Five sections — community biohacking stacks, physician-supervised clinic protocols, fitness community protocols, cross-community consensus findings, and highly experimental frontier protocols. All include documented risks and mitigation where data exists.
Important: All protocols on this page are for educational and informational purposes only. Biohacking protocols involve research compounds not approved for human use. Clinic protocols require physician supervision. This page does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any peptide protocol. Documented overdose risks reflect available evidence and are not exhaustive.
Research compounds · self-directed use · community-validated over years of shared experience
Layer 1 (Conservative): Ipamorelin/CJC only. 8–12 week cycles, 4 weeks off. Most clinically supported. Monitor IGF-1 at baseline and 8 weeks.
Layer 2 (Intermediate): Add MK-677 nightly. Run alongside Ipamorelin/CJC or standalone. MK-677 can run longer term — monitor fasting glucose and HbA1c every 3 months. Add berberine 500mg 2x/day if glucose trends up.
Layer 3 (Advanced): Add IGF-1 LR3 post-workout on training days only. Maximum 4–6 week cycles with equal off time. Monitor for hypoglycaemia symptoms — sweating, confusion, tremor. If any symptoms: eat fast carbs immediately and reduce dose 50%.
Synergy: Ipamorelin/CJC drives pulsatile GH pulses; MK-677 maintains elevated 24h GH/IGF-1 baseline; IGF-1 LR3 delivers direct systemic IGF-1R activation for 20–30 hours per dose. Together these approach — but do not equal — the total GH axis effect of pharmaceutical HGH.
Morning routine: NMN/NR + 5-Amino-1MQ oral with breakfast. SS-31 SubQ. MOTS-c SubQ.
Evening/night: GHK-Cu topical to face/hands. SubQ GHK-Cu 2–3x/week (separate from topical application days).
Twice yearly: Epitalon 10-day intensive course (10mg/day SubQ or IV). Many users align these with seasonal transitions — spring and autumn.
Tracking: This protocol is designed for long-term assessment — short-term subjective effects are subtle. Track biological age markers annually: telomere length testing (available commercially), epigenetic clocks (TruAge, Levine), comprehensive blood panel including IGF-1, inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), and metabolic markers.
Physician supervised · compoundable compounds · monitoring required · not DIY
Prerequisite: CIRS protocol should be directed by a Shoemaker-trained or CIRS-specialist physician. VIP should only be started after mould/biotoxin exposure is addressed and HERTSMI-2 score confirms safe environment.
Sequence matters: Many CIRS physicians sequence the protocol — address environmental exposure first, then use cholestyramine/binders, then start Thymosin α-1 for immune reset, then add VIP for neurological/autonomic restoration, then BPC-157 for gut repair.
Lab monitoring: CIRS requires comprehensive monitoring including TGF-β1, MMP-9, C4a, MSH, VEGF, VIP (endogenous), and osmolality. Interpret with specialist — these markers guide protocol progression.
Contraindication: VIP is contraindicated in active infection, SIBO (must be treated first), and in autoimmune conditions without specialist oversight.
Blood test targets: Total testosterone 500–800 ng/dL (mid-normal); oestradiol 20–35 pg/mL; haematocrit below 52%; PSA within age-appropriate range; LH detectable (confirms gonadorelin working).
Dose timing: Test blood 48 hours after last injection (trough) for most accurate assessment of lowest sustained level. Avoid testing at peak (24–36h post-injection) — will overestimate average level.
Long-term considerations: Haematocrit elevation (polycythaemia) is the most clinically significant long-term risk — increases blood viscosity and clot risk. Therapeutic phlebotomy (blood donation) effectively manages this. Some physicians use lower-dose more-frequent injections (daily SubQ microdosing) to minimise haematocrit elevation.
Morning: Collagen peptides + Vitamin C. GHK-Cu topical.
Evening: Sermorelin SubQ (nightly). GHK-Cu SubQ 3x/week.
Twice weekly: Thymosin α-1 1.5mg SubQ.
Twice yearly (10-day courses): Epitalon 5–10mg/day SubQ or IV.
Patient education: Anti-ageing protocols require 3–6 months minimum for meaningful assessment. Set appropriate expectations — these are not acute-effect compounds. Annual biological age testing (epigenetic clock, telomere length) is the most objective outcome measure.
Context with HRT: This protocol is typically used alongside or after conventional hormone replacement therapy (oestrogen ± progesterone), not instead of it. Peptides address the dimensions of hormonal health that conventional HRT does not fully cover.
