Natural Immune Health

Hill Park Medical Center > Natural Immune Health
GI Health, Healthy Goals, Integrative Medicine, Natural Immune Health, Uncategorized

Peptide Therapy: Healing, Recovery, and Renewal — Made Simple

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest in wellness and regenerative medicine, you’ve probably heard about peptide therapy. It’s often called the “next frontier” for helping your body heal, recover, and perform at its best. But what are peptides, and why are they getting so much attention? We are going to take a dive into the “what” and “how” below.

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are short chain amino acids, the same building blocks that make up proteins. Your body uses them as tiny messengers that tell your cells what to do and when to do it. Some peptides help your body make more collagen, others calm inflammation, and some even support growth hormone, weight loss, immune function, or gut repair. They are not steroids or hormones, they are signaling tools.

Because they’re so versatile, peptides are being used for everything from sports recovery to skin rejuvenation, joint rehabilitation and weight loss.

How Peptides Help You Heal

One of the most exciting uses for peptides is tissue repair. Research shows peptides can help your body heal faster, boost collagen, and close wounds more quickly. While the science is promising, most studies are still small, so it’s important to work with an experienced provider.

For example:

  • BPC-157: Originally found in the stomach, this peptide helps heal muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and can reduce inflammation.
  • TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4): Promotes the growth of new blood vessels and helps cells move to where they’re needed for recovery.
  • AOD 9604: Stimulates bone differentiation and mineralization in bone stem cells. It promotes production of collagen and proteoglycan in the chondrocyte of the bone and assists with repair of bone, muscle and cartilage and can help to promote enhanced fat metabolism.
  • GHK-Cu: Naturally found in human plasma and skin. Upregulates collagen and elastin gene expression, supports wound healing and cellular repair, tissue remodeling and regeneration, hair follicle support.
  • MOTS-c: Found inside mitochondria. Decreases insulin resistance helping the pancreatic cells to keep their sensitivity to insulin. Can also help improve fatigue and fatty liver, weight loss and athletic performance.
  • Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin blend: Supports lean muscle maintenance or growth, helps to reduce body fat and improves metabolism function. This combination helps to support favorable changes in fat-to-muscle ratio and can help to preserve lean body mass during fat loss.

We have several other peptides we source individually for patients, please inquire with any specialized interest.

Peptides for Weight Loss

We currently offer Tirzepatide (a GLP-1/GIP agonist) for weight loss, in addition to AOD9604, and MOTS-c. 

The GLP-1 class of medications burst onto the scene in the late 2010s and were popularized for their effects on weight loss and Type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide was approved in 2023 for weight loss and obstructive sleep apnea. More recent research has expanded to conditions including Dementia/Alzheimer’s, Addiction (drugs, food, gambling), reduction of systemic inflammation and support for post-viral conditions such as Long-COVID. 

Our patients on a Tirzepatide program have a 15 minute weekly check in and subcutaneous injection with a Hill Park provider. During this time we will do a ‘weigh in’ to track your weight loss but also check in on progress or any side effects. 

We have found that the individualized attention of these check-ins helps us guide you towards optimal weight loss goals. Once you have met your weight goal, we will continue to manage your Tirzepatide prescription at a maintenance dose or through discontinuation.

Peptides for Radiant Skin

Peptides aren’t just for athletes, they’re a big deal in skincare too! Used alongside other skincare staples like retinoids and antioxidants, peptides can help keep your skin looking youthful and resilient.

For example, GHK-Cu (a copper peptide) can help your skin make more collagen and elastin, making it firmer and smoother. Peptides in creams or serums can:

  • Speed up wound healing
  • Improve skin elasticity and hydration
  • Reduce inflammation and dark spots

Gut Health: The Hidden Benefit

Your gut lining is always renewing itself, and peptides play a key role in this process. BPC-157 is especially good at protecting your stomach and helping your intestines heal. Collagen peptides taken by mouth can also help with bloating and mild digestive issues. New research suggests peptides may even help balance your gut bacteria and strengthen your gut barrier.

Sleep and Recovery

Some peptides may help you sleep better and recover faster. DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) is being studied for its ability to improve deep sleep. Peptides that boost growth hormone, like CJC-1295, may also help your body repair itself overnight. Animal studies hint that gut peptides could help you sleep more deeply by calming the gut-brain connection.

How Are Peptides Used?

Peptides can be delivered in different ways, depending on your goals:

  • Subcutaneous injection: Most common for healing and growth hormone support.
  • Topical (creams/serums): Great for skin and wound healing.
  • Oral supplements: Best for gut health and collagen support.
  • Local injection: Used for joint or tendon injuries.

Because peptides are delicate and can break down quickly, it’s important to use them under medical supervision.

