Podcast Summary: The Dr. Josh Axe Show

Episode Title: How Peptides and Bioregulators Heal the Brain, Liver, and Heart
Host: Dr. Josh Axe
Release Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Josh Axe dives deep into the emerging science of peptides and bioregulators—a class of ultra-short protein snippets with the potential to “turn back the biological clock.” Dr. Axe covers the origins, mechanisms, regulation controversies, and therapeutic applications of these compounds for brain, liver, heart, hormonal, and immune health. He also shares clinical anecdotes, cutting-edge research, and practical strategies for naturally supporting your body’s healing and anti-aging processes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Are Peptides and Bioregulators?

(Timestamps: 02:00–08:30)

• Definition: Bioregulators are ultra-short peptides (2–4 amino acids long) that act as genetic switches, turning on or off specific genes to regulate health and aging.
• Mechanism: Unlike standard peptides (longer chains), bioregulators bind directly to DNA in cell nuclei, influencing repair, regeneration, and optimal organ function.
• Historical context: Dr. Vladimir Khavinson developed bioregulators during secret Soviet projects to reverse radiation-induced aging—now used clinically in Russia and Asia.
• “You can actually turn back the biological clock by supplying your organs with these peptides, also known as bioregulators.” (Dr. Axe at 04:41)

2. Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Uses

(Timestamps: 08:30–24:15)

• Organ-specific healing: Each organ (brain, liver, heart, adrenal glands, etc.) has its own bioregulator, whose administration can restore and optimize that organ’s function.
• Anecdotes & Evidence: Dr. Axe recounts his own recovery from life-threatening infection and spinal damage using peptides (BPC157, TB500, GHK-Cu), resulting in rapid pain relief and healing.
  • “After six weeks of doing it, I was blown away at my pain reduction... the pain went away and just kept getting better.” (Dr. Axe at 14:56)
• Research highlights: Bioregulators can extend mice lifespan by up to 40% and increase human telomere length, implicating anti-aging benefits.

3. Legal and Regulatory Gray Areas

(Timestamps: 08:30–12:45)

• Pharmaceutical interests: Pharmaceutical companies seek to patent and control peptides, delaying public access and inflating costs.
  • “They want to control who gets it and be able to mark it up to make a lot of money.” (Dr. Axe at 10:57)
• Regulatory status: Many peptides are not fully legalized in the U.S., despite widespread clinical use in functional and regenerative medicine.
• Political advocacy: RFK Jr. is actively attempting to legalize peptides, citing FDA suppression of natural therapies.
  • “The FDA’s war on public health is about to end. This includes its aggressive suppression of the psychedelics, peptides, stem cells...” (RFK Jr. as cited by Dr. Axe at 11:30)

4. Notable Advocates and Real-World Results

(Timestamps: 13:00–15:20)

• Public figures: Joe Rogan (healed tendonitis), Dr. Andrew Huberman (resolved spinal pain), Ben Greenfield, Will Cole, and others are proponents and users.
  • “Joe Rogan... said [his tendonitis] vanished within two weeks of using BPC157.” (Dr. Axe at 12:45)
• Athletic applications: Professional athletes have used peptides for accelerated recovery from injuries, demonstrating remarkable regeneration.

5. How Bioregulators Differ from Drugs

(Timestamps: 20:00–24:00)

• Restorative, not forcing: Drugs force the body in a direction (e.g., lowering blood pressure), while peptides/bioregulators restore natural function by enhancing cellular communication.
  • “Peptides stimulate; bioregulators normalize.” (Dr. Axe at 23:49)
• Penetration: Whereas peptides often act via cell surface receptors, bioregulators can pass into nuclei—even crossing the blood-brain and gut barrier.

6. Dietary & Supplemental Sources

(Timestamps: 24:30–27:30)

• Organ meats: The richest natural source of bioregulators—aligns with the “like supports like” principle from Chinese Medicine.
  • “If you want to get bioregulators in their most natural state, consume a lot more organs and glands.” (Dr. Axe at 25:33)
• Supplements: For therapeutic doses, concentrated extracts or synthesized forms are preferred.
• Foods containing peptides: In addition to organ meats, colostrum, deer antler, eggshells, and spirulina are mentioned.

