Ageless Integrative Medicine And Laser Skincare

12/02/2025

# # # **Integrative Medicine Approaches to Low Testosterone in Men**

Low testosterone can show up as fatigue, low motivation, decreased muscle mass, brain fog, reduced libido, mood changes, and slower recovery after exercise. At Ageless, we look beyond the lab number and focus on the whole person—your sleep, stress, nutrient status, lifestyle, and overall health.

**An integrative approach means we start with the foundations that help your body make hormones naturally**, and we add medical therapy when it’s appropriate. Here’s how we support men with low testosterone:

**• Herbs that support hormone balance**
Adaptogens like *ashwagandha*, *rhodiola*, *tongkat ali*, and *maca* can support energy, mood, libido, and stress resilience—all of which influence testosterone production.

**• Nutrients that matter**
Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, B-vitamins, and omega-3s all play essential roles in hormone synthesis and inflammation control. We assess and correct these so your body has what it needs to produce hormones.

**• Supplements that boost energy and metabolism**
Options such as DHEA (when appropriate), creatine monohydrate, and CoQ10 can support vitality and the biochemical pathways tied to hormone balance.

**• Vitamin D optimization**
Vitamin D acts like a hormone itself and supports testosterone production. Many men notice better energy, mood, and strength when their levels are in an optimal—not just “normal”—range.

**• Testosterone replacement therapy**
For men whose levels are truly low or whose symptoms persist despite natural support, hormone therapy can make a life-changing difference. We offer:
– **Topical testosterone gels**
– **Testosterone injections** (weekly or every 10–14 days)
– **Oral testosterone options** for men who prefer a non-injection, non-gel approach and are good candidates for this form of therapy

We monitor levels closely and adjust treatment so you feel your best while staying in a safe, therapeutic range.

Men deserve to feel strong, focused, and capable at every age. If you’ve been struggling with energy, motivation, or performance—physical or mental—it may be time to check your levels and see what your options are.

If you’re ready to take the next step, call **(423) 952-5300** and let us help you rewrite your health story.

12/01/2025

# # # **Your Mental Health Matters — And Getting Help Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated or Expensive**

The NIMH graphic above is a great reminder to pause and notice how your symptoms are affecting your daily life. Feeling stressed, sad, overwhelmed, or disconnected isn’t a personal failure — it’s a signal. And support is available.

At **Ageless Integrative Medicine**, we intentionally keep mental health care **accessible and affordable**:

* **New patient visits (1.5–2 hours): $200**
* **Most follow-ups: $70**

There is a cost to treatment, but there is also a cost to *not* treating mental health concerns:
missing work… losing time with family… withdrawing from friends… struggling to keep up with responsibilities… feeling like you’re not yourself.

You don’t have to live that way.

We use a fully integrative approach tailored to your needs, including:
• Conventional medications when appropriate
• Herbal and nutritional support
• Acupuncture needles and bodywork
• Supplements targeted to your physiology
• Coaching and lifestyle strategies
• Advanced lab testing to identify underlying physical contributors to mood changes

If you’ve had symptoms for more than two weeks or feel like you’re doing life with the brake pedal on, you deserve support.

**Call (423) 952-5300** to schedule.
You don’t have to wait to feel better.

Know someone who is struggling? From now until Jan 7, we have a gift certificate special. We add $20 toward any regularly priced service or item for every $100 you spend. A gift certificate toward better mental and physical health is a great gift!

11/30/2025

Some medications increase sun sensitivity enough to increase brown spots and make you more sensitive to laser! We’ve been doing laser since 2006. This experience helps us adjust the laser to your skin type, condition, and for your medicines. Call (423) 952-5300 to schedule

Common antibiotics (like doxycycline and minocycline), antidepressants, and diuretics may increase the risk of skin hyperpigmentation, according to a large real-world data analysis. The risk was notably higher for tetracyclines (≈2-fold) and modest for hydrochlorothiazide. http://ms.spr.ly/6189tnfKl

11/30/2025

11/29/2025

Is your multivitamin actually doing anything?

This review pulled together data from dozens of studies looking at how daily multivitamin/mineral use shows up across real biological systems; not just “general health,” but cognition, immunity, pregnancy outcomes, eye health, and more.

A few standouts from the research:

🧠 Cognition: Improvements in memory, recall, and global cognition in older adults.
😟 Mood: Lower stress, anxiety, and fatigue in people with low micronutrient intake.
🫀 Cardio: Neutral to mildly protective effects on stroke and coronary disease.
🦠 Immunity: Better infection outcomes and shorter hospital stays in several trials.
👁 Eyes: Slower macular degeneration progression and lower cataract incidence.
🤰 Pregnancy: Reduced risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and neural tube defects.
🧬 Cancer: Some data showing lower colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer incidence (observational).
💀 Mortality: No increase in overall mortality.