Safety First

Peptides are natural, but they’re not risk-free. Possible side effects may include mild reactions at the injection site (tenderness, redness, lumps under skin), headaches, fatigue, or hormonal/immune imbalances if used incorrectly. Peptide therapy is not recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a history of cancer, or have serious endocrine, liver, or kidney issues. 

Thinking About Peptide Therapy?

If you’re curious about adding peptide therapy to your wellness routine, here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Work with a qualified clinician who knows peptide and regenerative medicine.
  • Get tested first: lab work helps guide safe and effective use.
  • Choose reputable sources for purity and dosing accuracy.
  • Remember, peptides work best as part of a bigger plan: good nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress management are key.

Bottom Line:

Peptide therapy isn’t a magic fix, but it’s a powerful tool for anyone serious about recovery, resilience, and long-term health. Whether you’re healing an injury, improving your skin, rebuilding your gut, or supporting deep sleep, peptides offer a fascinating bridge between science and whole-body wellness. 

Our providers are currently offering peptide therapy, including 15 minute complimentary introductory consults, to see if this is the right direction for you.

BioIdentical Hormone Therapy, Chronic Illness, GI Health, Hormone Balance, Integrative Medicine, IV Vitamin Therapy, Natural Immune Health, Naturopathic Medicine, Women’s Health

Welcome Dr. Gabrielle Klein, ND to Hill Park Integrative Medical Center

We are so very excited to announce a new addition to our medical team, Dr. Gabrielle Klein, ND.

Dr. Gabrielle Klein, ND, is a graduate of Bastyr University San Diego. As a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor, she specializes in women’s health, family medicine, and tick-borne illnesses.

Dr. Klein’s clinical specialized interests include pelvic diseases (endometriosis, PCOS, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, interstitial cystitis, pelvic pain), hormone imbalances, digestive health, immune support, and chronic conditions with a particular focus on endometriosis and Lyme disease.

A personal health journey inspired Dr. Klein to pursue a career in Naturopathic Medicine. She is ILADS trained in tick-borne disease management, has completed the Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP)™ course through the Institute of Functional Medicine, and is trained in advanced IV nutrient therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Constitutional and Acute Hahnemannian Homeopathy, Botanical Medicine, Biofeedback, and Constitutional Hydrotherapy. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Prior to her medical career, Dr. Klein professionally invested nearly 20 years in the dietary supplement industry focusing on marketing, product formulation and development, and helped to introduce several innovative therapies to the integrative nutraceutical industry in the United States from raw material education to complete product formation of now existing products such as CoQ10, Nattokinase, and several specialized probiotic lines.

Alongside her clinical work, Dr. Klein is committed to patient advocacy and expanding the scope of practice for Licensed Naturopathic Doctors in California. She has held leadership roles as the Naturopathic Medical Student Association (NMSA) Chapter President and Vice President of Communications for the Student Government Association while she attended Bastyr University San Diego, helping to inform students of events and expanding networking and professional development opportunities. She continues in her position as Advocacy Relations for the California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA), and serves as an active member of both the CNDA and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).

When not in practice, she enjoys spending time with her cats and dog, connecting with friends and family, exploring nature, and attending live music, theater, and film in her local community.

“Each individual holds a personal roadmap that guides them in their pursuit of wellness. It’s my honor and pleasure to walk alongside every patient on their journey and unlock the mysteries of their health through their individual stories and history.”

Dr. Klein is currently accepting new patients and offering complimentary 15-minute consults to learn more about her practice.

Please contact our staff at 707-861-7300 or [email protected] to schedule an in person or telemedicine appointment or request an appointment through the website.

Daily Health Tips, GI Health, Integrative Medicine, Natural Immune Health, Naturopathic Medicine, Uncategorized, Whole Food Nutrition

Restore the Immune System with Microbiome Health

An evening talk with Dr. Heidi Lucas, ND FABNO
Monday, December 2nd at 6:00-7:30 pm

    We know that the immune system – a sophisticated network of organs, cells, and proteins – is crucial for fighting cancer, infection, and disease.

Current research has confirmed the critical role of the microbiome (microbes in the gut) in healthy immune function.

Going through cancer diagnosis and treatment—surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapies, and immunotherapy—is taxing for the GI tract and immune system. Come learn how we can restore and heal these systems through nutrition, botanical medicine and lifestyle choices.

Dr. Heidi Lucas is a highly skilled Naturopathic Doctor specializing in integrative cancer care for the past 20 years.

Dr. Lucas has worked alongside oncologists and conventional physicians for the entirety of her career, and is frequently sought by conventional oncologists for her expertise in integrative oncology and natural medicine.

