What this library is
The Reference section is the encyclopedia of the site. Every peptide people commonly ask about gets its own plain-English guide: what the compound actually is, what the research does and doesn’t show, what it tends to cost in the US, and how legal access works in 2026. Where the evidence is mostly animal studies or anecdote, we say so — honest caveats are the point of a reference, not a sales pitch.
Use it as a map. If you’re new, start with the basics below. If you already know which compound you’re researching, jump straight to its family. Most compounds have a cluster of related pages — a “what is it,” a benefits/uses page, a realistic results timeline, a cost breakdown, and an honest look at reviews and experiences — so you can go as shallow or as deep as you need.
Note: This library explains compounds; it doesn’t tell you to take them. Nothing here is dosing guidance, a sourcing instruction, or medical advice. For anything you’d actually consider, talk to a licensed US clinician — and check the Access & Legality section for the current rules, because the 2026 landscape is shifting (12 peptides were removed from the FDA’s Category 2 “do-not-compound” list in April 2026, but removal is not the same as being authorized — PCAC review is set for July 2026 and rulemaking follows).
Start with the basics
- What Are Peptides? A Plain-English Guide — the foundation: what peptides are, how they differ from ordinary drugs, and the main categories.
- How Peptide Therapy Works — mechanisms in plain terms, how peptides are typically administered, and what “therapy” actually involves.
- Peptide Quality & Safety: What to Check — certificates of analysis, contamination risks, and the difference between pharmacy-grade and gray-market product.
- Peptide Therapy Glossary (US Terms) — 503A, 503B, RUO, secretagogue, and the rest of the jargon, defined.
Healing & recovery peptides
The most-discussed category — tissue repair, tendons, gut. Evidence here is heavily preclinical, so read the honest-evidence sections closely.
- What Is BPC-157? — the headline healing peptide. See also: BPC-157 Benefits & Uses, BPC-157 Cost in the US, BPC-157 Results Timeline, and BPC-157 Reviews & Experiences.
- BPC-157 for Injury Recovery — the most common use case, with realistic expectations.
- What Is TB-500? — the other recovery peptide. See also: TB-500 Benefits & Uses, TB-500 Cost in the US, and TB-500 Results Timeline.
- BPC-157 vs TB-500 — how the two compare, and why people ask about stacking them.
- BPC-157 and TB-500 for Healing (Wolverine Stack) — the popular combination, examined.
Growth-hormone peptides (secretagogues)
Compounds that prompt the body’s own growth-hormone release, used for recovery, body composition, and anti-aging interest.
- What Is CJC-1295? — plus CJC-1295 Benefits & Uses and CJC-1295 Cost in the US.
- What Is Ipamorelin? — plus Ipamorelin Benefits & Uses and Ipamorelin Cost in the US.
- CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin — the classic pairing question, explained.
- What Is Sermorelin? — the one with prior FDA-approval history. Plus Sermorelin Benefits & Uses.
- What Is Tesamorelin? — FDA-approved (Egrifta). Plus Tesamorelin Benefits & Uses.
- What Is MOTS-C? — the mitochondrial-derived peptide. Plus MOTS-C Benefits & Uses.
Weight-loss & metabolic peptides
The GLP-1 family and related metabolic compounds — by far the most clinically established group on the site.
- What Is Semaglutide? — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. Plus Semaglutide Benefits & Uses and Semaglutide for Weight Loss.
- What Is Tirzepatide? — the dual-agonist in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Plus Tirzepatide Benefits & Uses and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss.
- What Is Retatrutide? — the investigational triple-agonist. Plus Retatrutide for Weight Loss.
- What Is Cagrilintide? — the amylin analog, often paired with semaglutide.
- What Is AOD-9604? — the fat-loss fragment, with a candid evidence note. Plus AOD-9604 for Weight Loss.
- See the full Weight-Loss Peptides & GLP-1s overview.
Brand-name comparisons
- Ozempic vs Wegovy — same drug, different indication and dose.
- Mounjaro vs Ozempic and Wegovy vs Zepbound — across-molecule comparisons.
- Zepbound vs Mounjaro — same drug, different brand and indication.
- Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss — head-to-head on the data.
- Compounded vs Brand-Name GLP-1s — what the compounding wind-down means in 2026.
Skin, hair & anti-aging
- What Is GHK-Cu? — the copper peptide. Plus GHK-Cu Benefits & Uses, GHK-Cu for Skin & Anti-Aging, and GHK-Cu for Hair Loss.
- Anti-Aging Peptides and Skin & Cosmetic Peptides — category overviews.
Sexual-health peptides
- What Is PT-141? — bremelanotide (FDA-approved as Vyleesi). Plus PT-141 Benefits & Uses, PT-141 for Libido, and PT-141 for Erectile Dysfunction.
- Libido & Sexual-Health Peptides — the category overview.
Nootropic peptides
- What Is Selank? — the anxiolytic peptide. Plus Selank for Anxiety.
- What Is Semax? — the focus/cognition peptide. Plus Semax for Focus & Cognition.
- Nootropic Peptides — the category overview.
Immune & other compounds
- What Is Thymosin Alpha-1? — the immune-support peptide. Plus Thymosin Alpha-1 for Immune Support.
- What Is Melanotan-2? — the tanning peptide. We cover it for completeness, but flag the genuine safety concerns plainly: it’s an unapproved, gray-market compound with documented risks, not a wellness peptide.
How to use the rest of the section
Most compounds above have additional pages — a before-and-after expectations guide, a results timeline, and a reviews/experiences page — that we haven’t all linked here to keep this map readable. They’re reachable from each compound’s main guide. When you’re ready to move from “what is this” to “how would someone actually access it,” head to the Access & Legality section, which covers prescriptions, compounding, and the current 2026 rules in depth.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start if I'm new to peptides?
Read 'What Are Peptides?' for the plain-English foundation, then 'How Peptide Therapy Works' to understand the basics. After that, go to the guide for whichever specific compound you're researching. If your main question is whether something is legal or how to access it, start in the Access & Legality section instead.
Does Peptide Help USA recommend or sell any of these peptides?
No. This is an independent educational reference. We don't sell, supply, prescribe, or recommend any peptide, brand, vendor, or clinic. Each guide explains what a compound is, what the evidence shows, and how legal access works — so you can have an informed conversation with a licensed clinician.
Are the peptides in this library legal in the US?
It depends on the specific peptide and the route. Some (like semaglutide and tirzepatide) are FDA-approved drugs; others (like BPC-157 and TB-500) sit in a 2026 regulatory transition where compounding access is not yet restored; a few raise genuine safety concerns. Each compound's legal status is covered on its own page and in the Access & Legality section.