The pattern is simple: when tissues that rely on constant vitamin and mineral turnover aren’t running on empty, things work better, especially cognition, immunity, and pregnancy-related outcomes.

Not a miracle pill. Not a replacement for diet.
Just a quiet, consistent way to keep the “micronutrient foundation” from cracking.

📄 Source: Jiao et al., 2025, Clinical Nutrition (DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2025.01.013)

11/29/2025

# # # **Motivation vs. Discipline: Why Waiting to “Feel Ready” Holds You Back**

Most of us wait to take action until we *feel* motivated. The problem? Motivation is inconsistent. It comes and goes based on mood, energy, stress, sleep, and even the weather. If you rely on motivation alone, the things you care about most may never get the consistent attention they deserve.

**Discipline**, however, is different. Discipline is the structure you create so your goals move forward even on the days you don’t feel like doing them. It’s a skill—not a personality trait—and it’s something anyone can build.

# # # **How Habit Formation Actually Works**

Habits form through repetition and simplicity. Your brain looks for routines it can automate to save effort. When an action is small, predictable, and repeated consistently, your mind stops treating it as a choice and starts treating it as “what we do.”

Three core principles of habit formation:
**1. Make it easy.** Reduce friction so the habit is simple to begin.
**2. Make it obvious.** Create cues that remind you of the behavior.
**3. Make it rewarding.** Even small wins trigger dopamine and reinforce the habit loop.

# # # **Actionable Steps for Creating Healthy Habits**

**• Start with one behavior.** Pick one change that actually fits your real life.
**• Reduce the size.** Instead of “exercise 30 minutes,” begin with “walk for 5 minutes.” Small habits stick.
**• Attach it to something you already do.** After brushing your teeth, drink a glass of water. After breakfast, take a brief walk.
**• Create an environment that supports the habit.** Put your supplements on the counter. Keep healthy snacks visible.
**• Track your wins.** A simple checklist builds momentum.
**• Expect resistance.** A lack of motivation doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re human. Discipline and repetition carry you forward.
**• Review and adjust.** If something isn’t working, it’s not a character flaw—it’s a system issue.

# # # **Need Support and Accountability?**

Our Integrative Health & Wellness Coach, **April Stephens**, works with people who are ready to take real, actionable steps toward the life they want. She helps you break goals down, create sustainable routines, and build the structure that leads to lasting change.

If you’re ready to move beyond waiting for motivation, we’re here to help you build the habits that support your healthiest, happiest life.

Call **(423) 952-5300** to schedule.

11/28/2025

Take steps today toward the version of yourself you want to be. Need help with mental or physical health? We got you! Want to transform physically? We are here for you! Ready to stop living from crisis to crisis? Coaching with April Stephens can help you take immediate steps toward the life you want. Call (433) 952-5300 and start creating the life you want now.

11/28/2025

# # # **Don’t Let Your HSA Funds Go Unused**

As the year winds down, this is a good time to double-check your **Health Savings Account** (HSA). Many people forget that unused funds can quietly slip away—especially if you haven’t scheduled the care you meant to get this year.

At **Ageless Integrative Medicine & Laser Skin Care**, your HSA funds can be used for a wide range of services. We’re a full-service medical practice, and we offer comprehensive support for:

**• Mental health** – counseling support, medications, integrative tools, acupuncture needles, and advanced lab testing
**• Physical health needs** – acute and chronic conditions, hormone care, integrative medicine visits
**• Skin care & aesthetics** – acne treatment, laser procedures, microneedling, chemical peels, and more

If you’ve been putting off taking care of yourself—whether it’s your health, your stress level, or your skin—your HSA can help you finally do it.

Give us a call at **(423) 952-5300** if you’d like to get something scheduled before the year ends.
Take care of yourself now, and make the most of the benefits you’ve already earned.

11/28/2025

Seth is seeing patients today but we gave staff the day off. Seth will return calls 12-1. If you call today, you may have to leave a message for a return call. Sorry for any inconvenience. Don't forget, online scheduling is available for nurse practitioner services (not for laser) at

Read about Mr Seth McLaughlin, MSN FNP-BC APHN-BC on Patient Fusion and schedule an appointment online.

11/27/2025

Amino acids and the brain: how protein shapes cognition

Amino acids aren’t just for muscle; they’re the raw materials for neurotransmitters, brain energy, and communication between neurons. Every thought, mood, and memory depends on them.

