At Meliora Integrative Medicine in Evanston, IL, we offer peptide therapy for patients who want to improve and optimize their health or address certain medical conditions and symptoms. This treatment uses targeted chains of amino acids called peptides to support cellular function, hormone balance, immune regulation, and metabolic performance.
Because different peptides serve different roles in the body, we customize treatment based on your individual health goals and symptoms. Whether you’re dealing with low energy, inflammation, difficulty losing weight, or signs of aging, peptide therapy can help support your body’s natural processes.
What Are Peptides?
A “peptide” is a specific chain of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), typically 100 amino acids or fewer, that has one or more biologic functions in the body. One example of a peptide that many people are familiar with is insulin. Insulin is a 51-amino-acid peptide, and was the first peptide to ever be sequenced successfully outside the body. Peptides can have many different functions. They can attach to various receptors throughout the body and initiate specific effects. Some peptides can act as transporters, and others can catalyze metabolic functions. Some of these functions include muscle and tissue repair, reduction of body fat, immune modulation, and more.
What Is Peptide Therapy?
Peptide therapy involves using specific peptides to influence targeted processes in the body to improve health, function, or recovery. We use peptides that support sleep, boost cognitive performance, regulate inflammation, or encourage hormone balance. This therapy is typically administered through subcutaneous injection, though some peptides are available in other forms. We determine the most appropriate delivery method and peptide combination based on your symptoms and treatment goals.
What Can Peptide Therapy Provide?
Metabolic and Body Composition Support
Some peptides can influence how your body uses energy and help improve insulin sensitivity, enhance nutrient absorption, and support lean muscle development. Certain peptides may promote brown fat activation, which helps the body burn more calories at rest. Others work by modulating glucose and lipid metabolism, potentially reducing metabolic risk factors.
Injury Recovery and Tissue Repair
Specific peptides stimulate collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and cellular regeneration, which can help speed up healing after injury or surgery. We often recommend these peptides to support recovery from tendon strains, ligament tears, or joint inflammation. Some options also reduce pain and stiffness by downregulating inflammatory cytokines at the injury site.
Anti-Aging and Longevity
Peptides that influence cellular repair, mitochondrial efficiency, and gene expression can play a role in healthy aging. Some target pathways are linked to oxidative stress, while others promote the body’s natural cleanup process for damaged cells. By influencing these internal processes, certain peptides may help you maintain physical vitality, skin elasticity, and cognitive sharpness as you age.
Sexual Health
Peptides that improve blood flow or support natural hormone activity can help enhance sexual function and boost libido in both men and women. These therapies may help increase sensitivity, arousal, or erectile quality without pharmaceutical medications. Some patients also experience benefits in hormone regulation, which can influence desire and performance.
Cognitive and Mood Support
Certain peptides cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with neuroreceptors involved in memory, mood, and mental clarity. By influencing neurotransmitter levels or supporting repair, these peptides help improve focus, reduce anxiety, and support mental stamina. Some are being studied for their potential role in protecting against neurodegenerative conditions.
Immune and Autoimmune Disorders
Peptide therapy can help regulate immune system activity, which is especially useful for patients with chronic infections, immune dysfunction, or autoimmune conditions. Some peptides are designed to calm an overactive immune response, while others work by enhancing pathogen defense.
Skin, Hair, and Aesthetic Benefits
Growth-factor peptides can stimulate fibroblast activity, increase collagen density, and improve skin texture and hydration. Others target melanocyte function or support keratin production, which can improve hair thickness and scalp health. You can use peptides alongside other aesthetic treatments to amplify results and support long-term maintenance.
Sleep and Hormonal Balance
Some peptides interact with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus to encourage more stable circadian rhythms and hormone production. These effects can be especially helpful for patients experiencing disrupted sleep patterns or hormonal shifts due to age or stress. Improved sleep quality often leads to better energy, mood, and overall resilience.
Weight Loss
We may recommend peptide therapy for weight loss as part of a broader metabolic treatment plan. Certain peptides influence hunger signals, slow gastric emptying, and promote fat oxidation, all of which support more sustainable fat reduction. Others mimic natural hormones like GLP-1, helping to regulate appetite and blood sugar throughout the day.
What Are the Benefits of Peptide Therapy?
- Natural Signaling That Supports the Body’s Repair Systems: Peptides communicate directly with receptors to trigger processes the body already knows how to perform, such as healing tissue, producing hormones, or reducing inflammation. By mimicking the body’s chemical messengers, they can support repair and regulation without overriding natural function.
- Targeted Treatments With Fewer Side Effects: Because peptides are highly specific in their action, they tend to produce fewer systemic side effects compared to pharmaceuticals. Because they act quickly and are broken down by the body soon after, peptides usually work only where needed without lingering in the system.
- Can Often Be Combined With Other Functional or Integrative Therapies: Peptide therapy fits within a broader treatment strategy that may include nutrition, lifestyle changes, hormone support, or other functional medicine tools. Some peptides enhance the effects of other therapies by improving cellular communication or metabolic efficiency.
- Suitable for Long-Term Optimization: Because peptide therapy can be tailored to specific needs and adjusted over time, it often works well for ongoing health support. Patients may rotate or cycle different peptides based on evolving goals, such as improving sleep, reducing inflammation, or maintaining body composition.
Who Is a Candidate for Peptide Therapy?
