Energy Starts in the Mitochondria: Dr. Diego Hernández on Regenerative Medicine

Editor's note: This article summarizes what Dr. Diego Hernández shared in an interview on the Feel More Energy podcast. These are the guest's own views and experiences, not established facts or absolute truths, and Feel More Energy has not independently verified every claim. Nothing here is medical advice.

Most people chase energy from the outside in: more coffee, another supplement, a new diet. Dr. Diego Hernández, a physician based in Medellín, Colombia, with more than 23 years of experience in ozone therapy and regenerative medicine, starts from the other end. In his view, real energy begins at the cellular level, inside the mitochondria.

This article summarizes his perspective from our conversation. The therapies discussed below are medical procedures, not lifestyle tips. Several of them are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for these uses, and the FDA has issued public warnings about ozone and unapproved stem cell products. Please read this as one physician's view, not as a recommendation.

The mitochondria: the engine of every cell

Mitochondria produce ATP, the energy currency the body runs on. Producing energy also generates free radicals, which can damage the cell itself. When mitochondrial function declines, Dr. Hernández explains, everything declines with it: energy output, physical recovery, cognitive performance and the rate at which we age.

That idea is widely shared in science, and it is also the most useful part of the episode for everyday life: supporting your mitochondria starts with the basics of sleep, movement and nutrition.

Why he says these therapies are hard to find in the U.S.

Dr. Hernández argues that the barrier is mostly structural. Approving a treatment requires studies that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, those studies need a sponsor, and what can't be patented rarely gets funded. That is his perspective. U.S. regulators, for their part, point to safety concerns and the lack of large controlled trials for many of these uses.

Ozone therapy

Ozone is a toxic gas. Dr. Hernández's view is that, at precise and controlled doses, that reactivity becomes useful: it triggers a controlled oxidative response, and the body answers by activating its own antioxidant defenses, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione. In his clinic, blood is drawn, ozonized in a closed system and reinfused, several times per session.

He notes that patients respond differently. Some feel tired after the first session, while others report more energy within hours. The FDA does not recognize ozone as having a useful medical application in the United States.

NAD+

NAD+ is a coenzyme the body produces naturally and cannot live without. It carries electrons to the mitochondria, helping cells produce energy efficiently. NAD+ levels fall with age, and chronic stress, poor sleep and inflammation may speed that decline.

Dr. Hernández uses NAD+ by IV drip, because he considers many oral precursors less effective at reaching cells. The patients he treats report improvements in mental clarity, physical energy and recovery. Research on NAD+ is active, but large human trials are still limited.

Stem cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated: they haven't yet committed to a tissue type. The body keeps them throughout life, in decreasing numbers, and their job is repair. Dr. Hernández works with adult stem cells from the patient's own fat or blood, and with mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue. He does not use embryonic stem cells.

The order matters

What sets his approach apart is the sequence. He compares it to preparing the soil before planting a seed:

1. Ozone first, to lower inflammation and activate antioxidant defenses.
2. NAD+ second, to restore cellular energy production.
3. Stem cells third, introduced into a prepared environment.

The placebo factor

Dr. Hernández is direct about one more thing: mindset is part of the treatment. A patient who arrives convinced nothing will work starts at a disadvantage. In his words, the body is its own most capable pharmacist, and good medicine helps it do what it already knows how to do.

The takeaway

The core message holds regardless of the therapy: many energy problems are cellular problems, and treating the root works better than managing symptoms. If you are considering any of these treatments, talk to a qualified physician, ask about the evidence and the risks, and check its regulatory status where you live.

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