1️⃣ The Building Blocks of Brain Chemistry
Amino acids are the foundation of neurotransmitters, the brain’s chemical messengers.
Tryptophan → Serotonin & Melatonin (mood and sleep)
Tyrosine → Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine (motivation, focus, alertness)
🟢 Example: Low tryptophan can flatten mood, while adequate tyrosine supports motivation under stress.

2️⃣ Fuel and Communication for Neurons
Amino acids like glutamine, serine, and glycine regulate excitatory and inhibitory balance; the brain’s “on/off switch.”
Glutamine → Glutamate & GABA, the main excitatory and calming neurotransmitters.
Serine & Glycine fine-tune learning and memory through NMDA receptors.
🟢 Example: Balanced glutamate–GABA activity is essential for focus without overstimulation.

3️⃣ Energy and Cognitive Endurance
Some amino acids, like leucine, methionine, and valine, support brain metabolism and mitochondrial function.
They can be used as alternate fuels or regulate appetite and alertness signals.
🟢 Example: During fasting or exercise, these amino acids help sustain mental energy.

4️⃣ Neuroprotection and Plasticity
Arginine makes nitric oxide, improving blood flow and synaptic plasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt).
Histidine produces histamine, which modulates alertness and memory.
🟢 Example: Arginine helps the brain stay flexible - crucial for learning and repair.

5️⃣ Mood, Stress, and Cognition. The "Integration Point"
Together, these amino acids fuel neurotransmitter synthesis, energy metabolism, and neuronal communication- the biochemical basis of focus, learning, and mood stability.
🟢 Example: A diet rich in quality protein ensures the brain has the ingredients it needs to think clearly and regulate emotion.
Amino acids are more than protein fragments; they’re the language of the brain. They build neurotransmitters, power neurons, and regulate cognition, mood, and focus. Every clear thought and calm mood begins with these molecular messengers.

11/27/2025

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Ageless Integrative Medicine & Laser Skin Care 🍁

As we sit back and reflect this season, we’re feeling especially grateful for the long, winding road that brought us here — and for all of you who have walked it with us.

Ageless first opened its doors behind Logan’s back in 2006, when April became certified as a laser technician. Since then, she’s performed over 30,000 laser treatments — a number that still amazes us every time we say it out loud. April expanded into health coaching after graduating from Duke’s Integrated Health & Wellness Coaching program.

In 2011, we added holistic medicine to the mix when Seth made the jump from ICU nurse to Family Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse. That shift opened the door for a truly integrative practice, where conventional medicine and time-honored healing traditions work hand-in-hand.

By 2024, we had grown so much that we expanded the clinic to better serve our community. Today, we’re proud to offer care that supports the whole person — body, mind, and skin — under one roof. Because we are a practice that is free from insurance constraints, we get enough time with each patient to have meaningful interactions that are transformative for our patients and for us. We are honored to witness your lives and give you ideas for making sure your journeys take you toward greater health.

At Ageless, you’ll find a wide range of tools to support your health:
• Conventional medicine
• Laser treatments
• Herbs & supplements
• Acupuncture needles
• Coaching
• IV nutritional therapy
• And many other holistic approaches

These options give you more than one path forward — so you can support your health in ways that feel right for you, instead of relying on medications alone.

This Thanksgiving, we want to say thank you — for trusting us, for sharing your stories with us, and for letting us be a small part of your journey.

Rewrite your health story at Ageless.
We’re grateful you’re here.

11/26/2025

IT'S NOT "WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?" IT'S "WHAT HAPPENED TO ME & HOW DID IT SHAPE ME?"

What happened (the event)
-Big T or little t trauma
-One-time or ongoing
-Relational, developmental, or environmental
• breakup or divorce
• A global pandemic
• A traumatic birth or surgery
• Cancer
• A car crash
• childhood bullying
• An emotionally unavailable parent
• A physical or sexual assault
• Chronic microaggressions
• An unexpected loss

How it felt (your experience)
• "I don't belong."
• “No one came for me."
• "I had to freeze or shut down."
• "I was powerless and confused.”
• " have to stay strong for everyone else."
• "It's not ok to feel."
• “I’ll never be safe again"
• “It's my fault"
• "I'm not good enough"

How it shaped you (The Effects)
• anxiety
• shame and guilt
• emotional numbness
• perfectionism
• Nightmares, or intrusive thoughts
• Hypervigilance (always scanning for threat)
• "People pleasing" and overfunctoning
• Body tension, fatigue, or chronic pain
• Disconnection in relationships
• Chronic irritability
• Avoidance
• Difficulty trusting