Peptide therapy may be appropriate for patients dealing with fatigue, poor recovery, hormone imbalances, weight gain, or signs of aging. It can also support those with chronic inflammation, autoimmune concerns, cognitive changes, or sleep disturbances. Because peptides are so diverse in their effects, we assess your symptoms, lab markers, and health goals before recommending a treatment plan.
Common Types of Peptides
- BPC-157: Often used to support healing after injury, BPC-157 promotes tissue repair by increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and accelerating recovery in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It’s popular among athletes and active patients looking to improve recovery.
- CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin: This peptide combination stimulates growth hormone release, which may support muscle growth, fat metabolism, and improved sleep. It can be used to help maintain strength and energy during the aging process.
- Thymosin Alpha-1: Known for its immune-modulating properties, Thymosin Alpha-1 can support immune defense in patients with chronic infections or autoimmune conditions. It helps balance the immune response without broadly suppressing it.
- Semaglutide: This is a peptide-based GLP-1 receptor agonist that has become a widely used tool for regulating appetite and blood sugar. It can help reduce food cravings and promote steady weight reduction in qualifying patients.
How It Works
The treatment process begins with an initial consultation. Once we learn more about your symptoms and issues, we can customize your treatment plan accordingly. Peptides are made by special compounding pharmacies that have the capability to sequence these amino acids. The peptides are then tested for stability, purity, and consistency before they can be used clinically.
How Are Peptides Administered?
Injections
Subcutaneous injection is the most common and effective method for delivering peptide therapy. By injecting just beneath the skin, peptides can enter the bloodstream gradually and reach their target tissues with high bioavailability. The process is simple and manageable with proper instruction, and we often recommend injectable peptides for consistent and reliable results.
Nasal Sprays
Some peptides are available in intranasal form, which allows for direct absorption through the nasal mucosa. This can be a good option for patients who are sensitive to needles or require peptides that act on the brain, as it offers a pathway to the central nervous system.
Topical Creams
Cream-based peptides are typically used for localized effects, such as improving skin texture or supporting collagen production. While absorption can be slower and less precise than injections, topical applications may still be useful in certain aesthetic or dermatologic protocols.
Foams
Peptide foams are often used in hair restoration treatments, especially those targeting scalp health and hair follicle activity. They allow for easy daily application and may support results when used alongside other hair growth therapies.
Capsules
Some peptides are formulated as oral capsules, although this delivery method is less common due to digestion breaking down many peptides before they reach the bloodstream. A few oral peptides have been designed to withstand the digestive process and may be appropriate in select treatment plans.
What to Expect From Your Consultation
Your consultation begins with a conversation about your symptoms, goals, and medical history. We may review recent lab work or recommend new testing to better understand your hormone levels, immune markers, or metabolic function. Based on those findings, we’ll determine whether peptide therapy is appropriate and which peptides are most likely to support your specific needs. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss how peptide therapy fits into your overall treatment plan. We take a functional approach to build a strategy that supports both short-term improvement and long-term wellness.
What To Expect During Peptide Treatments
Most peptides are given subcutaneously, typically in the abdomen or thigh, and are painless for patients when administered correctly. Dosage schedules can vary depending on the peptide, but many are taken daily or several times a week in short treatment cycles. Follow-ups help us track your response and make any needed adjustments. As treatment progresses, you may begin to notice subtle shifts in energy, sleep, recovery, or mood, depending on the focus of your therapy.
More Information About Peptide Therapy
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Some patients notice changes within the first few weeks, especially when using peptides that influence energy, sleep, or appetite. Others may need several weeks or months to experience more gradual effects like improved body composition, hormone balance, or cognitive clarity. Results depend on the specific peptide, the patient’s health status, and how consistently the treatment is followed. We monitor your progress and make adjustments based on how your body responds.
Do I Need Lab Work Before Starting Peptide Therapy?
Lab work helps establish a clear baseline and identify potential factors influencing your symptoms, such as hormone levels, inflammation, or metabolic markers. We may recommend testing before beginning peptide therapy, especially if your treatment plan involves immune, hormonal, or weight-related concerns. In some cases, existing lab results may be sufficient if they’re recent and relevant. Ongoing lab work can also help us track your progress and make informed changes to your therapy.
How Long Should I Continue Peptide Therapy?
Some patients use peptides in short bursts to address specific symptoms or support recovery, while others continue long-term for maintenance and optimization. The duration depends on the type of peptide, your response to treatment, and your overall goals. During check-ins, we reassess your progress and discuss whether to pause, rotate, or continue your therapy.
Why Choose Meliora Integrative Medicine for Peptide Therapy?
At Meliora Integrative Medicine, we look at the whole picture instead of just your symptoms. Founded by Dr. Rowena Chua, a neurologist with fellowship training in Integrative Medicine under Dr. Andrew Weil, our practice is rooted in identifying and treating the underlying causes of health concerns.
We use peptide therapy as part of a broader strategy that considers how stress, inflammation, hormones, and lifestyle affect your overall well-being. Every treatment plan is developed to help you function better, not just feel better temporarily. Our approach is always evolving, always focused on becoming better, because that’s what “meliora” means.
Optimize Your Health and Wellness with Peptide Therapy
If you are interested in optimizing your health and wellness with a peptide therapy treatment plan, we can help. We will meet with you during a one-on-one consultation to learn more about your concerns, and we can determine if peptide therapy is right for you. Patients throughout Evanston, IL, and the surrounding area trust Meliora Integrative Medicine for thoughtful, personalized care grounded in integrative principles. To learn more about peptide therapy, call (847) 440-4355 or schedule a consultation online.