Mosaic Medicine

Mosaic Medicine 🌟At MOSAIC Medicine, we blend traditional western medicine and holistic approaches to help you meet your health goals. We treat the person, not the symptoms!

Weight, Hormone and Gut health is our passion. Elevate your wellness journey with us! ✨

06/18/2026

Most women are prescribed progesterone without realizing there are differences in delivery methods that determine how your body responds.

Here's what you need to know:

If you're on estrogen therapy and still have a uterus, you need progesterone to help prevent the uterine lining from being overstimulated, which can be a precursor to cancer. This is non-negotiable.

Oral progesterone is standard, but there is evidence to support that vaginal progesterone can also provide that protection. The goal then becomes determining what addresses your symptoms and keeps you safe.

If your main issues are sleep disruption, anxiety, or racing thoughts, oral progesterone's calming effects make it the better choice. If your main issues are cycle irregularity or PMS without wanting sedation, vaginal gives you protection without the brain fog.

Topical progesterone is different. It doesn't provide adequate uterine protection when you're on estrogen. But it can be used for localized symptoms like breast tenderness or hot flashes. If you have a uterus and take estrogen, topical therapy alone isn't usually sufficient or safe.
The delivery method matters and it deserves a devoted discussion.

She'd been on HRT for months. Energy was stable. Sleep was better. Brain fog had cleared.Then something shifted. Not dra...
06/17/2026

She'd been on HRT for months.

Energy was stable. Sleep was better. Brain fog had cleared.

Then something shifted. Not dramatically. Gradually.

The energy that used to last all day started fading by afternoon. She was losing focus and forgetting details. Her moods were swinging and her patience was thinning.

Her first thought: the HRT stopped working.

But when we looked closer, her hormone levels were stable. Estradiol was right where it had been. The dose that worked three months ago was still appropriate.

What had changed was her recovery capacity.

She was sleeping less. Managing more stress at work. Skipping breakfast in lieu of 3 cups of coffee. Her body's demands had increased while her recovery hadn't kept pace.

Hormones don't work in isolation. They depend on sleep quality, stress management, nutrient availability, and recovery cycles. When that system becomes depleted, even optimal hormone levels can't compensate.

This is why we don't just check hormone panels when symptoms resurface. We evaluate sleep patterns, cortisol rhythms, inflammation markers, and whether your body is getting the recovery it needs to use the hormones you're replacing.

Sometimes the problem isn't the dose. It's the deficit you're asking your hormones to cover.

06/16/2026

If you're already losing hair, summer sun may be speeding it up.

Here's how we address it.

We block DHT where it starts. DHT is the hormone shrinking your hair follicles and causing male pattern baldness. We use medications to stop your body from converting testosterone into DHT. Less DHT means your hair isn't under constant attack.

We protect your scalp from getting fried. UV radiation damages the scalp cells keeping your follicles alive. If you're genetically predisposed to hair loss, sun damage accelerates the timeline. Wear a hat during peak sun (10am-4pm). Use mineral SPF spray on your scalp. Don't let thinning areas get torched all summer.

We support what's left with the right nutrients. Zinc, biotin, and saw palmetto help follicles function better. Not as powerful as prescription medications, but they add support, especially when your body deals with summer heat and stress.

We use red light therapy to stimulate follicles. Red light penetrates the scalp and increases blood flow to hair follicles, which can slow loss and improve density. Non-invasive, no downtime, works alongside medications.

You can't control your genetics. But you can control DHT levels and UV exposure, and that makes the difference between slow progression and accelerated loss.

Here's the piece that standard thyroid panels miss.Your body doesn't use T4 directly. It has to convert it into T3, whic...
06/15/2026

Here's the piece that standard thyroid panels miss.

Your body doesn't use T4 directly. It has to convert it into T3, which is the active form that your cells, brain, and metabolism actually run on.

That conversion requires specific nutrients like selenium, zinc, iron, and stable cortisol levels.

When summer heat, stress, or sustained demand depletes those nutrients, the conversion slows down. T4 builds up in your bloodstream while T3 drops at the cellular level.

The result: labs that look fine, but a thyroid that feels depleted.

You may see a normal T4 level on your labs and assume everything is fine. But the tissues that need T3 may not be getting it. That's why you're still exhausted, still struggling with weight, still losing hair.

This is why we draw a comprehensive thyroid assessment that goes beyond TSH and total T4.

We look at Free T3, reverse T3, and nutrient status to reveal whether your body is actually converting and using what it's been given.

You've been on testosterone therapy for months. Maybe longer. And through winter and spring, it was working. Your energy...
06/12/2026

You've been on testosterone therapy for months. Maybe longer. And through winter and spring, it was working. Your energy was steady. Your lifts were progressing. The belt buckle was moving.

Then summer rolled in and something shifted. The recovery that took a day now takes three. The abs you tightened up are starting to soften again.You’re not hitting the same rep and weight limit you used to. But nothing about your routine has really changed.

Here’s what most guys don’t account for:

Summer changes how your body handles testosterone.

Heat and higher activity levels increase overall demand on your body.

But they can also shift how your body processes testosterone by converting more of it into estrogen.

Which means even if your dose hasn’t changed, less of that testosterone is available to support strength, recovery, and body composition.

At the same time, dehydration and elevated cortisol shift how testosterone is carried in the bloodstream.

So even if your total T levels look the same on paper,
your body may not be using it the same way.

