San Diego Complementary Medicine

In a vibrant and wellness-focused city like San Diego, more individuals and families are seeking healthcare that goes beyond prescriptions and quick fixes. They’re searching for a model that listens, personalizes, and restores — one that supports the body’s God-designed ability to heal. That’s the promise of complementary medicine.

Complementary medicine is a modern, whole-person approach that uses natural therapies alongside conventional care to promote optimal healing. It doesn’t replace traditional medicine — it enhances it. By focusing on the root causes of illness and the unique needs of each patient, this model supports lasting wellness from the inside out.

At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Mark Stengler, NMD and Dr. Wafaa Matti, NMD, bring a rare blend of advanced clinical diagnostics, evidence-based natural therapies, and compassionate, Christian-centered care. Recognized nationally for his leadership in integrative medicine, Dr. Stengler has helped thousands of patients transform their health — not just manage symptoms.

Our San Diego patients include busy professionals, families juggling multiple responsibilities, and older adults looking to age vibrantly. Whether you’re struggling with fatigue, hormone imbalances, digestive issues, or simply want to stay ahead of chronic disease, you’ll find a care plan tailored to your body, your lifestyle, and your values.

What Is Complementary Medicine?

Complementary medicine refers to natural, science-backed therapies that are used in conjunction with conventional medical treatments. The goal is to support the body’s innate healing processes, address the root cause of illness, and enhance the outcomes of traditional care — not replace it.

At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, we use complementary therapies such as bioidentical hormones, clinical nutrition, IV nutrient therapy, and herbal medicine — guided by lab testing and individualized care. These therapies are designed to work with your body, not against it.

Understanding the Differences

To avoid confusion, here’s how complementary medicine compares to other similar terms:

• Complementary Medicine: Used alongside conventional treatments (e.g., a cancer patient using IV vitamin C and clinical nutrition to support energy during chemotherapy).
• Alternative Medicine: Used instead of conventional care — not recommended at the Stengler Center.
• Integrative Medicine: A personalized blend of both conventional and complementary treatments — this is Dr. Stengler’s model.

Key Benefits of Complementary Medicine:

• Root-Cause Healing: Focuses on the underlying causes, not just symptoms
• Reduced Medication Dependency: Uses natural strategies to support and often reduce pharmaceutical reliance
• Prevention-Focused: Encourages long-term wellness through lifestyle, nutrition, and early intervention
• Longevity-Oriented: Helps you stay energized, resilient, and vibrant — not just free of disease

For San Diego residents seeking healthcare that honors both modern science and natural wisdom, complementary medicine offers a balanced, thoughtful, and effective path to optimal well-being.

Core Services at the Stengler Center for San Diego Patients

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Hormone imbalances can affect everything from energy and mood to weight, mental clarity, and sleep. At the Stengler Center, we offer Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) — a safer, natural alternative to synthetic hormones — for both men and women navigating hormonal shifts.

For Women:

• Perimenopause and Menopause: hot flashes, anxiety, night sweats, mood swings
• Adrenal fatigue: stress-related exhaustion, poor recovery, insomnia

For Men:

• Low testosterone: loss of drive, reduced muscle mass, irritability
• Mental fog and low libido: common signs of andropause (male hormone decline)

Why San Diego Patients Choose BHRT:

• Individualized dosing based on comprehensive hormone testing
• Natural, bioidentical compounds that the body recognizes and utilizes safely
• Ongoing monitoring to ensure symptom relief and hormonal balance

BHRT is ideal for San Diegans who want to age with clarity, confidence, and vitality, without the risks associated with synthetic hormone drugs.

Clinical Nutrition & Personalized Supplementation

Even the cleanest diet may fall short in today’s fast-paced world. Stress, digestive issues, and environmental toxins can leave your body depleted — often without obvious symptoms. That’s why we use clinical nutrition and targeted supplementation to rebuild your foundation from the inside out.

Foundational Nutrients We Emphasize:

• Vitamin D: for immune, mood, and hormonal health
• Magnesium: for energy, sleep, and blood sugar balance
• Omega-3s: for brain, cardiovascular, and inflammatory health
• Probiotics: to support gut function and immune resilience

Targeted Protocols Include Support For:

• Chronic fatigue and burnout
• Thyroid imbalances (including Hashimoto’s)
• Blood sugar issues and pre-diabetes
• Nutrient deficiencies linked to poor absorption or gut issues

What Sets Our Approach Apart:

• All recommendations are based on functional lab testing — no guesswork
• We use professional-grade supplements with verified purity and potency
• Every plan is customized to your lifestyle, lab data, and wellness goals

San Diego patients appreciate this scientific yet natural approach to supplementation, which supports real healing — not just symptom control.

