role in
longevity and functionalmedicine really took off.
With over 80 FDA-approvedpeptide drugs and more than 150
(01:25):
that are in active clinicaldevelopment, the science has
caught up with the hype.
And guess what?
The hype is actually real.
There's been such a boom ininterest from aging populations
that are seeking solutionsbeyond pharmaceuticals.
Biohackers and wellness seekersare chasing health span, not
(01:45):
just lifespan.
There is a podcast on that anddata from clinical trials are
showing real promise.
For example, cjc 1295 withipamorelin which is what my
husband is on it improves growthhormone secretion, muscle mass
and sleep quality, while bpc 157does help to repair the gut and
soft tissues.
(02:05):
So peptides are now a staple inthe toolbox of functional
medicine.
Whether you're targetinginsulin resistance, autoimmunity
, inflammation, fatigue orsimply looking to turn back the
biological clock, peptides maybe the key to unlocking your
next health milestone.
So stay tuned to this podcastbecause we're going to break
(02:26):
down how peptides work, whatmakes them different from
hormones or supplements, and howthey're changing the landscape
of regenerative and personalizedmedicine.
But let's start with just goingover what is a peptide and why
you should care.
So peptides are short chains ofamino acids usually between 2
and 50, and they act asbiological messengers.
(02:47):
So think of them kind of likelittle text messages your body
sends to itself hey, repair thattissue, or release more growth
hormone, or tell the fat cellsto chill out, right.
So peptides bind to specificreceptors on cell surfaces and
this triggers a very precisecellular response from collagen
(03:09):
synthesis to hormone secretion,to immune modulation, and
because they mimic natural bodysignals, peptides are highly
targeted, often with minimalside effects.
I know in past podcasts I'veeven talked about how they are
like lock and key.
Some examples would besermorelin it binds to pituitary
receptors to stimulate naturalgrowth hormone release.
(03:31):
Bpc-157 signals the body toaccelerate tissue repair.
And if we want to comparepeptides versus hormones versus
supplements, so a peptide is anamino acid chain that signals
specific action.
A hormone is a chemicalmessenger that's made in your
glands, okay.
Supplements are nutrients orcompounds that are made to
(03:54):
support your body functions.
Peptides triggers your body'sown response.
So your own body responds tohealing, to fat burning, to
growth hormone production.
Hormones are a replacement orsupplement when you have a
deficiency in that.
Direct hormone.
Supplements replenishmicronutrients or support
(04:16):
metabolic pathways All right.
Peptides are very, very specific.
They work on single receptors.
That's where that locking keycomes in.
Hormones are more broad and hasa more systemic effect and the
hope is that it gets to thosereceptors as well.
Supplements they'renon-specific support.
(04:38):
Peptides are used for biohacking.
It's widely used for targetinganti-aging performance,
metabolic resets.
Hormones are used in HRT orhormone replacement therapy or
endocrine disease, and thensupplements are used to correct
deficiencies or just support thefunction.
(04:59):
Peptides have really low riskbecause it mimics the natural
signals.
Hormones can have a slightlyhigher risk because it can
suppress natural hormoneproduction in some people.
Supplements are very low riskbecause they are amazing, but
with quality that risk kind ofvaries.
(05:20):
Peptides are customizable andhighly targeted, so you don't
have to flood the system, youjust tap the exact receptor to
get the response you want.
This is the future ofpersonalized medicine Targeted,
responsive and minimal sideeffects.
I'm actually attending a well,I'm doing it virtually.
(05:41):
It's a peptide convention inJune and they're popping up
everywhere because it's soexciting.
There's so much to know,there's so much to learn and it
is fascinating.
Instead of replacing what'smissing, many peptides help your
body produce its own hormones,your own enzymes and your own
(06:01):
regenerative proteins.
That's true regeneration, notdependency.
So instead of injecting HGH,our human growth hormone, which
can suppress pituitary function,we use sermorelin to simulate
the pituitary to work naturally.
Isn't that amazing.
So peptides can also be stackedlike Legos so you can combine
(06:24):
fat burning with muscle building, with gut healing, whether it's
bpc 157 and tb 500 for injuryrepair, or that cjc 1295 and
ipamorelin for performance andrecovery.
