GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500 Blend Dosage Guide (2026)

You have a torn tendon, a post-surgical wound, or skin that has started to look older than you feel. You could run a single peptide and address one aspect of the problem. Or you could run all three and cover the entire repair sequence from start to finish. That is the logic behind this blend.

Each peptide targets a different bottleneck in tissue repair. BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and drives angiogenesis, the construction of new blood vessels at the injury site. Without fresh vasculature, repair cells cannot reach damaged tissue in sufficient numbers (Sikiric et al., 2018).

TB-500, a synthetic fragment of Thymosin Beta-4, regulates actin polymerization and F-actin formation. This is the molecular machinery that allows cells to migrate. TB-500 also suppresses the NF-kB inflammatory pathway systemically, not just locally. Its half-life of roughly two days means a single injection distributes repair signals across the entire body (Ruff et al., 2017).

GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) arrives last in the sequence but is arguably the most important. It delivers copper to lysyl oxidase, the enzyme responsible for cross-linking collagen types I and III into durable, organized fibers. Without proper cross-linking, new tissue is fragile. GHK-Cu also modulates over 4,000 human genes, suppressing IL-6 and TNF-alpha while stimulating antioxidant defenses (Pickart & Margolina, 2018). Dr. Loren Pickart first isolated GHK-Cu from human plasma albumin in 1973 and spent the next five decades mapping its regenerative potential.

Here is the synergy in one sentence. BPC-157 builds new blood vessels. TB-500 mobilizes repair cells along those vessels. GHK-Cu provides the structural copper needed to cross-link the collagen those cells produce. The result is faster, stronger tissue repair than any single peptide achieves alone. This three-peptide combination is commercially known as the GLOW blend, typically formulated at a 5:1:1 ratio (GHK-Cu : BPC-157 : TB-500).

For individual dosing protocols, see the GHK-Cu dosage guide, and for tendon-specific applications, see best peptides for tendon repair.

The table below is the core reference for this article. It covers the two standard commercial vial sizes and a DIY option for users who prefer to mix separate vials themselves.

How to read this chart. A 70 mg vial contains 70 mg of total peptide. At 3 mL of bacteriostatic water, the concentration is 23.3 mg/mL. Drawing 10 units (0.10 mL) delivers approximately 2,330 mcg of total blend. Because the ratio is 5:1:1, that single injection contains roughly 1,670 mcg of GHK-Cu, 330 mcg of BPC-157, and 330 mcg of TB-500.

The 42 mg vial follows the same math at a smaller scale. At 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, the concentration is 21 mg/mL. Seven units delivers approximately 1,400 mcg total, broken down to 1,000 mcg GHK-Cu, 200 mcg BPC-157, and 200 mcg TB-500.

The DIY option uses separate vials of each peptide. You draw three separate doses and inject them at slightly different sites, or combine them in a single syringe. This approach sacrifices convenience but gives you complete control over how much of each peptide you administer. Use the BPC-157 Dosage Calculator and TB-500 Dosage Calculator for individual dose math.

For non-standard vial sizes or custom water volumes, use the Peptide Reconstitution Calculator to confirm your math before injecting.

Reconstitution converts the lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder into an injectable solution. The process takes under five minutes. If you have reconstituted any peptide before, this is identical.

Step 1. Gather supplies: bacteriostatic water (BAC water, containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol), insulin syringes (29 to 31 gauge), and alcohol swabs. Do not use normal saline or sterile water. BAC water inhibits bacterial growth and extends shelf life to approximately 28 days. See where to buy bacteriostatic water for sourcing.

Step 2. Draw the correct volume of BAC water into a syringe. For a 70 mg vial, draw 3.0 mL. For a 42 mg vial, draw 2.0 mL.

Step 3. Wipe both vial stoppers with alcohol swabs. Insert the needle into the blend vial at an angle. Direct the water stream against the inner glass wall, not onto the powder cake. Disrupting the cake creates foam and can denature the peptides.