She is an active educator and speaker of integrative oncology at leading cancer centers including the Hearst Cancer Resource Center, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Oncology Nursing Society, American Cancer Society, Gilda’s Club, Cancer Lifeline, Rooted SB, Bastyr University, and many hospitals around the country.

Food As Medicine, Natural Immune Health

Chinese Immune Herb Chicken Soup

In China it is common to throw tonic herbs in soup to enhance immunity, longevity, and general good health. The root herbs Astragalus, Codonopsis and Dioscorea are general Qi tonics, benefitting digestion, nutrient absorption, cardiac function and enhanced energy. Lycium and Longan are blood tonics and enhance calming. Wood Ear alleviates dryness and benefits circulation. Lotus Seed is a mild tonic and sedative. Polygonatum is a yin tonic and restores moisture to dry membranes. Sargassum is a yin tonic and relieves swelling.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Chicken, skinless with bones  -OR-  1 lb Tofu, added with the vegetables
  • 1 packet Chinese Immune Herbs – available at the Natural Remedy Store
  • 2 cloves Garlic, crushed
  • 2 slices fresh Ginger
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Fresh vegetables as desired: Carrots, Celery, Green Onion, Leafy Greens, Squash
  • 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce/Tamari  -OR-  3 Tbsp Miso Paste
  • 1 Tsp Sesame Oil
  • 1 Tsp Wine or mild Vinegar

Makes 4 hearty servings.

To make the soup, place Chicken in a medium sized pot and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and remove any residue that floats to the top at that time.

Add the whole package of herbs, crushed Garlic, fresh Ginger, and Salt. The amount of each can be adjusted to your own taste – the amounts given provide a mild flavor. Bring back to a slow boil, cover and simmer for 50 minutes or longer. You can also use a Crockpot, Instant Pot, or any slow cooker on the slow cook setting.

Add sliced fresh vegetables such as Carrots and Celery (for a more warming effect, use Green Onions), Leafy Greens, and Squash; if substituting Chicken with Tofu, add it now. Simmer again for 10-15 minutes to soften, then add Soy Sauce/Tamari or Miso Paste, Sesame Oil, and Wine or mild Vinegar. Remove from heat and serve.

All the herbal material is edible except Astragalus, the thinly sliced flat herb which will remain firm with a woody appearance. For individuals recovering from a debilitating illness or experience, the soup can be taken daily for about a week to help restore strength. Others may enjoy a bowl a week for nourishing the blood and getting a boost of energy.

Traditional Chinese Concepts of Soup Ingredients

The mention of organs or Blood, Qi, etc. are traditional Chinese descriptions as translated from Chinese, not the Western definition or purpose in a Western sense of that organ. Spleen does not refer to making white blood cells, but is instead often tied to aspects of digestion. Main organs are paired and are associated with a meridian. The meridians are representative of an energy, and are labeled after these organs. Below are some references that can be used to understand the physiology and energetics of the ingredients used in Chinese Medicine.

  • Chicken: Taste is sweet, nature is warm, benefits spleen and stomach. The meat nourishes Qi and blood and tonifies the kidney and essence. It is used therapeutically for blood deficiency, emaciation and persistent illness.
  • Tofu: Cooling, lubricating, and benefits the spleen and stomach.
  • Miso: Sweet and salty, of a neutral nature and benefits the stomach, spleen and kidney.
    • Miso and Tofu are used to treat disharmony of the stomach, with loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
  • Garlic: Pungent and sweet, warm, and benefits spleen, stomach and lungs. Promotes digestion (especially of meats) and is helpful in treating coughing due to lung infections.
  • Carrot: Sweet and neutral. Benefits spleen, liver and lung. Used for indigestion, vision and cough with fever.
  • Squash: Sweet and cooling, benefits spleen, stomach, lung and is used for coughing and promoting urination.
  • Celery: Pungent and sweet, cooling in nature. Benefits liver, stomach and bladder. Used for fever, agitation and loss of appetite. 
  • Greens: Slightly astringent, cool and benefit spleen and liver.
  • Green Onion: Pungent and warm. Benefits stomach and lungs. Used for dispersing chill, relieving congestion and relaxing muscle tension.

