As many of you have probably heard, I’m very excited about a relatively new form of treatment involving the use of peptides. Many years ago, scientists began researching the different ways that cells communicate with each other, one of which is through these small chains of amino acids called peptides.
Peptides communicate from cell to cell like hormones, and there are literally thousands of naturally occurring peptide signalers in the human body. One you are probably familiar with is a hormone called insulin. Insulin receives a signal from the pancreas that sugar is being released into the bloodstream, and then sends this signal to the cells all over our body and tells them to let the sugar come in. The specific peptide sequencing literally fits the shape the receptor site of the cell needs, like a key fitting into a lock.
What we have found very useful for therapeutic purposes are the precursor peptides to hormones and chemicals in the body that help us stay young and avoid or treat disease. Some examples are human growth hormone; many pain-reducing and inflammatory-reducing chemicals to help with arthritis, Irritable bowel and auto-immune disorders; and blood vessel dilation chemicals that help with high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction. These are just a few, and the list is literally endless–not to mention the benefits of slowing down the aging process, which can ward off diseases for twenty-plus years and help us live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.
Although peptides therapy is fairly new (beginning around 2015), there are currently over sixty US FDA-approved peptide medications available, 150 peptide drugs being evaluated in clinical trials, and over 500 in preclinical development. Since peptides are naturally occurring and treat the underlying cause of many age-related conditions like osteoporosis, obesity, inflammatory disease, bowel issues, and neuropathy, this type of therapy fits perfectly in naturopathic medicine.
I remember working as a microbiologist back in the 1990’s doing research with a bunch of scientists and having a discussion about mapping peptides. We thought at the time that if we could understand the chemical structure of every peptide in the human body, we would be able to synthesize and replace them when people began to experience deficiencies, which happens to all of us as we age. Now, almost thirty years later, it is beginning to actually happen, and I’m grateful to have lived long enough to see this miraculous advancement in medicine.
Most peptides can be used as a small injectable under the skin, while peptides that heal the gut (ulcers, reflux disease, Crohn’s disease, colitis, etc) can be taken orally. Others that act on collagen and wound healing can be used topically.
If you would like to learn more about peptide therapy and how it might benefit you, just give us a call at 928-445-2900 and we’ll be happy to schedule an appointment for you.
Blessings,
Dr. Susan Godman
