Modern healthcare is undergoing a transformation—one that shifts the focus from symptom control to identifying and healing the root causes of illness. This is the heart of Functional Medicine, a patient-centered model that views each person as unique and every symptom as a clue to deeper imbalance. Rather than masking symptoms with medications, functional medicine seeks to answer the question: Why did this illness develop in the first place?
While conventional medicine often focuses on disease management, functional medicine looks upstream to uncover what drives dysfunction—whether it’s inflammation, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, or chronic stress. This approach is especially effective for individuals struggling with complex or long-standing conditions such as chronic fatigue, autoimmune disease, hormonal imbalance, thyroid disorders, and digestive dysfunction. By addressing the underlying issues, patients experience not only symptom relief but lasting restoration of health and vitality.
At the forefront of this holistic movement is Dr. Mark Stengler, a nationally recognized authority in integrative and functional medicine. Through his clinic—the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, located near Rancho Santa Fe and serving North County San Diego—Dr. Stengler has helped thousands of patients achieve true healing.
His mission is simple yet transformative: to combine medical science, natural therapies, and compassionate, faith-based care to support each patient’s healing journey. At the Stengler Center, care extends beyond lab numbers—it’s about treating the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Patients are empowered to understand their health, take proactive steps, and reclaim balance naturally.
Dr. Mark Stengler’s practice is guided by several core principles that define the art and science of functional medicine. These principles ensure that care remains individualized, evidence-driven, and focused on achieving whole-body wellness.
Functional medicine begins with listening. Dr. Stengler takes the time to understand each patient’s full health story—their history, genetics, environment, and life experiences. This personalized attention allows him to identify patterns that may have been overlooked in conventional care and design a customized path to healing.
Advanced diagnostic testing is central to functional medicine. Dr. Stengler utilizes comprehensive lab panels that assess hormones, thyroid function, blood sugar, inflammation, gut microbiome health, and nutrient status. These insights reveal how the body is functioning on a cellular level, providing a roadmap for precise treatment.
No two people are exactly alike. What triggers fatigue, anxiety, or weight gain in one patient may be entirely different in another. Dr. Stengler respects each patient’s biochemical individuality, ensuring every recommendation—from diet to supplements—is customized to meet their specific needs and sensitivities.
Functional medicine recognizes that the body’s systems—gut, brain, immune system, hormones, and detox pathways—work in concert. A disturbance in one area can lead to symptoms elsewhere. For example, gut inflammation can affect mental clarity and mood, while hormonal imbalance can influence digestion and immunity. Dr. Stengler’s holistic view ensures that all systems are supported for lasting recovery.
While functional medicine excels at reversing chronic illness, its ultimate goal is prevention. By identifying potential imbalances early, patients can make proactive changes that help them stay healthy long-term. Dr. Stengler empowers patients with the knowledge and tools to maintain vitality for years to come.
Functional medicine provides an advanced, science-based framework for understanding and correcting the underlying causes of chronic illness. Rather than chasing isolated symptoms, it identifies the biological imbalances and environmental triggers that drive disease—empowering patients to achieve lasting wellness.
Persistent exhaustion is often more than just stress—it may stem from adrenal hormone imbalances, mitochondrial dysfunction, or nutrient depletion. Dr. Stengler’s functional medicine evaluation restores energy naturally by rebalancing the body’s stress response and cellular metabolism.
Many patients struggle with thyroid symptoms despite “normal” lab results. Functional medicine digs deeper, analyzing thyroid antibodies, conversion rates, and nutrient cofactors. By addressing inflammation, stress, and gut health, thyroid function is supported from the inside out.
Digestive problems are among the most common and overlooked contributors to chronic illness. Dr. Stengler identifies root causes such as dysbiosis, food intolerances, and enzyme deficiencies, helping patients restore healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.
Hormones regulate energy, mood, and metabolism. Through functional testing and bioidentical hormone balancing, Dr. Stengler helps correct imbalances in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol, leading to improved vitality and well-being.
Conditions like Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus often begin in the gut or immune system. Functional medicine calms inflammation, supports immune regulation, and helps restore the body’s natural tolerance to prevent flare-ups.
Instead of relying solely on medication, Dr. Stengler evaluates blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism to uncover why these imbalances occur. Nutritional therapy and targeted supplementation help correct these risk factors safely and effectively.
Mood disorders often have biochemical roots—such as nutrient deficiencies, gut imbalances, or hormonal shifts. Functional medicine supports mental clarity and emotional stability by optimizing neurotransmitter function and reducing inflammation.
By investigating thyroid function, insulin resistance, and adrenal balance, functional medicine helps patients overcome stubborn weight issues that resist diet and exercise.
For patients struggling with lingering symptoms after viral infection, Dr. Stengler focuses on immune restoration, detoxification, mitochondrial support, and inflammation control to rebuild resilience and stamina.
At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Mark Stengler takes a structured yet highly personalized approach to functional medicine. His process ensures that every patient receives comprehensive care designed to uncover hidden imbalances, correct dysfunction, and maintain lasting health.
Every patient journey begins with an in-depth consultation. Dr. Stengler takes the time to explore each individual’s health history, lifestyle, and environmental exposures.
After gathering data, Dr. Stengler identifies the true origin of illness—often missed in conventional evaluations. Common underlying causes include:
Once the root causes are identified, Dr. Stengler designs a treatment plan tailored to each patient’s specific needs. This may include:
Healing is a process, not a one-time event. Dr. Stengler provides continuous support through:
The Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine blends the precision of modern diagnostics with the healing power of natural medicine. Dr. Stengler employs a comprehensive range of evidence-based therapies and tools to support every phase of recovery:
Each of these modalities works synergistically within the functional medicine framework to not only resolve symptoms but also rebuild the foundation of health from within.
True healing doesn’t come from masking symptoms—it begins when the root causes of illness are identified and resolved. At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Mark Stengler’s Functional Medicine approach empowers patients to take charge of their health, using personalized, science-backed solutions that restore balance and vitality.
If you’re ready to overcome fatigue, inflammation, or chronic illness at its source, Dr. Stengler can help you uncover the underlying imbalances holding you back—and guide you toward lasting wellness.
Experience comprehensive, compassionate care that treats the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Take the first step today.
📍 Address: 324 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, CA 92024
📞 Phone: 760-274-2377
📞 Toll-Free: 855.DOC.MARK
📧 Email: clinic@markstengler.com
🌐 Website: www.markstengler.com/contact
