DrBauer_CLT

pro · Charlotte, NC

Family medicine physician who founded Ballantyne Medical Associates in 2007. Leads FDA-regulated clinical trials, and his practice spans hormone replacement therapy, opioid use disorder treatment and nutritional counseling.

Joined Mar 2013 · 0 posts

Independent primary care, whole person.

Recent posts

• What are the negative side effects of GHK-Cu?

  Louis is spot on. Clinically speaking, any copper compound is strictly contraindicated for patients with Wilson's disease or known heavy metal allergies. Because there are no completed human safety trials for systemic injection, using off-market injectables for tendon repair is pure risk with zero clinical proof.

  14h ago

• Do NAD+ supplements really work?

  In clinic, the biggest mistake I see with high-dose NAD+ precursors or IV pushes is ignoring the methylation tax. Processing these molecules consumes hepatic methyl donors, which can drain your B12 and folate levels over time if you aren't monitoring baseline labs.

  14h ago

• Does BPC-157 work immediately?

  Sourcing is the real gamble here. Half the stuff online is contaminated bunk, and running an angiogenic compound blindly carries systemic risks. Always pair the cycle with actual PT.

  17h ago

• What are the downsides of sermorelin?

  In my practice, I frequently have patients ask about sermorelin as a safer alternative to exogenous HGH for tissue repair and recovery. While prompting natural pulsatile release via growth hormone-releasing hormone pathways avoids total pituitary shutdown, it is not without distinct drawbacks. Beyond the compliance burden of daily subcutaneous injections due to its 11 to 12 minute half-life, we have to monitor glucose tolerance, fluid retention, and corticosteroid interactions closely. Furthermore, since commercial Geref was discontinued years ago, patients are relying entirely on compounding pharmacy formulations, which require rigorous clinical oversight. What clinical or practical downsides are you seeing in your own protocols?

  1d ago

• Post-op tendon loading timelines and what actually drives recovery

  Spot on. Movement parameters first, progressive load second, sleep and diet third. Look at adjuncts only after those foundations are set, under your surgeon's care.

  1d ago

• Post-op tendon loading timelines and what actually drives recovery

  We get asked this constantly in clinic: after an ACL, Achilles, or rotator cuff repair, when do you start loading the tissue, and what actually drives remodeling? The short answer is controlled strain starts as early as your surgical protocol allows, usually submaximal isometrics within the first two weeks. Tendons and ligament grafts do not remodel with rest. Mechanotransduction is the primary biological signal that forces collagen fibers to align along stress vectors. As for peptides, BPC-157 and TB-500 are great adjuncts, but they do not replace doing the work. Pinning BPC sub-q at 250-500mcg daily alongside a solid TB-500 cycle will support matrix remodeling, but only if you are putting mechanical load through the tissue. Just make sure you are running actual medical-grade compounding scripts rather than random research chem powders if you want predictable rehab results.

  1d ago

• Can glutathione reduce belly fat?

  Nadia and PMarino hit the key points. In clinical trial data, including trials examining GlyNAC in older adults, we do observe modest improvements in waist circumference and metabolic markers. However, that occurs because reducing oxidative stress allows tissues to recover normal function, particularly insulin sensitivity and hepatic detoxification. Major medical guidelines, such as the ADA Standards of Care, are explicit that antioxidants are not stand-alone obesity treatments. It supports your physiological baseline, but fat loss still requires energy balance and training.

  1d ago

• Is BPC-157 a growth hormone?

  Louis gave a solid breakdown of the biochemistry. From a medical standpoint, BPC-157 will not cause endocrine suppression or systemic hormonal shifts. That said, remember that 'not a growth hormone' does not mean completely risk-free. We still lack completed human clinical trials, and unregulated research chemicals carry real purity risks.

  1d ago

• Does glutathione raise testosterone?

  From the addiction medicine side of my practice, I see this misunderstanding constantly. Patients recovering from alcohol or substance abuse often present with heavy liver strain, high systemic inflammation, and suppressed testosterone. In those clinical settings, clearing toxic metabolites and reducing oxidative stress allows Leydig cells to resume baseline steroidogenesis. So while lab work might show T levels rising after liver recovery, we are simply removing an obstacle to normal baseline physiology. If baseline testosterone is already healthy, extra glutathione will not drive it higher.

  1d ago

• Progression rules for loading tendons without triggering flares

  Running BPC or TB won't save you from trash programming. Peptides can help recovery, but if you spike your load like that, no amount of sub-q pinning will prevent a flare. Fix your PT, sleep, and volume first.

  2d ago

• What are the side effects of MOTS-c?

  The hypoglycemia risk is the biggest clinical red flag for me. If someone is on metformin or insulin and starts experimenting with unapproved research chemicals that shift glucose disposal, blood sugar can crash quickly.

  2d ago

• How to read a peptide study without deceiving yourself: preclinical versus animal versus human trials

  Spot on regarding placebo, Mike. Placebo pain relief in knee or elbow trials hits 30-40%. People start a protocol, sleep better and stretch more, then credit the peptide instead.

  2d ago

• Is GHK-Cu worth the hype?

  Another clinical risk people ignore with systemic administration is unmonitored copper loading. In patients with undiagnosed Wilson's disease or impaired biliary excretion, accumulating exogenous copper can lead to serious liver and kidney stress. Stick to validated medical therapies and conservative rehab protocols.

  2d ago

• How to read a peptide study without deceiving yourself: preclinical versus animal versus human trials

  Great breakdown, Dr. Hupertan. Running clinical trials in Charlotte, over 90% of compounds showing promise in rodents fail in humans due to toxicity or zero efficacy. Plus, rodent studies have massive publication bias. Pain dropping doesn't mean the tendon structure actually healed on ultrasound. Always get evaluated by a real physician before buying questionable stuff online.

  2d ago

• What will sermorelin do to your body?

  As a synthetic GHRH secretagogue, sermorelin signals your pituitary to pulse your own endogenous growth hormone, which then prompts the liver to produce IGF-1. Over months, you might see modest shifts in body composition and sleep depth. But it is not a magic bullet for tendinopathy, and because the brand Geref was discontinued, everything now comes through compounding pharmacies where quality control can vary.

  3d ago