Stacking lets you tailorresults to your goals.
So you can have all theselittle keys for all of those
little locks.
Many, many peptides have shorthalf-lives, so your body uses
(06:46):
what it needs and then it clearsout the rest.
That's part of why they'regenerally well-tolerated and
safer than synthetic hormonemegadoses like those pellets.
The future of regenerativemedicine is peptidic.
I read that and I had to readthat like four times when I was
doing my research because Ithought that was just a cool
(07:06):
word and statement.
But for chronic disease youcould use peptides to modulate
inflammation.
That would be like the thymusand alpha-1.
If you have gut healing, thatneeds to be done, which is
almost all of my functionalmedicine patients because of
leaky gut and just poor guthealth.
That's where KPV and BPC-157come in.
(07:26):
If you just want that longevity, you know growth hormone
secretogogs and mitochondrialboosting peptides like MOTC
amazing, even though that'sgetting harder to find right now
.
People that have brain fog, youknow there's Selang, there's
Samax, there's Dihexa and forthose that have hair loss or
(07:48):
skin aging or muscle atrophy,even sexual dysfunction, there's
a peptide for that.
Peptides are not just anothersupplement trend.
They represent a massive leapforward in personalized medicine
, regenerative therapies andbiohacking.
So they work with the body, notagainst it, stimulating what's
(08:08):
supposed to happen to just moreefficiently.
And that's why we don't justchase symptoms and functional
medicine.
We help the body remember howto heal so collectively.
If I had to go over why peopleuse peptides, it's a pretty long
list and it's used inpersonalized medicine.
So some people use peptidetherapy to boost metabolism and
(08:29):
burn fat.
There are some to enhancecognitive performance and memory
, improve sleep quality and yourcircadian rhythm.
Some people need fasterrecovery.
These are the athletes and theyneed to build muscle.
Or you may want to restore skinelasticity and reduce wrinkles.
That's that huge GHK-CU that'severywhere and I do prescribe
(08:50):
some medical-grade skin carethat has that.
That's compounded at thepharmacies.
There's some to support immunefunction.
There's some to stabilize moodand repair neurological pathways
, and then again that softtissue injury and to heal leaky
gut.
So peptide therapy what's a goodway?
It's like a biological softwareupdate for an aging body.
(09:15):
I just tried to come up withsomething very technical and
there it is Software update foryour aging body.
So instead of blasting it withdoses of hormones or chemical
drugs, you're using targetedinstructions to restore natural
production of key hormones tostimulate regenerative pathways
like that.
Collagen synthesis andmitochondrial biogenesis.
Reduce that chronicinflammation of key hormones to
stimulate regenerative pathwayslike that.
(09:35):
Collagen synthesis andmitochondrial biogenesis.
Reduce that chronicinflammation and oxidative
stress those are the twohallmarks of aging and protect
your telomeres, enhance DNA,repair enzymes and improve brain
plasticity.
And, of course, sleep, which isone of the main pillars of
health I talk about with everypatient.
We want to improve sleeparchitecture and increase that
(09:57):
growth hormone release whichdeclines with age.
So you age slower, stay sharper, heal faster.
Aren't those the main things?
Peptide therapy is a precisiontool and biohackers are obsessed
with optimization, as you cantell.
I am too.
But there's reasons why.
One of them is because it'scustomizable.
(10:20):
You can stack peptides totarget energy, fat loss,
cognitive health or immunesupport.
There's very low side effectsbecause they mimic what the body
already produces.
Peptides have way fewer risksthan pharmaceuticals.
And the fast results Many usersreport feeling better within
weeks.
I'm not going to lie.
A lot of my patients onpeptides message me generally
(10:43):
within three to five days, eventhough the science says you know
it's more long term.
This is not a quick fix and youcan track changes in labs, in
your IGF-1, in your CRP forinflammation and your body
composition, so this makes it ameasurable upgrade.
You can even pair it perfectlywith other biohacks like NAD+,
(11:06):
intermittent fasting, coldplunges or that wearable tech
data.
