The present invention features methods for treating or ameliorating tissue damage using intravenous administration of compositions that include stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF 1) peptides or mutant SDF 1 peptides that have been mutated to make them resistant to protease digestion but which retain chemoattractant activity. Systemic delivery and specifically intravenous ("IV") delivery of SDF 1 and protease resistant SDF 1 mutants is very effective for the treatment of tissue damage.