That’s where the disconnect happens.

The protocol hasn’t changed.
But the response has.

This is exactly why careful monitoring matters.

A mid-summer assessment of free testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, and cortisol can reveal whether the protocol needs adjustment or whether supplemental support can restore the response your body had in cooler months.

06/11/2026

If weeks 3-4 of your cycle feel impossible in summer, here's how we address it.

We support progesterone when your body needs it most. During the luteal phase, your body tries to produce progesterone for cycle stability while ramping up cortisol to manage heat.

When it can't do both, progesterone drops. We evaluate whether supplemental progesterone during weeks 3-4 stabilizes energy, mood, and sleep, especially when summer demand is highest.

We manage cortisol so it's not robbing your cycle. When cortisol stays elevated from fighting heat, it depletes the building blocks needed for progesterone. We use stress management, sleep optimization, and supplemental support to bring cortisol down, so your body can produce the hormones your cycle needs.

We support thyroid when metabolism runs high. Your thyroid works harder during the luteal phase. If it can't keep up, energy tanks. We evaluate whether thyroid support (like medication adjustment or nutrient optimization) can help your body meet demand without crashing.

We help you build recovery into weeks 3-4. Fewer commitments. Earlier bedtimes. More protein and electrolytes. Strategic rest instead of pushing through.

Pregnenolone is the precursor molecule your body uses to make both progesterone and cortisol. When sustained stress push...
06/10/2026

Pregnenolone is the precursor molecule your body uses to make both progesterone and cortisol.

When sustained stress pushes cortisol demand higher, your body diverts resources toward cortisol production.

It's sometimes referred to as the pregnenolone steal, and it may be the reason progesterone levels drop even when your HRT dose hasn't changed.

Summer amplifies the steal. Heat increases cortisol output. Longer days often mean less sleep. Social obligations, travel, and childcare logistics keep the nervous system running at a higher baseline.

Week after week, the body redirects more resources toward stress management and away from the hormones that regulate sleep, mood, and reproductive rhythm.

The reassuring part is that this is identifiable and addressable. A review of progesterone levels alongside cortisol patterns can reveal whether the steal is active and whether supplemental support, timing adjustments, or dose modifications would restore the balance your body lost under demand.

06/09/2026

You're in bed for eight hours. You should be waking up refreshed.
Instead, you're dragging through mornings and relying on caffeine just to feel functional.

Here's what we've found: summer sleep problems are almost always environment problems. Small changes produce measurable recovery improvements.

Cool your room to 65-68°F. Your body needs to drop core temperature by about two degrees to access deep sleep—where growth hormone gets secreted, cortisol resets, and hormone receptors restore. If you can't get the room that cool, a cooling mattress pad or fan creates the drop your brain needs.

Block light after sunset. Even small amounts of light from screens or windows disrupt melatonin production. Blackout curtains, blue light blockers after 8pm, and eliminating screens an hour before bed allow melatonin to rise and initiate restorative sleep stages.

Time magnesium glycinate 30 minutes before bed. It helps relax the nervous system and supports the brain's ability to cycle through deep sleep without frequent waking.

These aren't just lifestyle suggestions. They're essential for recovery and stress resilience. When patients implement them, we see measurable improvements in energy, mood stability, and even how the body responds to hormone therapy.

You used to push through the afternoon without thinking about it.Now you're reaching for coffee at 2:45pm because your b...
06/08/2026

You used to push through the afternoon without thinking about it.

Now you're reaching for coffee at 2:45pm because your brain feels like it's running through wet concrete. The meeting at 3pm takes twice the focus it should. By 4, you're done. Not sleepy-done. Depleted-done.

Here's what's actually happening.

Your adrenal glands produce cortisol in a rhythm. Think of it as your "get up and go" hormone. It peaks in the morning, then gradually declines throughout the day. That's by design.

But sustained summer heat increases cortisol demand. Your body has to work harder to regulate heat, manage hydration, and maintain energy output in longer, hotter days.

By mid-summer, your adrenals have been running at elevated output for weeks. And cortisol production has a ceiling. When demand consistently exceeds supply, the afternoon crash hits harder. What used to be a slight slowdown at 3pm becomes a wall.

This isn't about discipline or sleep hygiene. It's about production capacity.

Your body is spending cortisol faster than it can manufacture it.

The clinical question isn't "how do I push through the crash." It's "what's depleting my cortisol reserves, and how do I rebuild production capacity before the pattern gets worse?"

That's where a targeted assessment makes the difference.

We evaluate cortisol rhythm alongside thyroid function, s*x hormones, and recovery markers to understand why the crash is happening and what your body needs to sustain output without depleting itself further.

Visit us at Mosaic Medicine and start your journey towards feeling better!

Hi, I'm Dr. Alexia Gillen, founder of Mosaic Medicine.My passion is helping women feel empowered, informed, and supporte...
06/05/2026

Hi, I'm Dr. Alexia Gillen, founder of Mosaic Medicine.

My passion is helping women feel empowered, informed, and supported throughout every stage of life—including the menopause transition.

I believe healthcare should be personalized because no two women experience menopause the same way.

Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I take a holistic approach that considers the entire picture:

Hormone health
Nutrition
Movement
Stress management
Lifestyle factors
Long-term wellness goals

At Mosaic Medicine, I want every patient to feel heard, seen, and cared for.

Address

2800 Jackson Boulevard Suite 2
Rapid City, SD
57702

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm

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