Like I wear my Oura ring and Ilove to see how my HRV is doing
so.
Unlike one size fits all or Ishould say one size fits none
medications, peptides align withroot cause and system based
(11:27):
medicine, so they're used tonudge your body back into
homeostasis, not overwrite it,and that makes peptide therapy
one of the most elegant,targeted and regenerative
therapies in the functionalmedicine toolbox.
But today I do want to focus onCermorelin.
That's going to be the MVPtoday.
Cermorelin is a syntheticanalog of growth
(11:48):
hormone-releasing hormone thatGHRH.
Specifically, it's the first 29amino acids of the naturally
occurring 44 amino acid GHRHthat's produced in your
hypothalamus and despite being afragment, those 29 amino acids
are fully bioactive, so this isFDA approved.
(12:09):
This is why it's so easy tofind, compared to some of these
other peptides that areabsolutely amazing.
Originally, cermorelin wasdeveloped for kids with growth
hormone deficiency, but it'sbeen repurposed in anti-aging
and functional medicine circles,so Cermorelin has gained
popularity in recent years,especially in functional
(12:32):
medicine and anti-aging, for somany reasons.
Number one it's a growth I'dsay natural.
It's a natural growth hormonestimulator.
So, unlike synthetic HGH, whichdelivers growth hormone
directly, you can actually buyHGH or human growth hormone and
inject it in yourself.
It is very, very expensive andinject it in yourself it is very
(12:58):
, very expensive.
Cermarillin stimulates thebody's own production of growth
hormone by mimicking that growthhormone releasing hormone.
So this makes it a morephysiologically aligned and
safer option long-term.
So instead of taking somethingsynthetic, you're taking
something that is just signalingyour body to make more growth
hormone.
It is FDA approved and it'slegally prescribed, so it's
(13:20):
approved for diagnostic use andit has been safely used in
pediatric endocrinology and ifthey're willing to use it in
these kids, it's definitely goodto use.
So in functional medicine it'scompounded and prescribed
off-label for adult growthhormone deficiency and
age-related decline.
Cermorelin has been dubbed thesmart peptide for aging because
(13:43):
of its role in improved sleepand recovery, enhanced lean
muscle mass and metabolism,better skin elasticity and hair
health, reduced belly fat yesplease and boosted energy and
vitality.
Peptides in general are having amajor moment in biohacking and
regenerative medicine.
Cermorelin is part of that wave.
(14:04):
I want to say it kind ofstarted the wave.
I think when I first learnedabout peptides, cermorelin was
the first one and it's the moststudied and it's the most well
tolerated.
So Cermorelin supports a morenatural feedback loop so it
doesn't suppress your pituitarythe way exogenous human growth
hormone can.
This lowers the risk oflong-term hormone suppression
(14:27):
and abnormal growth markers.
And it's often stacked withpeptides like ipamorelin or cjc
1295 for synergistic effect,especially, you know, in
programs that are targetingmetabolic health, muscle
building, weight loss, sleepimprovement.
You can kind of just like legos, you can kind of build your own
peptide cocktail.
(14:47):
Celebrities and athletes alllove this.
High profile mentions and useby celebrities and athletes have
helped it gain public awarenessand that cool factor as a
biohacking tool.
These are not againstregulation, so a lot of athletes
can use this and it is legit.
So if we talk more about howCermorelin works, all right,
(15:12):
this is when I do my littlenerdy breakdown.
Sermorelin works All right,this is when I do my little
nerdy breakdown.
So Sermorelin binds to thosegrowth hormone receptors on the
pituitary, somatotrophs.
I know that sounds fancy, butjust think of Sermorelin.
It's going to bind to thatreceptor and this stimulates the
natural pulsatile release ofendogenous growth hormone,
(15:33):
exactly how your body wants todo it.
So you're not taking growthhormone, you're just having your
body make it.
Growth hormone travels to theliver and your peripheral
tissues and triggers theproduction of IGF-1.
This is called insulin-likegrowth factor one, and if you
are one of my peptide patients,that might sound familiar,
because this is one of the labsI require us to do before we
(15:55):
start therapy.