7. Most Studied Bioregulator Peptides & Their Functions

(Timestamps: 28:00–35:45)

• Thymulin: Immune regulation, anti-aging, infection defense—helpful for cancer and autoimmunity.
• Epitalin: Pineal gland peptide; resets circadian rhythms, boosts melatonin, and lengthens telomeres.
  • “Epitalin increased telomere length by 33.3% compared to the control group.” (Dr. Axe at 30:12)
• Cortexin: Brain health—memory, cognition, neuroplasticity—used post-stroke.
• Ventfort: Vascular repair, blood pressure regulation, oxygen delivery.
• Livagen: Liver regeneration, detoxification, helpful for fatty liver and hepatitis.
• Others: Glandochore (adrenal), Vladoxin (spleen), Cardiolipin (heart), Kidneyogen (kidneys), Ovagen (ovaries), testotylin (testes), thyrogen (thyroid), BPC157 (stomach/gut).

8. Functional Approach To Hormones & Aging

(Timestamps: 36:00–41:30)

• Natural before hormones: Lifestyle changes, herbs, and peptides should be primary before considering hormone replacement (HRT).
• Protocol example: For low testosterone, Dr. Axe recommends dietary, supplemental (organs/glands, zinc, vitamin D, herbs), exercise, and peptide strategies before HRT.
  • “When you change your lifestyle... your entire body is going to get healthier as a result of it.” (Dr. Axe at 39:54)

9. Looking Forward & Integrative Strategies

(Timestamps: 41:30–44:30)

• Future access: Dr. Axe is developing supplements combining bioregulators and peptides in absorbable forms.
• Empowerment: Listeners are encouraged to educate themselves, share this information, and advocate for access in natural medicine.
  • “It could be a form of medicine that could completely transform our functional medicine and natural medicine landscape and help save a lot of lives...” (Dr. Axe at 44:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can actually turn back the biological clock by supplying your organs with these peptides, also known as bioregulators.” (04:41)
• “After six weeks of doing it, I was blown away at my pain reduction... it just kept getting better.” (14:56)
• “Peptides stimulate; bioregulators normalize.” (23:49)
• “If you want to get bioregulators in their most natural state, consume a lot more organs and glands.” (25:33)
• “Epitalin increased telomere length by 33.3% compared to the control group.” (30:12)
• “When you change your lifestyle... your entire body is going to get healthier as a result of it.” (39:54)
• “It could be a form of medicine that could completely transform our functional medicine and natural medicine landscape and help save a lot of lives...” (44:16)

Takeaways & Action Steps

• Educate yourself about the emerging science of peptide and bioregulator therapy.
• Prioritize natural approaches (diet, lifestyle, organ meats, supplements) before considering pharmaceuticals or HRT.
• Look for future availability of these therapies as regulatory climates change.
• Share this knowledge—these therapies have the potential to revolutionize anti-aging and functional medicine.
• Subscribe and stay tuned: This field, though controversial, is growing rapidly, and more insights are forthcoming.

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | Key Points/Quotes | |---------------------------------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Peptides/Bioregulators Intro | 02:00–08:30 | Definition, origins, and science | | Regulation/Legal Issues | 08:30–12:45 | Pharma involvement, RFK Jr. quote | | Real-world use cases | 12:45–15:20 | Joe Rogan, Huberman, Dr. Axe anecdote | | Medical distinctions | 20:00–24:00 | Peptides vs. bioregulators, mechanisms | | Food sources & supplementation | 24:30–27:30 | Organ meats, supplements, principles “like supports like” | | Most-studied bioregulators | 28:00–35:45 | Thymulin, Epitalin, Cortexin, Ventfort, etc. | | Functional hormone approach | 36:00–41:30 | Natural strategies before HRT | | Future directions & call to act | 41:30–44:30 | Dr. Axe’s supplement development, advocacy, sharing information |

Summary prepared for The Dr. Josh Axe Show, Episode: "How Peptides and Bioregulators Heal the Brain, Liver, and Heart" (December 1, 2025).