Step 4. Release the water slowly. Let it trickle down the inside of the vial. Remove the syringe. Gently swirl the vial until the powder dissolves completely, usually 1 to 2 minutes. Never shake. The solution should be clear to slightly blue-tinted from the copper in GHK-Cu. Discard if cloudy or if particles are visible.

Step 5. Label the vial with the reconstitution date. Store at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit), protected from light. Use within 28 days.

For detailed storage guidance beyond these basics, see how to store peptides. For a walkthrough of the reconstitution math with any vial size, use the Peptide Reconstitution Calculator.

Standard protocol: One subcutaneous injection per day, 5 to 7 days per week. Most practitioners recommend daily injection during the active cycle for consistent blood levels.

Injection sites: Rotate between the lower abdomen (at least two inches from the navel), outer thigh, and upper arm fat pad. Use a 29 to 31 gauge insulin syringe with a 0.5 inch needle. Pinch a fold of skin, insert at 45 to 90 degrees, inject slowly, hold for 5 to 10 seconds, then withdraw. Do not massage the site afterward.

Timing: Morning or evening. Consistency matters more than the specific hour. Pick a time you can maintain every day for four weeks.

Duration: 4 weeks on, 2 to 4 weeks off. This is the standard cycle discussed in the next section.

For users treating a localized injury, inject as close to the target area as practical. BPC-157 and GHK-Cu both produce higher local concentrations near the injection site, even though all three peptides distribute systemically.

Four weeks on, two to four weeks off. That is the standard cycle. Here is why it exists.

Receptor desensitization is the primary reason. BPC-157 and TB-500 both act through cell-surface receptors that internalize under sustained stimulation. After roughly four weeks of daily injection, the receptors begin downregulating. You inject the same dose but get progressively less response. Continuing past this point wastes product.

The rest period allows receptor populations to reset. Two weeks is the minimum for meaningful recovery. Four weeks is more conservative and preferred when running multiple cycles back to back.

Standard cycle: 4 weeks active, 2 to 4 weeks rest Extended cycle (under physician guidance): 6 to 8 weeks active, 4 weeks rest Signals to resume: Rest period complete, no lingering side effects, healing goals not yet fully achieved Signals to stop: Persistent side effects, goal achieved, or physician advises discontinuation

Most users complete two to three full cycles for injury recovery. Skin and anti-aging goals may require four to six cycles spread over six to twelve months.

Some practitioners add a fourth peptide, KPV, for enhanced anti-inflammatory action. This variant is known as the KLOW blend and is typically sold in 80 mg vials. The dosing protocol differs because of the added peptide mass. See the KPV dosage guide for details.

You can buy a pre-mixed GLOW blend or purchase individual vials of GHK-Cu, BPC-157, and TB-500. Both approaches work. The right choice depends on whether you need convenience or flexibility.

The blend suits most users. The 5:1:1 ratio provides therapeutic doses of all three peptides in a single injection. If your goal is general tissue repair, skin quality, post-surgical recovery, or anti-aging maintenance, the blend is the simpler and more cost-effective option.

Separate vials make sense when you need to increase one peptide disproportionately. An acute Achilles tendon injury, for example, might warrant 500 mcg of BPC-157 per day rather than the 330 mcg delivered by the standard blend dose. A severe systemic injury might need higher TB-500. Separate vials give you that flexibility at the cost of more injections and more reconstitution math.

Use the Peptide Stack Calculator to plan multi-vial protocols and the Peptide Interaction Checker to verify compatibility.

Common: Mild injection site redness (resolves within an hour), transient fatigue during the first one to two days of use, and occasional light headache. These occur in a minority of users and rarely persist beyond the first week.

Uncommon: Nausea, dizziness, and a temporary flare of old injuries. The injury flare is sometimes called a "healing response" and is attributed to TB-500 reactivating the inflammatory cascade in previously quiescent tissue. It typically resolves within days.

Contraindications: Active cancer is the most important. All three peptides are pro-angiogenic, meaning they promote blood vessel formation. This property that makes them effective for healing also means they could theoretically support tumor vascularization. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindicated because no human safety data exists. WADA-tested athletes should be aware that TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) is on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.