Herbal Ingredients

  • Astragalus: Taste is sweet, nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the spleen and lung. It is used for all kinds of Qi deficiency syndromes, especially when there is excessive sweating.
  • Codonopsis: Taste is sweet, nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the lung and spleen. It is used for all types of Qi deficiency syndromes, especially when there is weak digestion. It is commonly used by Chinese herbalists as a substitute for Ginseng.
  • Dioscorea (Chinese Yam): Taste is sweet, nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the spleen, lung, and kidney. It is used for treatment of diarrhea and frequent urination.
  • Lycium (Goji Berry): Taste is sweet, nature is neutral, and it benefits the liver and kidney. It is used for weakness due to overwork and aging, for weak vision, and for chronic cough.
  • Longan: Taste is sweet, nature is warm, and it benefits the heart and spleen. It is used for deficiency of blood, with poor memory, heart palpitations, and weakness.
  • Wood Ear (Black Fungus): Taste is sweet, nature is neutral, and it benefits the lung, stomach, and liver. It is used for dry cough, dry throat and mouth, and for other symptoms of dryness.
  • Lotus Seed: Taste is sweet and astringent, nature is neutral, and it benefits the spleen, kidney, and heart. It is used for loss of appetite and diarrhea due to weak digestion, for frequent urination, and for restlessness.
  • Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal): Taste is sweet, nature is mildly cold, and it benefits the lung and stomach. It is used for any kind of yin-deficiency syndrome, typically manifesting as fidgeting, dry mouth and throat, and dry cough.
  • Sargassum (Seaweed): Taste is salty, nature is cold, and it benefits the stomach, liver, and kidney. It is used to dissolve phlegm and relieve swelling.

Download the Chinese Immune Herb Chicken Soup Recipe as a PDF

Adapted from Jintu – Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup ITM www.itmonline.org/jintu

Healing with Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition, Paul Pitchford

IV Vitamin Therapy, Natural Allergy Treatment, Natural Immune Health

Allergy Relief – Staving Off the Sneezes

With the changing of the seasons and the rain finally coming to a close, the flowers come out with a vengeance. With the beauty that they lend the world, comes massive amounts of pollen. Allergy season often coincides with Spring and Fall, but, depending on your allergies, you can suffer year long. Brain fog, itchy eyes, sneezing, and feeling fatigued are not pleasant things you’d like to deal with on a daily basis. But, when you take the over the counter medications, the extra layer of brain fog and fatigue make it downright unbearable. So, you feel left between a rock and a hard place. There are many natural solutions such as IV vitamin therapy that can help to ease the pain of allergies, both lifestyle modifications and supplements that don’t give the brain fog or medication hangover, but still provide potent relief.

1. Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier in your home can help to decrease the allergens residing there. By making your house a clean zone, you can vastly decrease the amount of allergens you are subjected to. This gives your system a rest, especially at night, so your body can heal and rest itself from the onslaught of allergens outside. This also helps to filter out the harmful particles like mold, which can cause a low level of inflammation, especially in the respiratory tracts.

2. Use Natural Cleaners

We all clean when we start to feel the allergies coming on. Common household cleaners can often emit vapors that inflame and harm the skin and respiratory tract. Always wear gloves and use natural cleaners to decrease the chances of further inflaming your respiratory tract.

3. Vitamin C

Our cells react to allergens by releasing histamine. It’s the histamine that causes many of our allergy symptoms, like sneezing, itchy eyes, and skin rashes. Vitamin C helps to stabilize the cells to decrease their ability to release histamine. By taking appropriate amounts, this stabilizes the cell’s membranes and keeps histamine IN the cell, rather than outside it.

4. Vitamin B5/ Pantothenic Acid

Vitamin B5 is a super safe addition to your allergy regimen. B5 can help to control nasal congestion and dry up secretions. B5 can also reduce eosinophils, which are the main white blood cells (immune cells) responsible for allergies. This also helps to quickly decrease histamine levels in the body, which can help to alleviate symptoms.

5. Stinging Nettles

This herb is a great addition to your allergy arsenal. It helps to decrease the frequency and severity of allergy symptoms, such as runny nose and sneezing. If taken with enough time before allergy season, it can even help to prevent an allergic response. Its best to dose this herb frequently and early in the season to allow it to take full effect.

6. Gingko Biloba

This herb is normally associated with mood and cognitive function, but it also can play a small role in helping allergy symptoms. It can chemically mediate the inflammatory and allergy response due to some of its constituents. It’s got plenty of antioxidant properties that help to decrease inflammation and improve cognition. Lastly, it can help with asthma, as it decreases the bronchoconstriction!

7. NAC

This compound combats allergies in multiple ways. It is the precursor to glutathione, which is a major antioxidant, liver protector, and immune supportive nutrient. While strengthening the immune system, it also helps to thin mucus and phlegm, allowing you to breathe easier. Just drink plenty of water, as it can easily leave you feeling extra dry.

There are many other ways to alleviate allergies – avoiding food sensitivities and trans fats, practicing good hygiene in the home and on yourself, and avoiding exposure to extra chemicals and scents during times of sensitivity. If you are looking for an IV vitamin therapy in Sonoma County then, make an appointment and we can discuss the best methods for you to combat allergies!

 

Phrase: IV vitamin therapy Sonoma County