Peptide topics & explainers

A peptide is just a short chain of amino acids. The same word covers life-saving approved medicines like insulin and unregulated research chemicals. Here is what it does, and does not, tell you.

It depends which peptide. UK law treats licensed medicines, cosmetic-grade skincare peptides and "research-use-only" chemicals completely differently. Here is how each is regulated.

GLP-1 medicines like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are licensed prescription-only medicines in the UK, fully legal when prescribed. Buying unlicensed versions online is not.

GLP-1 drugs copy a gut hormone released after eating. They slow the stomach, sharpen insulin, dial down glucagon and quiet appetite in the brain. Here is the mechanism, in plain English.

A growth hormone secretagogue prompts the body to release its own growth hormone instead of injecting GH. The two families, why people stack them, and what the evidence shows.

Why a peptide can be a licensed medicine on one continent and an unapproved research chemical on another. A plain-English guide to clinical trials and drug regulators.

How the five melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R) control skin colour, cortisol, appetite and sexual desire, and why one peptide can touch so many at once.

Oxytocin is a real, approved medicine for childbirth and breastfeeding. The “love hormone” nasal sprays sold for bonding, trust and anxiety are a different, poorly supported story.

Brain-acting drugs target desire; blood-flow drugs target the physical erection. They solve different problems. Here is how central and peripheral agents differ, and the limits of each.

A plain, honest guide to sourcing peptides in the UK: prescription vs "research use only", how to read a Certificate of Analysis, the independent testing labs, and the red flags.