Everyone has a Chinese peptide dealer now
a day ago
- #biohacking
- #health-trends
- #peptides
- Lynne Ji, a retired poker pro, microdoses retatrutide, a peptide from Eli Lilly, sourced from a Chinese dealer via WhatsApp, experiencing weight loss and reduced 'food noise'.
- Peptides like BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and Semax are used for various health benefits, from tendon healing to anxiety reduction, despite limited regulation and safety studies.
- The FDA has restricted access to several peptides, pushing users toward gray-market sources, primarily from China, where quality and safety are unverified.
- Peptides, discovered in the 1920s, are gaining popularity for their potential health benefits, with around 100 peptide-based drugs on the market and 150 in clinical trials.
- Risks of DIY peptide use include inconsistent purity, accidental overdose, and severe side effects like sepsis due to unsterile mixing conditions.
- Companies like Finnrick are emerging to test gray-market peptides for purity and potency, providing transparency in an otherwise unregulated market.
- Concierge doctors offer peptides via overseas or domestic channels, but access is limited to those with money or connections, leaving others to rely on sketchy sources.
- Despite risks, curiosity and hype around peptides continue to grow, with users like Ji acknowledging potential long-term damage but prioritizing short-term benefits.