Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS PRP-RPC?

Platelet Rich Plasma-Regenerative Plasma Concentrate (PRP-RPC) is an advanced form of bioactive plasma therapy developed by Dr. John Hughes to enhance tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and accelerate healing. This ozonated regenerative plasma treatment combines concentrated platelet growth factors (from both platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma), autologous stem cells, essential nutrients, and therapeutic peptides. Harvested from the patient’s own blood through a simple draw, RPC is prepared and infused to stimulate cellular regeneration for orthopedic conditions, support recovery from brain injuries, and enhance anti-aging properties for fine lines and wrinkles.

WHAT IS PRP-RPC USED TO TREAT?

  • Partial Tendon / Ligament Tears
  • Joint Repair
  • Cartilage Disorders
  • Osteoarthritis / Osteoporosis
  • Chronic Sports Injuries
  • Degenerative Joint & Disc Disease
  • Chronic Sprains and Strains
  • Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spine Strains
  • Arthritic Joints
  • Shoulder Pain, Hip Pain, and Knee Pain
  • Ligament Laxity or Tears
  • Tendon and Ligament Injuries
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Fine Lines and Wrinkles
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Anti-Aging Treatments

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE PRP-RPC INJECTION PROCEDURES?

PRP-RPC is an enhanced, ozonated plasma cocktail designed for advanced regenerative medicine. This powerful formulation combines concentrated platelet growth factors, stem cells, nutrients, and physician-selected peptides to support deep tissue repair, pain relief, and accelerated healing.

At Aspen Integrative Medicine, your plasma is collected through a simple blood draw and transformed into a highly potent regenerative plasma concentrate. While the PRP-RPC is being prepared, you’ll receive a nutrient-rich IV to support whole-body recovery.

Once ready, the treatment includes a local anesthetic, targeted PRP-RPC injections for pain, sports injuries, and tissue damage, and a final therapeutic ozone shot to enhance cellular repair.

A typical procedure takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Most patients experience a recovery period of 3–5 days, with optimal results appearing over 1–3 months.*

Results may vary; no guarantee of specific outcomes.

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?

Basically a “blank” cell, an adult stem cell is capable of becoming another cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. Adult stem cell therapy can be administered to help replace or even heal damaged tissues and cells, serving as a built-in repair system for the human body and replenishing other cells.

Unlike embryonic stem cells, the use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is not considered to be controversial, as they are derived from adult tissue samples rather than discarded human embryos. By law, these adult stem cells have to be injected or infused into the patient within 24 hours after being obtained.

Regenerative stem cell therapy can stimulate tissue re-growth and greater blood flow to the affected areas.* The goal of treatment with stem cells is to replace damaged cells and to promote the growth of new blood vessels and tissues in order to help the target organ function at a greater capacity.*

*Results may vary; no guarantee of specific results

WHAT KIND OF STEM CELLS ARE USED IN THE PRP-RPC PROCEDURES?

The PRP-RPC contains stem cells that are pulled from the patient’s own blood which are hematopoetic and pluripotent. Hematopoetic cells are destined for blood and blood tissue development “committed” while pluripotent adult stem cells can have the ability to divide and generate all cell types and are considered “lineage uncommitted”. These stem cells hold the ability to generate several distinct cell types, including neural cells found in the brain or cartilaginous tissues of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or joints.* Pluripotent stem cells behave like embryonic stem cells and give rise to all the cell types in the body. They endure a long lifespan and work best in combination with PRP because the PRP helps guide these stem cells to areas of greatest inflammation or injury.

In addition to using PRP-RPC, you can also get umbilical cells in the form of Wharton’s Jelly as an injectable solution alongside the PRP-RPC. While the regenerative effects of the stem cells in PRP-RPC are unparalleled, the MSCs (Mesenchymal Stem Cells) in umbilical cord tissue are also quite helpful when used in conjunction with PRP due to their accentuating effects on the stem cells already in the body. In addition, the MSCs from umbilical cord tissue (Wharton’s Jelly) act as potent growth factor, calms inflammation, and nourishes the tissue–with a significant paracrine effect on most joints.

