Peptide therapy

Peptide therapy at WIN uses physician-prescribed peptides, short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in the body, as part of an integrative medical plan. Dr. Carmen Báez-Franceschi may include a peptide protocol after the evaluation to support recovery, sleep, gut health, energy and healthy aging. It is prescribed through our Houston and San Juan centers, with every peptide sourced only from licensed pharmacies.

What is peptide therapy?

Peptides are made of the same building blocks as proteins, amino acids, but in much shorter chains. The body produces many of its own peptides, and they work as messengers: they carry signals between cells that help regulate processes such as repair, sleep, digestion and metabolism. Peptide therapy uses specific peptides, prescribed by a physician, to support those signaling processes within a broader plan.

It is not a supplement bought online or at a gym, and it is not a performance shortcut. The availability of individual peptides is governed by federal and state rules, and those rules change. At WIN, the physician prescribes only peptides that can be lawfully prescribed and dispensed by licensed pharmacies, and only after the evaluation.

Who peptide therapy helps

WIN uses peptide protocols to support recovery, sleep, gut health, energy and healthy aging. The physician most often considers them for:

• Adults in the anti-aging and wellness program
• Students and athletes in the athletic and academic excellence program, as support for recovery and sleep
• Patients with gastrointestinal disorders, alongside dietary and nutritional protocols
• Patients recovering from brain injuries, as one part of a wider recovery plan

Peptide therapy is most often discussed with adults; for children and teens, it is considered only when the physician believes it is appropriate. It is prescribed after the evaluation and labs, never à la carte, and many plans do not include it.

What a protocol looks like at WIN

Peptide therapy starts with the Phase I evaluation and labs at the Houston or San Juan center. The physician reviews the medical history, current medications, allergies and lab results, and screens for conditions that would make a peptide unsuitable, such as pregnancy or certain medical histories.

At the protocol visit, she explains which peptide or peptides she is recommending and why, how each one is taken, what side effects to watch for, and how progress will be checked. Peptides are dispensed by a licensed pharmacy with clear instructions, and the team shows patients or parents how to follow the protocol correctly. The plan sets how long the protocol lasts, and it is reviewed at follow-up visits, where it may be adjusted, paused or stopped.

How it fits the Franceschi Method®

Peptide therapy belongs to Phase II of the Franceschi Method®, the medical and nutritional protocols built on the evaluation and lab findings. It works alongside the foundations of the plan: functional medicine and nutrition. In wellness and recovery programs, it may be combined with IV infusion therapy or hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Progress is measured with follow-up visits and labs where indicated, and patients and parents receive reports and training as part of the team.

What families can expect

After the initial in-person evaluation, many follow-ups can be done by telemedicine for patients in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Responses to peptides vary from person to person, and some people notice changes in sleep or recovery while others notice little; the follow-up visits, not impressions alone, decide whether a protocol continues.

Curious whether peptide therapy has a place in your plan? Request an orientation with our Houston or San Juan team, in English or Spanish, and we will explain how the evaluation works.