No human clinical trials exist for this specific three-peptide blend. All safety data extrapolates from individual peptide studies conducted primarily in animals. The long-term effects of repeated cycling are unknown. For individual peptide safety profiles, see BPC-157 side effects and the GHK-Cu dosage guide.

The standard dosage chart assumes an average adult of 60 to 85 kg. If you are significantly lighter or heavier, the per-injection dose should scale accordingly. The individual peptide research that informs blend dosing used weight-based calculations, and applying the same logic to the blend improves precision.

BPC-157 weight-based dosing. Most BPC-157 studies in rodents use 10 mcg/kg as the therapeutic dose. Translated to a 70 kg human using allometric scaling, that yields approximately 250 to 500 mcg per day. The standard blend at 10 units (2,330 mcg total) delivers 330 mcg of BPC-157, which sits in the middle of this range.

TB-500 weight-based dosing. TB-500 protocols typically recommend 2 to 2.5 mg twice weekly during loading, then 750 mcg to 1 mg twice weekly for maintenance. The blend delivers 330 mcg per day (2,310 mcg per week on a 7-day schedule), which aligns with the lower end of maintenance dosing.

GHK-Cu weight-based dosing. The therapeutic dose is 1 to 2 mg per day for a 70 kg adult. At 1,670 mcg per injection from the standard blend, this falls within range.

These are approximations. The blend's fixed 5:1:1 ratio means you cannot adjust one peptide without adjusting all three. If your weight places you at the extremes and you need more BPC-157 without proportionally more GHK-Cu, switch to separate vials.

For the 42 mg vial, apply the same proportional scaling. At 2 mL reconstitution, each unit delivers approximately 1.05 mg of total blend. Multiply the target dose by the concentration to find your syringe volume.

GHK-Cu, BPC-157, and TB-500 each operate on different timescales. BPC-157 produces noticeable anti-inflammatory effects within days. TB-500 systemic cell migration effects build over 1 to 2 weeks. GHK-Cu collagen cross-linking and gene modulation require 4 to 8 weeks for visible results. Running all three in a blend means you experience a layered progression of effects.

Days 1 to 3. Mild injection site redness that resolves within 30 to 60 minutes. Some users report a subtle reduction in general inflammation within 48 hours, attributed to BPC-157's rapid VEGF upregulation and TB-500's NF-kB suppression. These early effects are modest and may not be distinguishable from placebo.

Week 1. If treating a specific injury, localized swelling begins to decrease. Sleep quality may improve slightly. A small subset of users reports a temporary flare at old injury sites as TB-500 reactivates dormant inflammatory cascades. This flare is a recognized phenomenon, not a side effect. It typically resolves within 2 to 4 days.

Week 2. Recovery from physical activity accelerates. Bruises heal faster. Minor cuts close more quickly. If you track workout recovery with a wearable, heart rate variability (HRV) may trend upward as systemic inflammation decreases. Joint stiffness in the morning diminishes.

Week 3. Skin begins to feel different. Not dramatically younger, but more hydrated and slightly firmer. GHK-Cu glycosaminoglycan synthesis reaches a threshold where dermal hydration changes become palpable. Injury sites show measurable improvement: reduced pain, increased range of motion, or visible tissue filling.

Week 4 (end of standard cycle). The cumulative effect of all three peptides converges. Collagen cross-linking from GHK-Cu solidifies the tissue scaffolding that BPC-157 vascularized and TB-500 populated with repair cells. Skin quality improvement is visible in photos compared to week 1. Scars may appear flatter or softer. Joint and tendon injuries that plateaued with other treatments often show renewed improvement.

During the rest period (weeks 5 to 8). The structural changes do not reverse immediately. Collagen deposited during the active cycle persists for months. Some users report continued improvement during the first 1 to 2 weeks of rest as tissue remodeling continues without new peptide input. By week 3 of rest, improvement plateaus. This is the signal that a new cycle may be warranted if goals are not yet met.