Clinically, when used for joints or other tissues, MSCs often have immediate pain relieving effects!*

*Results may vary; no guarantee of specific results

I’VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT EXOSOMES? WHAT ARE EXOSOMES? ARE THEY AS IMPORTANT AS STEM CELLS FOR REGENERATION?

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicular sacks in all tissues, carrying essential biological cargo—such as proteins, lipids, and genetic material—from one cell to another to coordinate various functions like tissue repair, immune response, and cellular communication. Exosomes act like laser targeted fertilizing packages (of nutrients and information) on how to heal damaged or young tissues. They are not magic but have beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects on tissues. They are not magic and not as effective as stem cells but work well with them. It is key to get exosomes from a pure source.

CAN STEM CELLS FIX MY JOINT, TENDON, OR LIGAMENT PAIN?

The answer is “Yes, sometimes” because not all orthopedic pain has the same pain generator. One common pain generator overlooked is dairy– but why?

Dairy is inflammatory, can disrupt the gut, mimics joint proteins (casein and whey)-creating an autoimmune response, increases estrogen making patients obese, it also drives calcium into tendons, ligaments, and joints–creating calcinosis–which infiltrates the tissues causing scarring/fibrosis in tendons and ligaments and arthritic progression in joints.

For many patients, just eliminating dairy products or other inflammatory foods (sugar, alcohol, nightshade veggies, wheat, soy) is the first step to addressing sports injuries and joint arthritis. If you’ve done that kind of elimination and addressed other pain and inflammation generators,* then consider PRP-RPC, stem cells, and exosomes.

*Other pain generators (non-orthopedic) include RA, tick-borne diseases, Long Co-vid, Celiac disease (Gluten allergies), Environmental toxins

OK, WHAT ABOUT PEPTIDES? DO THEY ALSO HAVE A ROLE IN REGENERATIVE AND LONGEVITY MEDICINE?

There are oral, sublingual, and injectable forms of all of these peptides. Many of these can be utilized alongside biologic injections (RPC, Wharton’s Jelly, stem cells, exosomes) for enhanced effects.

Also: There is a good bit of contamination in the peptides on the market. The Aspen Wellness Club sells peptides made from GMP certified, FDA approved labs. These labs include Genogenix, Centre Labs, and AlphaBioMed.

The most important peptides to have in the quiver:

  • Gut/Immune/Inflammation: BPC157, Tb500, Ta1 plus VIP
  • Joint/Hair/Skin Collagen Building: GHK-Cu, AOD9604
  • Weight Loss: Lipo-trim/NAD, Glutathione/ALA –in IV or oral form, SS31, Mots-C, 5-Amino 1 MQ
  • Muscle Building: Tesmorelin, CJC-Ipramorelin
  • Calming Cortisol/Stress/Sleep: Selank, Sermorelin, DSIP
  • Neurological Issues: Selank, DiHexa, Klotho; can also administer intranasally with insulin
  • Prostate/Kidney: Fox04-Dri, Klotho
  • Longevity: Epithalon, Klotho (in addition to Fisetin, Urolithin, Mimio, or Rapamycin)–telomere lengthening, autophagy, and mitophagy*

Many peptides can be taken orally or as an injection.

*Results may vary; no guarantee of specific results

HOW DO I MAKE THE MOST OF MY PRP-RPC, MSC, EXOSOME, AND PEPTIDE TREATMENTS–WHETHER FOR BRAIN, BODY, OR BEAUTY APPLICATIONS?

Healthy Lifestyle: Get solid nutrients, minerals, vitamins, protein (avoid sugar, bread, dairy), get a coach! Plenty of sleep and avoid stress, alcohol, and toxins

Peptides: Focus on gut/liver/immune health first

Stem Cells/Growth Factors: From your own body (RPC) and umbilical cord tissue–makes a great alchemy

Exosomes: For added support–elderly patients, those with poor veins, or systemic inflammation

Exercise: Yoga or stretching, weightlifting, cardio–must have all three modalities

ARE YOU CONFUSED ABOUT HOW TO START YOUR LONGEVITY AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE JOURNEY?

