Testing & Tracking
DUTCH Urine Hormone Testing
The DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones, Precision Analytical) measures a panel of steroid hormones and their metabolites from dried urine spots collected at specified times across a 24-hour period. The test has become a popular…
Hormone Testing Methodology — LC-MS/MS vs Immunoassay
Steroid hormone measurement in blood is dominated by two distinct technologies. Immunoassay — the standard method used by most commercial U.S. clinical laboratories for testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, and most other steroid hormones — uses…
The Comprehensive Thyroid Panel
Thyroid evaluation in U.S. clinical practice traditionally starts with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) — the most sensitive marker of thyroid status in adults with intact hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function. Free T4, free T3, reverse T3,…
Compounds & Therapies
Anastrozole
Aromatase Inhibitor for Selective Estrogen Reduction
Ashwagandha
A traditional adaptogenic herb with clinical evidence for stress resilience and cognitive function
Boron
An essential trace mineral supporting bone health, hormonal balance, and cognitive function
Cabergoline: A Practical Guide
Overview Cabergoline (Dostinex®) is a long-acting, highly selective dopamine D2 and D3 receptor agonist derived from ergot alkaloids. It is FDA-approved for treatment of hyperprolactinemia — excess prolactin production, which suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, causing…
CJC-1295
Long-Acting GHRH Analog for GH Secretion Research
CJC-1295: A Practical Guide
Overview CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) — the hypothalamic peptide that stimulates somatotroph cells
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
The Foundational Prohormone for Hormonal Precursors
DIM (Diindolylmethane)
Cruciferous phytochemical for estrogen metabolism support and hormonal balance
Enclomiphene
The Active Isomer of Clomiphene for Testicular Function Preservation
Estradiol (17β-Estradiol): A Practical Guide
Overview Estradiol (17β-estradiol, E2) is the primary and most potent endogenous estrogen in humans. It is a steroid hormone synthesized predominantly in the ovaries (in premenopausal women), the testes (in small amounts in men), the adrenal glands, adipose tissue, bone, brain, and vascular…
Fadogia Agrestis
A traditional West African plant with limited regulatory guidance and concerning preclinical safety signals requiring clinical oversight
GF9 (Amino Acid Blend)
A proprietary amino acid formulation marketed for growth hormone support with limited independent validation
GHRP-2 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2): A Practical Guide
Overview GHRP-2 (D-Ala-D-β-Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) is a synthetic hexapeptide and potent agonist of the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). It was developed by Cyril Bowers and colleagues at Tulane University in the early 1990s as part of the research effort that defined the ghrelin receptor family…
GHRP-6: A Practical Guide
Overview GHRP-6 (His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) is a synthetic hexapeptide and the first-generation agonist of the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a), developed by Cyril Bowers and colleagues at Tulane University in the 1980s. It was the peptide whose study ultimately led to the discovery of the…
Gonadotropin Guide
HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
Growth Hormone (Human Growth Hormone, HGH): A Practical Guide
Overview Human growth hormone (hGH, somatotropin) is a 191-amino acid polypeptide hormone synthesized and secreted by somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland. Secretion is pulsatile — occurring primarily during slow-wave sleep and in response to exercise, hypoglycemia, and fasting …
Growth Hormone Secretagogues (Sermorelin, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, GHRP Class): A Practical Guide
Overview Growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) are a class of compounds that stimulate endogenous growth hormone release from the anterior pituitary, in contrast to exogenous recombinant hGH (rhGH), which bypasses the pituitary entirely. They act through two distinct receptor pathways: GHRH…
Hexarelin
Hexarelin is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) developed in the early 1990s as part of the GHRP-2/GHRP-6/hexarelin family. At equivalent doses, hexarelin produces growth hormone pulses larger than GHRP-2 or GHRP-6,…
Hormonal Guide
Cabergoline
IGF-LR3 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Long Arg3)
Potent Modified IGF-1 With Extreme Abuse Potential
Ipamorelin
Selective GH Secretagogue for Research Use
Ipamorelin: A Practical Guide
Overview Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (5 amino acids: Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) and a
Kisspeptin
Investigational Reproductive Peptide in Active Research
Levothyroxine (T4)
The Standard Treatment for Thyroid Hormone Replacement
Oxytocin
The Bonding and Trust Hormone for Social and Intimate Function
Pregnenolone
The Original Steroid Hormone Precursor
Progesterone (Micronized): A Practical Guide
Overview Progesterone is a C21 steroid hormone produced primarily by the corpus luteum after ovulation in premenopausal women, by the placenta during pregnancy, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and brain (where it functions as a neurosteroid). In men, progesterone is produced by…
Saw Palmetto
Traditional herbal extract with EMA monograph for prostate and urinary health
Selenium
Essential trace mineral with narrow therapeutic window and anti-cancer implications
Sermorelin
FDA-Approved GHRH Analog (Discontinued Commercially, Available via Compounding)
Sermorelin: A Practical Guide
Overview Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino acid peptide corresponding to the first 29 residues of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (hGHRH). It was the first GHRH analog developed for clinical use and remains the most extensively studied GHRH peptide with FDA approval history — it was…
Tadalafil (Cialis)
The Long-Acting Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor for Erectile Function and Hemodynamics
Tesamorelin
FDA-Approved GHRH Analog for HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy
Testosterone
The Gold Standard in Male Hormone Optimization
Thymulin: A Practical Guide
Overview Thymulin (also known as FTS — facteur thymique sérique, or serum thymic factor) is a nonapeptide (9 amino acids; pyroglutamate-Ala-Lys-Ser-Gln-Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn) produced by thymic epithelial cells (TECs) in the thymus gland. First isolated by Bach and colleagues in France in the 1970s…
Thyroid T3/Combination (NDT)
Direct T3 or Natural Desiccated Thyroid for Patients Unresponsive to T4 Alone
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia)
Traditional Southeast Asian herbal root extract for testosterone and vitality support
Zinc
Essential trace mineral for immune function, protein synthesis, and cellular health
Protocols & Reference
Peptide Stacking Protocol: Research-Based Combination Frameworks
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Protocol Overview & Critical Disclaimers 2. Peptide Categories & Functional Mechanisms 3. Goal-Based Stacking Frameworks 4. Critical Stacking Rules & Safety Principles 5. Reconstitution, Storage & Administration 6. Monitoring Framework & Baseline Requirements 7.