Okay, so IGF-1 really is thereal MVP when it comes to tissue
repair, lean body mass, bonedensity, collagen production,
neuroprotection and more.
And it is so different fromtaking synthetic GH like
somatropin, which bypasses yourown regulatory system and it can
suppress your natural growthhormone production by negative
(16:18):
feedback.
So this is why I don'trecommend taking growth hormone
directly.
Not only will it break the bank,but you know sermorelin mimics
that natural physiology,pulsatile growth hormone release
.
There is a lower cancer risk,you know, less IGF-1 spikes
(16:40):
compared to exogenous growthhormone.
And sermorelin doesn't shutdown your pituitary function and
it has a shorter half-life thangrowth hormone.
So there's more control.
And not just that, but it'slegally easier to prescribe.
Growth hormone is highlyrestricted.
Cermorelin is not a controlledsubstance and there's a lot of
clinical benefits with data.
(17:00):
So there is that increased leanbody mass with decreased fat
mass, especially that visceralfat.
There's an improved sleeparchitecture, especially that
slow wave, deep sleep, okay.
There's enhanced recovery andexercise performance.
There's increased bone density.
There's improved recovery andexercise performance.
There's increased bone density.
There's improved skinelasticity and collagen
production and better cognitionand mood.
(17:22):
That's by the IGF-1's effect onbrain-derived neurotropic
factor, which is also known asBDNF.
So a study in the Journal ofClinical Endocrinology showed
that Sermorelin in older adultssignificantly increased GH and
IGF-1 levels, with improved bodycomposition and mood.
But yes, it sounds great, butnothing goes without side
(17:44):
effects and risks.
The risks and side effects ofSermorelin.
Of course there's temporaryinjection site reactions because
I do give this by injectionHeadache, flushing or dizziness
from that surge of growthhormone.
Sometimes it is rare and it istransient, but there can be some
increased cortisol.
And you know, sermorella maynot work well in people with
(18:05):
pituitary burnout orhypothalamic dysfunction.
But who it is best for?
If you're 35 or older withsymptoms of growth hormone
deficiency, you can just raiseyour hand if you have fatigue or
if you have poor recovery or ifyou have cognitive fog, belly
fat, low libido or thinning skinI'm sure that's nobody
(18:27):
listening or those with lownormal IGF-1 but intact
hypothalamic pituitary axis.
Men and women seeking healthyaging support without going full
on HGH.
And there are so many perks toit.
Just the stackability withteslamorelin, cjc 1295,
ipamorelin or GHK-CU for skinand cognitive optimization.
(18:51):
It's just at bedtime to enhancethat natural growth hormone
pulses during sleep.
And often you combine thesewith lifestyle protocols.
So that would be resistancetraining, intermittent fasting,
deep sleep routines.
Peptides are available indifferent forms.
You know there are injectablepeptides.
(19:11):
I prefer subcutaneous, you cando them intramuscularly, and I
prefer injectable because theybypass the gut and the liver and
they go straight intocirculation.
So there's higherbioavailability, often greater
than 90%, which means morepeptide reaches those target
tissues and there's consistentdosing.
So you know exactly what yourbody is getting.
(19:32):
A lot of the popularinjectables are the Cermorelin,
the BPC-157, cjc-1295,ipamorelin and AOD-9604, which
also has been kind of hard tofind.
There are oral peptides.
They're least effective of mostpeptides and it's because your
GI tract is a war zone.
(19:53):
Enzymes break down peptidesinto amino acids before they
even get a chance to work.
You don't even get that key tothat lock.
So there's low bioavailabilityand there's inconsistent
absorption and it often requiresmodification or higher doses
just to survive that digestion,which raises costs and the risk
of those side effects.
You know there are somemodified peptides, like oral
(20:16):
semaglutide, which is Ozempic'scousin, that are around, but
they do require specialformulations and I've never had
somebody tell me that they tookan oral peptide that worked
anywhere near the efficacy of aninjectable.
There are sublingual um, or youknow trochies that we call them.
(20:39):
They're the, the um, how did Iwant to?