Kisspeptin + sexual function: Kisspeptin-10 has the unique property of enhancing sexual motivation through both peripheral hormonal mechanisms (GnRH→LH→oestrogen) and direct limbic circuit activation. In multiple human studies it improved sexual function scores in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
Bremelanotide practical note: Nausea is the most common side effect (40% at 1.75mg). Take anti-nausea medication (ondansetron or domperidone) 30 min before if sensitive. Blood pressure rises transiently — avoid in uncontrolled hypertension.
HGH in women: Doses above 0.5 IU/day are rarely needed and carry disproportionate side effect risk in women. The target IGF-1 level in women is the same mid-normal range as men but requires lower doses to achieve it. Monthly monitoring is essential in the first 6 months.
What's the same: The core compounds (BPC-157 + TB-500), the mechanisms (VEGFR2 angiogenesis + actin regulation), and the outcomes (pain reduction, mobility restoration, accelerated healing) are identical. Both communities converge on 8–12 week courses as the sweet spot. Both use Collagen + Vitamin C as structural support.
What's different: The clinic uses oral Arg-BPC-157 (more compliant, legally compounded) rather than injectable BPC-157 acetate. Doses are slightly more conservative. There's structured follow-up with physiotherapy integration. Lab safety checks at baseline and 6 weeks.
Why clinics adopted it: The biohacking community generated years of consistent outcome reports before functional medicine physicians started incorporating this stack. The community essentially ran an uncontrolled longitudinal study that clinicians observed and eventually incorporated into practice. The 2025 FDA Category 1 reclassification of BPC-157 legitimised the clinical pathway.
Timeline: Both communities report similar timelines — 30–50% pain reduction by weeks 4–6, functional restoration by weeks 8–12. The consistency of this timeline across thousands of independent reports (biohacker and clinic) is one of the strongest cross-community consensus signals for any protocol in this book.
Where biohackers and clinic patients independently report the same outcomes — the strongest signal in this book
These five findings have emerged independently from both the biohacking community (self-directed, research compounds) and peptide clinic patients (physician-supervised, monitored). When two populations using different doses, different sourcing, different monitoring, and different starting conditions consistently report the same outcomes — that convergence is the most meaningful signal in peptide science that does not yet have large-scale RCT validation.
Frontier compounds · animal data only or minimal human data · serious biohackers only
The protocols in this section are documented for educational purposes only. They represent what serious longevity researchers, biohackers, and self-experimenters are actually running — not what is clinically established or recommended. Most of these compounds have no human clinical trials. Evidence comes from animal models, mechanistic data, and community n=1 reports. These are frontier protocols — the risk/benefit calculation is genuinely uncertain and the unknowns are real. This section documents these protocols honestly, including what we do not know, because people are running them regardless. Better information is safer than no information. None of this constitutes medical advice or recommendation.
| What Declines | Rate of Decline | Effect | Replacement / Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone | ~1–2% per year from 35+ | Libido ↓ · muscle mass ↓ · energy ↓ · cognitive clarity ↓ · bone density ↓ | TRT (physician) + Gonadorelin to preserve HPG axis |
| Growth Hormone / IGF-1 | ~14% per decade from 30+ | Body composition ↓ · recovery ↓ · skin quality ↓ · sleep depth ↓ · muscle repair ↓ | Sermorelin or Ipamorelin/CJC nightly + MK-677 |
| NAD+ | ~50% by midlife in many tissues | Mitochondrial efficiency ↓ · DNA repair ↓ · sirtuin activity ↓ · energy metabolism ↓ | NMN/NR oral daily + periodic IV/IM NAD+ infusion + 5-Amino-1MQ |
| GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide) | Significant age-dependent decline | Collagen synthesis ↓ · wound healing ↓ · skin quality ↓ · gene regulation decline | GHK-Cu topical 1% daily + SubQ 0.5–1mg 3×/week |
| DHEA / DHEA-S | Peaks at ~25, falls 50% by 50 | Precursor to sex hormones ↓ · immune function ↓ · energy ↓ · mood ↓ | DHEA 25–50mg oral (if blood test confirms low DHEA-S) |
| Mitochondrial Function | Progressive from 40+ · accelerating | Energy production ↓ · exercise capacity ↓ · cellular stress resilience ↓ | SS-31 (elamipretide) + MOTS-c + Humanin cycling |
| Thymic function / T-cells | Thymus involutes from 20s onward | Immune surveillance ↓ · cancer risk ↑ · infection susceptibility ↑ · autoimmune risk ↑ | Thymosin α-1 1.5mg twice weekly · 12-week courses 2×/year |
| Collagen Synthesis | ~1% per year from 25+ | Skin laxity ↑ · joint health ↓ · bone density ↓ · tendon/ligament fragility ↑ | Collagen peptides 15–20g daily + Vitamin C 500mg |
| Melatonin Production | Significant decline from 40+ | Sleep architecture ↓ · circadian rhythm disruption · antioxidant capacity ↓ | Epitalon (normalises pineal melatonin) + low-dose melatonin if needed |
| Klotho Protein | Declines from ~40 · strongly age-associated | Organ protection ↓ · cognitive decline ↑ · kidney function ↓ · cardiovascular risk ↑ | Klotho-derived peptides (experimental) · exercise raises endogenous klotho |
Strongman · Bodybuilding · Aesthetics · Endurance — with mitigation, blood work & male/female doses
Four distinct communities, four different goal hierarchies. Every protocol leads with the stack and the solutions — protective co-supplements, smart monitoring, and the practical steps that reduce risk for people who are going to run these protocols anyway. Framed as informed, intelligent use rather than a warning list.
