Peptide basics
What a peptide is, why route and storage matter, why evidence quality varies, and how to read a guide card.
What is a peptide
Peptides are short chains of amino acids: the same molecular building blocks as proteins, but smaller. Your body makes thousands of them naturally. The ones in this catalog are either synthetic versions of biological molecules (BPC-157, GHK-Cu) or analogs of approved drugs (Tirzepatide, PT-141).
How they get into your body
Most peptides in this catalog are subcutaneous injections because the molecule doesn't survive stomach acid. A few are topical (SNAP-8), intranasal (SELANK, SEMAX), or oral (Amino-1MQ). Route changes everything: pharmacokinetics, dose, what side effects you'll see.
Why evidence quality varies
Some compounds are FDA-labeled with well-established dosing (Tirzepatide, Semaglutide). Others are in late-stage trials (Retatrutide, Cagrilintide). Most are research-chemical-only, with community-protocol dosing extrapolated from animal studies and self-experiment reports. The guide labels each compound with its evidence tier so you can weigh credibility before you commit to a cycle. The methodology page covers the five tiers in more detail.
“Research use only” is not a safety shield
Most peptide vendors sell their products labeled “for research use only.” That is a seller and compliance label, not a biological risk label. The molecule is the same molecule. The label does not verify purity, legality, dose, sterility, or appropriateness for you. Your responsibility for vetting those does not change because the label says “research.”
How to read a guide card
Each compound's card surfaces five things: fit, evidence confidence, regulatory status, the common pattern (route, amount, cadence, cycle), and a safety preview. Expand the dossier for mechanism, citations, and detailed dosing notes.
Before you pick a compound, read the discipline article on running single-compound cycles before stacks. First cycles are where most missteps happen.