I guess I'd call it a mixed bag.
They are absorbed through yourmucous membranes and they also
avoid the digestive tract.
You can just put it in theinside of your, your mouth and
it kind of goes through.
Um, I think they got the uh, I,it's on the top of my head,
(20:59):
buckle, buckle.
Buccal peptides buckle, butthat just means when you put it
in, that I never use them, so Ican't even know how to pronounce
the word buckle, but that'swhen it goes in, that like the
side of your cheek, and it isbetter than oral, but it's less
consistent than injections andthere's limited peptide types
available in that format.
So I think MK-677, it's alsoknown as Ibutamorin, it's used
(21:24):
that way.
I don't ever use any that aresublingual.
There are also topical peptides.
They're mostly used inaesthetics.
In the aesthetic world I do usethe I call it copper, but it's
the GHKCU because it's good forskin regeneration, so it can
target skin or local areas forwound healing, wrinkles.
There's even some in foam thatyou can use for hair loss, but
(21:49):
there's minimal systemicabsorption so it's just morally
targeted superficially sothey're not ideal for internal
healing or for any type ofhormonal regulation.
But it is chef's kiss foranti-aging, for skin, um, that
GHKCU.
So that is something that I dooffer through my pharmacies, the
compounding pharmacies, forpeople that really want a step
(22:10):
up to their skincare, um, andare willing to pay for peptides
on their skin.
I have tried them and I willsay it is very nice, very, very
nice.
There also are nasal peptides.
It is a niche use but it isgrowing in popularity.
Some peptides are beingformulated nasally for direct
(22:32):
brain delivery Because they'reknown as neuroprotective or
nootropic effects of the brain.
They're still experimental andthey're still less precise than
injectables but they're gettingsome really great reviews and I
have read some research that theSelenic and Semax nasally
really is effective and it doesbypass that whole GI tract.
(22:56):
But I still at the end of itall, I still prefer the
injectables.
You can do them at home, youdon't even have to have me do
them because you do.
Because of the short half-lifeyou do take them more frequently
but you know you can controlthe timing, you can control the
dose.
It is really crucial forsyncing with circadian rhythms
(23:16):
or your healing cycles.
You get the full therapeuticeffect without worrying about
digestive enzymes ruining.
You know the absorption andresults come faster and they're
more predictable.
And it's more safe because youhave lower total doses needed
because anything oral, due tosuperior bioavailability, you
(23:37):
know there's fewer side effects.
Some of the takeaways, becauseit can still be a little
confusing if you're kind of newto functional medicine and
you're hearing all about hormonetherapy and now you hear about
peptide therapy.
So just you want to remember.
Sermirelin is a messenger.
Okay, it's not a hormone.
So just you want to rememberSermorelin is a messenger, okay,
(23:58):
it's not a hormone.
Sermorelin is a synthetic analogof growth hormone releasing
hormone GHRH.
It does not replace growthhormone, it just stimulates your
pituitary to produce your ownand that matters because it's
safer than HGH, because yourbody controls the release.
There's less risk of overdosingor shutting down that natural
(24:20):
growth hormone production.
And after you turn 30, I don'tknow why 30 is a magical age for
so many things growth hormonelevels decline by 14% per decade
.
I mean I'm 48.
I'm not willing to do the mathbecause I'm in denial, but by 60
, most adults have less than 25%of the growth hormone they had
(24:42):
when they were 20.
So this is often why Sirmirelinis often dubbed a longevity
peptide, because it addressesthe natural decline in a way
that works with your body andthe data.
There's so much data on it.
So Sirmirelin increases thatIGF-1, which is the insulin-like
(25:02):
growth factor one.
It's a key hormone for tissuerepair, metabolism and lean
muscle, and the studies showthat it enhances that delta wave
, which is your deep sleep,which is when natural growth
hormone is released.
So it also and who also doesn'twant just better sleep it helps
improve bone density, skinelasticity, fat metabolism and
(25:24):
even your mood.
I did read a study I think itwas from 2005, in the Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology andMetabolism and they found that
Sarmorellin improved sleeparchitecture and growth hormone
secretion in older adults.