If so, Aspen Integrative Medicine offers specific Wellness Packages targeted to help you “Heal the Gut”, “Detox the Liver”, “Increase Metabolism”, and “Support Hormones”, “Boost the Brain”, or “Enhance Brain and Body Longevity”. These packages are clearly defined but may be customized for your personal health and longevity needs and goals.

HOW DOES INTRANASAL PRP-RPC GET TO THE BRAIN? HOW DOES IT HELP MY COGNITION?

Using the Olfactory Nerve channels to bypass the blood brain barrier with intranasal PRP-RPC, the following diagram is key for understanding how substances can get into the brain—in the CSF or parenchyma. One question commonly asked is, how long does it take for substances to get into the brain via this intranasal delivery? The consistent answer provided by the researchers and the studies is 10-15 minutes for the substances to be detected in the CSF after intranasal administration.

DO I QUALIFY FOR TREATMENT? ARE THERE ANY RISKS?

Most all adult and teenage patients will qualify for intranasal PRP-RPC treatment if they report no outstanding risks of intracranial pressure, seizure disorder, brain tumor, brain bleed, sinusitis, or recent sinus or dental surgery.

CAN I FLY AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

As long as you can clear your ears post-procedure, it is okay to fly within 1-2 hours after administration of the intranasal PRP-RPC.

DOES THE INTRANASAL PROCEDURES HURT?

The intranasal PRP-RPC carries very minor risks of nose bleeding, head pressure, headache, and slight burning in the upper nose. The procedure feels slightly like a salt water inhalation into the nose. Sometimes patients will feel that they have nasal congestion post-procedure which will last 10 to 90 min

WILL INTRANASAL INSULIN OR PRP-RPC DROP MY BLOOD SUGAR?

No, the intranasal insulin nor the PRP-RPC, if administered correctly, will not drop blood sugar because it is going directly into the upper part of the nose with the help of gravity as the procedure requires you to lie down with an extended neck. If you sit up during the procedure, most of the insulin will not go into the brain but rather down the throat to the stomach, where it is destroyed by the stomach acid.

HOW MANY PROCEDURES HAS DR. HUGHES PERFORMED WITH THE INTRANASAL PRP-RPC?

Dr. John Hughes has administered the intranasal PRP-RPC for a variety of brain conditions including brain trauma, PTSD, brain optimization, stroke, dementia, and even autism. He has done the procedure thousands of times since 2013, which he developed the procedure and later patented it in 2018. see https://patents.google.com/patent/US10130657B2/en

WHAT IS THE WAVI EEG SCAN? WHAT IS RIGHT EYE?

WAVi was founded to be the next level of innovation in EEG by making this technology both user-friendly and accessible. WAVi scans demonstrate standard EEG data, such as beta/theta ratios, P300, and most importantly, a voltage map of where the brain has suffered insult or injury. WAVi scans are a minimally invasive technology that allow for quick and practical observation of the inner workings and functionality of the brain.

RightEye is a computerized eye-tracking system using high-speed cameras to record and track eye movements to evaluate functional vision and neurological injury. It measures saccades, fixation, and smooth pursuits of the eyes–movements which are all impacted by dementia, brain trauma, vision disorders, or other neuro-cognitive conditions.

WHAT LABS ARE TESTED IN THE BRAIN AND BODY LONGEVITY PANEL? IS IT WORTH DOING THESE LABS?

The Brain and Body Longevity Panel includes WAVi and RightEye testing plus a battery of unique longevity labs designed to help us understand your biological age, nutrient deficiencies, oxidative stressors, heavy metals, pesticides, molds as well as risk of Alzheimer’s disease (including APOE E3 and E4 genes plus pTAU217). Along with standardized and functional blood labs, this Brain and Body Longevity Panel help the Aspen Integrative Medicine practitioners best personalize your wellness and longevity protocols.