Multiple cycles. Most injury protocols require 2 to 3 complete cycles (12 to 24 weeks total including rest). Skin and anti-aging protocols may run 4 to 6 cycles over 6 to 12 months. Diminishing returns become apparent after 4 to 6 months for skin-related goals, at which point maintenance frequency (2 to 3 injections per week) replaces loading.

Seven mistakes appear repeatedly in peptide community forums. Each one reduces efficacy, wastes product, or introduces unnecessary risk.

1. Using normal saline instead of bacteriostatic water. Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) lacks the 0.9% benzyl alcohol preservative that inhibits bacterial growth. A multi-use vial reconstituted with normal saline becomes a bacterial culture after the first needle puncture. The shelf life drops from 28 days to roughly 48 hours. Always use bacteriostatic water. See how to reconstitute GHK-Cu for the full procedure.

2. Shaking the vial instead of swirling. All three peptides in this blend are proteins. Aggressive shaking creates foam and can denature the molecules at the air-liquid interface. Denatured peptide is biologically inactive. You inject the full volume but get reduced or zero effect. Swirl gently until dissolved. If foam forms, let it settle before drawing.

3. Injecting intramuscularly instead of subcutaneously. The blend is designed for subcutaneous injection. Intramuscular injection drives faster absorption but creates a sharper peak-and-trough cycle that does not match the pharmacokinetic profile these peptides work best with. It also hurts more, risks hitting a vein, and offers no benefit for a peptide blend that works through sustained tissue-level signaling.

4. Running cycles longer than 4 weeks without guidance. BPC-157 and TB-500 receptor desensitization begins around week 4. Continuing to inject past this point wastes product. You pay the same per-injection cost for progressively less response. Respect the 4-week cycle limit unless a physician specifically prescribes otherwise.

5. Skipping the rest period. The rest period is not optional. It allows receptor populations to reset and gives tissue time to consolidate structural changes. Users who run continuous cycles without rest report diminishing returns by the third month and significantly reduced response when they eventually do cycle back on.

6. Storing at room temperature. Reconstituted peptide solution degrades faster at room temperature. GHK-Cu's copper ion can catalyze oxidation reactions that break down BPC-157 and TB-500 in the same solution. Refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) immediately after reconstitution. Keep the vial upright in a dark container. See how to store peptides for detailed storage guidance.

7. Doubling the dose for faster results. More is not better. Each peptide in the blend has a therapeutic window. BPC-157 above 500 mcg per day shows no additional benefit in published research. GHK-Cu above 2 mg per day increases copper load without documented improvement. TB-500 benefits plateau at standard loading doses. Doubling the blend dose doubles cost and copper exposure while providing marginal or zero additional benefit.

Where you inject the blend affects how much peptide reaches your target tissue. All three peptides distribute systemically after subcutaneous injection, but local tissue concentrations are highest within a 5 to 10 cm radius of the injection site.

For systemic goals (anti-aging, general wellness, skin quality): Inject in the lower abdomen, rotating left and right sides. Abdominal subcutaneous fat provides consistent, predictable absorption. The large surface area allows easy rotation to prevent injection site fatigue.

For localized injuries (tendons, joints, surgical sites): Inject as close to the target tissue as practical. A torn rotator cuff benefits from upper arm or deltoid-area injection. A knee injury benefits from injection in the fat pad just above or below the kneecap. An Achilles tendon injury benefits from injection in the lower calf subcutaneous tissue.

Injection depth matters. Use a 29 to 31 gauge insulin syringe with a half-inch needle. Pinch a fold of skin. Insert at a 45 to 90 degree angle depending on the amount of subcutaneous fat at the site. Leaner areas (shin, forearm) require a shallower angle. Fattier areas (abdomen, thigh) tolerate a 90 degree perpendicular insertion.

Post-injection protocol. Do not massage the site. Do not apply ice or heat for 30 minutes. Both alter local blood flow and can affect absorption kinetics. Let the peptide absorb naturally. Light physical activity (walking) is fine and may slightly improve distribution through increased circulation.