You know, treated with that,and just there's so much
research out there.
(25:44):
A simple Google can show yousome.
I looked at some of the medicalresearch stats and what I found
was participants over 55 showeda 5% to 10% increase in lean
body mass after six months ofCermorelin.
Up to 50% improvement in deepsleep cycles in older adults
using GHRH analogs likeCermorelin.
(26:07):
Cermorelin users in a 12-weekprotocol showed significant
reduction in visceral fat,especially when combined with
exercise.
There was improved executivefunctioning, energy and focus in
aging populations and this isone of the reasons why I put my
husband on.
It was the improved lipidpanels and lowered CRP and
(26:28):
fasting insulin in a lot ofpeople.
So, unlike that exogenous GHwhich is banned by WADA and
associated with cancer risk,sermorelin doesn't override
natural feedback loops.
You know, if your pituitary isasleep, sermorelin just kind of
nudges it back awake but itdoesn't force feed it growth
(26:48):
hormone and that makes it idealfor long-term use.
Or stacking it with those otheranti-aging peptides.
Stacking it with those otheranti-aging peptides and you know
, low growth hormone as you ageis associated with decreased VO2
max and exercise tolerance.
I know a lot of you if you'reusing those fancy machines at
your gym.
They measure your VO2.
(27:09):
It also is associated withslower wound healing, insulin
resistance and that increasedcentral adiposity.
So that's that huge belly fatfrom that visceral fat, so all
things that feel like aging, butit might actually be growth
hormone insufficiency.
If you want to read some otherreally good references, there is
one called Sermorellin a saferand smarter approach to growth
(27:33):
hormone restoration.
This was in Anti-AgingTherapeutics, volume 12 in the
A4M Journal.
I love A4M, or you know,there's Clinical Applications of
Growth Hormone.
Secretagogues in Frontiers inHormone Research.
That was back in 2004.
But if you want links to those,just let me know.
I can drop that to you.
One of the biggest takeaways Ijust want you to know, which I'm
(27:55):
sure I've said it a few times,is that Sermorelin does not
replace your hormones.
It just reminds your body howto do its job.
It's that nudge, not the push.
So for those pursuingfunctional longevity, this is
gold.
I practice what I preach.
After hitting my 40s or 30s ifwe're being generous with the
math I noticed the usualsuspects of stubborn fat, lower
(28:20):
energy, sleep that felt morelike a nap.
When I woke up, sermorellinchanged the game.
So I am taking Sermorellin.
It is very subtle but it's verypowerful.
When I do my workouts which Ishould do more often they are so
much improved.
My recovery time is shortened,my skin looks a little tighter.
I even get maybe slightly lessannoyed by group text, but
(28:44):
that's just slightly.
My husband is on CJC 1295 andipamirelin.
That was once the darling ofthe peptide world but thanks to
regulatory whiplash from the FDAand crackdowns on compounding
pharmacies, it is harder to findnow.
I don't even know if I'll beable to refill my husband's.
(29:05):
He may go to Cermorelin becauseof all of that.
Cjc is very potent.
It has a longer half-life thanCermorelin, but that just makes
it harder to regulate too.
So Cermorelin is shorter acting, but it is FDA approved, it's
easier to prescribe and it stilldelivers impressive results.
Big Pharma is definitely not afan of peptides, because you
(29:27):
cannot patent a peptide.
There's no billion dollarexclusivity to monopolize.
So instead of investing inthese body whispering molecules,
the pharmaceutical industrythrows its weight behind mass
marketable symptom chasers.
Peptides might be a little toobiointelligent, maybe too
affordable, maybe too effective,if that makes sense.
(29:48):
Really.
One of the only bad things Ican think of with Cermorelin or
these peptides is we are in asociety of instant gratification
, and Cermorelin worksindirectly by stimulating your
own pituitary.
So it's not like taking thatgrowth hormone, where effects
are immediate but artificial.
(30:11):
There's a gradual rise in growthhormone and IGF-1 and this
mimics your body's naturalrhythm.
So some people want to take itfor the first week and complain
like I'm not skinny.