IV Nutrient Therapy

In a high-performance city like San Diego, fatigue, immune depletion, and post-viral symptoms are common — especially among those juggling careers, parenting, or intense physical demands. IV Nutrient Therapy offers an advanced solution by delivering high-dose nutrients directly into the bloodstream for rapid, therapeutic effects.

Conditions IV Therapy Can Support:

• Chronic fatigue and burnout
• Immune system weakness
• Post-viral recovery, including long COVID
• Nutrient depletion from stress, medications, or poor absorption

Why Choose IV Therapy?

• Immediate absorption with no reliance on digestion
• Therapeutic-level dosing not achievable through oral supplements
• Fast relief and restoration — many patients feel better within hours

Popular Infusions at the Stengler Center:

• Myers’ Cocktail: A powerful blend of magnesium, B-vitamins, calcium, and Vitamin C — ideal for energy, immunity, and mood
• High-Dose Vitamin C: A potent antioxidant and immune booster often used in viral recovery and adjunctive cancer support

Each IV is administered with medical oversight and customized dosing, ensuring safe and effective results for San Diego patients.

Digestive Health & Gut Repair

Your gut plays a central role in everything from nutrient absorption to immune regulation and even hormone production. At the Stengler Center, we help San Diego patients restore digestive health naturally, using advanced diagnostics and targeted gut-healing therapies.

Conditions We Commonly Treat:

• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Bloating, gas, and acid reflux
• Food sensitivities and chronic inflammation

Advanced Testing for Root-Cause Insight:

• Comprehensive stool analysis to evaluate bacteria, pathogens, inflammation, and digestion
• SIBO breath testing to assess gas-producing bacterial overgrowth
• Food sensitivity panels to detect delayed immune reactions

Natural Solutions for Gut Repair:

• Healing diets tailored to your gut condition and sensitivities (e.g., low-FODMAP, anti-inflammatory)
• High-potency probiotics and digestive enzymes
• Herbal antimicrobials to gently rebalance the microbiome without harsh medications

Whether you're managing a chronic condition or simply want better digestion and immune health, our integrative protocols deliver long-term results without side effects.

Adrenal & Thyroid Recovery

If you’re feeling constantly drained, mentally foggy, or battling weight gain despite your best efforts, it could be more than just stress — it could be a sign of adrenal fatigue or thyroid imbalance. At the Stengler Center, we offer comprehensive, natural support for these vital hormonal systems.

Who Benefits:

• Stressed professionals struggling with poor sleep and burnout
• Women with thyroid-related symptoms like hair thinning, cold intolerance, or weight resistance
• Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, fatigue, and mood swings

Diagnostic Insight:

We use advanced lab testing to identify dysfunction before it turns into full-blown disease:

• Cortisol rhythms to assess adrenal function
• Thyroid panels, including TSH, Free T3, Free T4, reverse T3, and antibodies
• Nutrient testing for B12, selenium, iodine, zinc, and other hormone cofactors

Natural Recovery Plans Include:

• Adaptogenic herbs to support stress resilience and energy
• Thyroid-nourishing nutrients to promote optimal metabolism and brain function
• Lifestyle coaching, including stress management, faith-based encouragement, and sustainable wellness habits

For San Diego residents feeling stuck, this service often brings clarity and life-changing relief. We aim not just to treat lab numbers — but to restore how you feel, think, and function every day.

Experience Natural, Personalized Healing in San Diego

True healing happens when we treat the whole person — not just the symptoms. At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, we believe in combining the best of modern diagnostics with natural, research-backed therapies to help you achieve lasting wellness. Whether you're managing hormonal changes, chronic fatigue, digestive discomfort, or just want to stay vibrant as you age, there's a personalized path to healing waiting for you.

For residents of San Diego, this means more than convenience — it means having access to a doctor who listens, cares, and honors your values. Dr. Mark Stengler offers a level of care that integrates scientific excellence with faith-rooted compassion, creating a wellness experience that respects both your health goals and your spiritual foundation.

Ready to move beyond symptoms and experience personalized, natural care?
Reach out to the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine near San Diego for your consultation today.

📍 Location: 324 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, CA 92024
📞 Phone: 760-274-2377 or Schedule Online
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San Diego Complementary Medicine | Dr. Mark Stengler, NMD