Dual-stack philosophy: Performance (HGH + IGF-1 LR3 + secretagogues) and injury prevention (BPC-157 + TB-500 continuous) run simultaneously. In strongman, one missed training block from a torn tendon costs more than any performance stack gains. Injury prevention is equally important as performance.
IGF-1 LR3 cycling: 4–6 week blocks timed to competition build-up phases. Never continuous. Equal off-time. HGH can run 8–12 week cycles with 4–6 weeks off.
GH gut prevention: Keep IGF-1 blood levels below 2× upper limit of normal. Test monthly. Reduce dose if approaching this threshold.
Competition timing: For tested athletes — stop IGF-1 LR3 at least 3–4 weeks before. Continue BPC-157 and TB-500 (not prohibited). Verify WADA list annually.
GH gut — what it is and how to prevent it: Visceral organ and GI smooth muscle hypertrophy from chronic supraphysiological IGF-1. Prevention: keep IGF-1 blood levels below 2× upper limit of normal. Cycle IGF-1 LR3 strictly — 4–6 weeks maximum with equal off-time. Take breaks from HGH above 2 IU. If abdominal distension appears — reduce dose immediately. This is the most visible long-term consequence of aggressive GH protocols and the one most easily prevented by sensible monitoring.
Phase approach: Mass phase (months 1–4+): HGH + IGF-1 LR3 + PEG-MGF + Ipamorelin/CJC + BPC-157. Prep phase: Stop IGF-1 LR3 and PEG-MGF. Maintain HGH. Add AOD-9604 fasted morning. Continue Ipamorelin/CJC and BPC-157.
Female bodybuilding: GH gut risk exists in women too — same monitoring applies. Women achieve competitive results at lower doses. Do not escalate to male doses assuming more is needed. Hormonal panel essential — prep cycles can significantly disrupt menstrual function affecting bone health long-term.
Why this works: The secretagogue + MK-677 combination provides the hormonal environment for body composition change without the acute risks of IGF-1 LR3 or high-dose HGH. GHK-Cu is often overlooked by performance-focused communities but is central to the aesthetics outcome — skin quality, muscle definition, overall appearance.
The aesthetics timeline: Month 1: sleep improvement from MK-677 (often within first week). Month 2–3: visible body composition shift. Month 4–6: GHK-Cu skin quality improvement becomes visible. Month 6+: cumulative improvement.
Female aesthetics: Women consistently achieve excellent results at these conservative doses. MK-677: some women align with menstrual cycle, pausing during luteal phase (days 15–28) to manage water retention amplified by progesterone. Do not assume male doses are required.
WADA compliance: BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, SS-31, and NMN are not currently on the WADA Prohibited List. AICAR is prohibited (added 2009). HGH is prohibited. This protocol is designed to stay within permitted compounds for competitive athletes — verify the current WADA list annually as it updates.
Mitochondrial focus: MOTS-c + SS-31 + NMN address the three key mitochondrial failure points in endurance athletes: NAD+ depletion (NMN), mitochondrial ROS damage (SS-31), and metabolic efficiency (MOTS-c). Together they target the mitochondrial degradation that limits endurance performance and recovery.
Injury timing: BPC-157 + TB-500 most valuable during and immediately after peak training blocks. Start 4 weeks into a heavy block and run through to 2 weeks post-race.
Female athletes — iron monitoring is the most important single intervention: Iron deficiency is the most common performance-limiting condition in female endurance athletes and is frequently missed. Ferritin below 30 ng/mL impairs endurance performance even without clinical anaemia. Target ferritin above 50 ng/mL.