Well, maybe we can talk about aweight loss peptide for that.
But it does take time forSermorellin to work.
I would say a good timelinewould be the behind the scenes.
(30:36):
Activation starts during weekone to two.
Okay, so morellin startssignaling your pituitary to
increase that natural growthhormone in IGF-1.
You're not going to feel verymuch, but that internal message
has been delivered, so it's beensent.
And some people do noticedeeper sleep or better recovery
during this time.
(30:56):
But I would never promise it.
But I usually do get that textmessage or that healthy, secure
chat within three to five daysthat are like OMG, I'm like okay
, but I get it.
Once you get to weeks four tosix, these are where the subtle
shifts really start to happen.
You spend more time in thatdelta wave sleep, so your sleep
(31:20):
quality is much improved.
People notice increased focusor reduced brain fog and they
have that slight mood lift andthen they start noticing better
stamina or muscle recovery ifyou're exercising.
And at this point is when I getthe message that says I feel
great and I'm thinking all right, just hold on tight, just keep
it up.
When you get to months two tothree, this is where you see
(31:44):
noticeable change Increased leanmuscle, reduced body fat,
especially that visceral fat.
I love looking at the shapescale, so if you are a client of
mine in person, hop on theshape scale and we can see how
your visceral fat is doing.
Your skin may look more firmer.
The message that I've beenreceiving is that they feel more
hydrated, so their skin looksmore hydrated.
(32:05):
Yes, that is amazing and itdoes make you look much younger
when your skin looks hydratedand your skin looks more firmer.
But the improved endurance, thelibido and the mental clarity.
Months two to three and thenthis is where I usually can see
the IGF-1 levels increased,based on labs.
And then, once we get to monthsfour to six, this is when the
(32:27):
full benefits come in.
So I don't recommend anybodystarting peptide therapy unless
you can commit to four to sixmonths.
But at the four to six months,this is the improved strength,
body composition, energy andimmune support.
This is when you start with thefaster wound healing.
Your nails seem strong, yourhair just looks very healthy.
You're more sustained in thatanti-aging and regenerative
(32:53):
effects and many report you justfeel biologically younger.
So that is the four to sixmonths.
So and this is also you know,for I guess my pro tip would be
consistent sleep schedule.
You need to keep that.
You need to do some type ofstrength training, even if it's
only two days a week.
(33:14):
You need to take your proteinand you can still stack it with
other peptides.
So this is the timeline that Iwould say to commit to to see
the full benefits of Cermorelin.
Peptide therapy, like Cermorelin, is not just for pro athletes,
hollywood biohackers or sciencenerds although I love all three
(33:35):
of them.
It's for anybody ready tooptimize how your body heals,
how your body feels, how yourbody functions and how you age
on a cellular level.
If you're tired of the band-aidsolutions and you want a
smarter, more personalized pathto health, it might be time to
explore what peptides can do foryou.
You can book a functionalmedicine consultation with
(33:57):
Harmony Hub Health and we candive deep into your health
history, your goals and yourlabs to see if peptide therapy
is a fit for you.
I don't do one-size-fits-allhere, just science-backed,
personalized protocols that workwith your body and not against
it.
You know, peptides are powerfuland promising, but they are not
magic potions.
(34:17):
Okay, they should only be usedunder the guidance of a licensed
provider, preferably one whodoesn't roll their eyes at
methylation cycles or biohacking.
Side effects can occur,especially if you're buying from
sketchy sources and I see thoseresearch-only websites.
But at Harmony Hub Health weuse medically prescribed
peptides from trustedcompounding pharmacies, with
(34:39):
quality, safety and yourlong-term health in mind.
So come and find me atwwwharmonyhubhealthcom.
You can also email me atMichelle that's Michelle with
one L M-I-C-H-E-L-E atharmonyhubhealthcom.
Come and see me in person atMonarch Beauty and Spa.
I am in Manchester, maryland,and this is one of my favorite
(35:01):
things.
So come and see me and I can'twait to help you.
Aging may be inevitable, butwith Sermorellin, feeling old
does not have to be.
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