Dr. Greg Brannon redefines medicine with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
Pursuit of the mythical fountain of youth has captivated mankind since 500 BC. Age delivers so many positives, yet wrinkles, weight, and pain can pile on with each passing year. So, how best to grow old with acceptance and grace?
Dr. Greg Brannon believes he’s created the perfect RX: Optimal Bio with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. “We use all-natural hormones that are identical to the hormones your body is already making,” the obstetrician-gynecologist explains. “Molecule for molecule, atom for atom, it’s the same exact structure. BHRT eases the degenerative side effects of aging, while strengthening the body.”
Over a quarter of a century, the Cary, North Carolina-based physician built a successful practice serving women and delivering babies. But he grew frustrated watching cancer and dementia rates rise, while hearing more and more young ladies complain of fatigue, brain fog, and depression. “I’ve never been a Band-Aid-type doctor,” Brannon reveals. “I want to avoid disaster, rather than throw a bunch of medicine at it after it erupts. I want to trouble-shoot and prevent the problem.”
In 2006, while simultaneously running his practice, the married father of seven started conducting research to recreate the chemistry of youth found inside the body. Although supportive of American medicine, he wanted to avoid synthetic hormones, focusing on creating proper levels of natural hormones that prompted organs to operate with ease. “Hormones coordinate and control many bodily functions,” Brannon shares. “They impact muscles, the skeleton, the brain, private parts, even sleep. My goal was to get the body to healthy numbers. You’re never going to slow the chronological clock, but we can work to slow the biological clock.”
Brannon was so sure of his findings, physician became patient: he started BHRT himself. He lost 32 pounds and reversed a diabetes diagnosis. In 2012, he opened his first Optimal Bio office. The practice grew so quickly that in 2020, he stepped away from OB to work on BHRT full time. Now serving as medical director, the high-energy doctor oversees seven offices, including one in Greenville. Women make up 55 percent of patients, with men the remainder, including dozens of soldiers and Green Berets. “Delivering babies is so rewarding,” he says. “But to help young men and women in the military, some with PTSD, restore balance and get their lives back? Now that’s incredible.”
Patients are flying in from as far away as Australia for Optimal Bio’s customized patient plan that runs roughly $4 a day for women and $6 for men. The process involves implanting pellets under the skin, or hormones can be delivered via troche (a dissolving lozenge) or injection.
New offices for Florida, Texas, and Tennessee are on the table, along with a plan to expand across the country. “I’m not inventing the wheel,” Brannon admits. “Why are we getting sick longer? Why is dementia on the rise? The body is wonderfully made. I love the science behind it all. I’m going back to basics.”
For more on Optimal Bio’s operations in the Upstate, visit OptimalBio.com.
Quick BHRT Facts
- Hormone replacement therapy treats low levels of estrogen in women and testosterone in men.
- Conventional hormone replacement uses synthetic hormones that mimic those created by the body.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, “bioidentical” means hormones that are chemically identical to the ones your body produces.
- Many FDA-approved products are used in conventional hormone replacement therapy.
- Bioidentical hormone treatment often includes customized formulations.
- As with all medical decisions, talk to your doctor before deciding if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Men
- Loss of muscle mass and tone
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Loss of sex drive
- Poor concentration
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Women
- Hot flashes/night sweats
- Osteoporosis
- Fatigue
- Poor concentration
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Loss of Confidence
- Painful intercourse