Testosterone Optimization Protocol: A Complete Framework
Protocol Guide Series — Testosterone Optimization Protocol: A Complete Framework
Practices & Lifestyle
Ashwagandha: A Practical Guide
At a Glance Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most extensively studied adaptogenic botanicals, with a growing base of
Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng): A Practical Guide
Overview Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), commonly marketed as Siberian ginseng, is a woody shrub native to northeastern Asia and Siberia. It is one of the most extensively studied adaptogens in the Soviet and Russian pharmacological tradition—investigated heavily from the 1950s–1980s…
Fenugreek: A Practical Guide
Overview Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual leguminous herb native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and South Asia, used both as a culinary spice and medicinal plant. Its seeds are rich in soluble fiber (galactomannans), steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin)…
Holy Basil (Tulsi): A Practical Guide
Overview Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum or Tulsi) is one of the most revered medicinal plants in Ayurveda—considered the "Queen of Herbs" and a sacred plant in Hinduism. Its bioactive compounds include eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, orientin, vicenin, and…
Iodine: A Practical Guide
Overview Iodine is an essential trace element required exclusively for the synthesis of thyroid hormones—thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)—which regulate metabolic rate, thermogenesis, cardiac output, neurological development, and nearly every organ system. Iodine deficiency is the…
Maca (Lepidium meyenii): A Practical Guide
Overview Maca (Lepidium meyenii, Peruvian ginseng) is a cruciferous root vegetable native to the Andean plateau (3,500–4,500m elevation), where it has been cultivated for over 2,000 years for food and medicine. Its bioactive compounds include macamides (unique benzylated fatty acid amides)…
Myo-Inositol: A Practical Guide
At a Glance Myo-inositol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol and a structural component of cell membrane phospholipids, serving as a key intracellular second messenger in insulin, FSH, and TSH signaling cascades. Its most robust clinical evidence is in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)…
Nettle (Urtica dioica): A Practical Guide
Overview Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial flowering plant whose leaves, root, and seeds each have distinct pharmacological properties and evidence bases. Nettle leaf is used primarily for allergic rhinitis and anti-inflammatory applications; nettle root is studied for benign…
Rhodiola Rosea — Adaptogenic Stress and Cognitive Performance
At a Glance Rhodiola rosea is a Scandinavian and Central Asian adaptogenic herb with one of the strongest clinical evidence bases among botanical adaptogens. Its primary bioactives — rosavins and salidroside — have been studied in over 36 human clinical trials covering stress, fatigue…
Salidroside: Isolating the Bioactive of Rhodiola
Salidroside is the most-studied bioactive in rhodiola — and, as of 2024, finally available as a fermentation-derived isolated compound. One small Phase II RCT exists; everything else lives in the whole-extract literature. What the data actually say.
Shilajit: A Practical Guide
At a Glance Shilajit is a mineral-rich resin that forms over centuries from the decomposition of plant matter in
Tongkat Ali vs Fadogia Agrestis
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) and Fadogia agrestis are the two herbs that have dominated the men's testosterone-supplement conversation since approximately 2020. The pairing was popularized in optimization-medicine influencer content and has…
Tribulus Terrestris: A Practical Guide
Overview Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine, gokshura) is a flowering plant found worldwide in arid climates, used in both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine as an aphrodisiac, libido tonic, and general vitality herb. Its primary bioactive compounds are steroidal saponins—predominantly…
Zinc: A Practical Guide
At a Glance Zinc is an essential trace mineral and structural cofactor in over 300 enzymes, playing fundamental roles in