Finding Light: Novel Toronto Functional Medicine Approaches for Confronting SAD
POSTED BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE
When the days get shorter and the sunlight wanes, some Toronto functional medicine patients begin having concerns with their mood and energy. For some, this seasonal pattern can form into seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter seasons. Symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, weight gain, and feelings of sadness – it’s no wonder why SAD is dubbed the “winter blues”.
Some patients opt for integrative functional medicine to treat SAD, as personalized medicine treatments offer a root-cause approach. Biochemical, nutritional, and hormonal imbalances can contribute to seasonal mood changes, and targeting these aspects can potentially help restore balance, especially with the use of natural interventions.
Below, we discuss what SAD is, functional medicine options for managing it, and how our treatments may be beneficial for gut health issues, cognitive function, and more.
What is seasonal affective disorder?
You may be at risk of developing the condition if you’re female, genetically predisposed to depression and/or SAD, a young adult, and/or live far away from the equator. SAD seems to be caused by shifts in the amount of sunlight we’re exposed to – in turn, this can disrupt your biological clock. This lack of sunlight is thought to interrupt neurotransmitter functions, too, altering amounts of the ‘feel-good’ chemical serotonin. Symptoms include low mood and feelings of helplessness; sleeping excessively; loss of interest in regular hobbies; concentration issues; appetite boosts, especially cravings for carbohydrates; social isolation.
“Approximately 15% of Canadians will report at least a mild case of SAD in their lifetime, while 2-3% will report serious cases.”
– Canadian Psychological Association
Though SAD is periodic, potential hurdles can occur when it’s left untreated, such as alcohol/drug overindulgences, obesity, frequent absenteeism from work, and the worsening of current mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder. “Given SAD’s unique trajectory and significant impact on affected individuals, the importance of early recognition and personalized care strategies cannot be overstated,” confirms StatPearls.
Examples of personalized therapies for treating SAD
Personalized SAD treatments can target your unique biochemistry, genetics, and metabolism, as these affect how your body responds to light, supplements, and medications. For example, variations in the vitamin D receptor gene or serotonin transporter genes may affect how sun exposure impacts your mood.
Thus, a functional medicine provider may run diagnostic testing to match therapies with your needs. Some tests might include comprehensive blood panels (to measure vitamin D, inflammatory markers, thyroid hormones), DUTCH testing to scrutinize adrenal health, and/or micronutrient testing for nutritional deficiencies. Lab results are then used by your clinician to arrange for tailored functional medicine support, which goes beyond the confines of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Some therapies that may be recommended for SAD include:
-
- Intramuscular injections: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with SAD – this makes senses, as the sun helps the body synthesize vitamin D. A tailored dose administered as an intramuscular injection ensures you get a rapid absorption of vitamin D, as this modality bypasses the digestive system and the nutrient enters the bloodstream immediately. For those struggling with malabsorption, these injections are reliable compared to ingesting tablets and capsules. (Note: Processing the dose oral supplements can be delayed and hindered by the digestive process.)
- IV nutrient therapy: If you’re deficient in other nutrients linked to SAD (i.e. vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins), IV therapy can be considered. IV drips also rapidly enter the bloodstream for immediate use; they may be supportive for cellular health, and may help the mitochondria energy production in your body.
- Light pod therapy: Also called photobiomodulation, this method safely exposes your body to therapeutic light wavelengths, which can help with resetting the circadian rhythm. These exposures have been shown to stimulate mitochondrial energy production and boost serotonin and endorphins levels.
- HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy): When you sit in this enclosed chamber, you inhale 100% oxygen – this boosts oxygen delivery to your tissues and cells. Though not specific to SAD, one study showed that patients with incomplete spinal cord injury experienced reductions in both anxiety and depression from HBOT.
- Psychotherapy: A clinical psychotherapist can introduce you to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), ‘talk therapy’ that can help with identifying and reframing negative thoughts. You can also explore new stress management techniques, such as meditation.
- PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy): PEMF is designed to stimulate your cells with low frequency electromagnetic waves. Preliminary evidence suggests PEMF treatments may contribute to managing treatment-resistant depression and fatigue when combined with other treatment modalities, such as light therapy.
We want to stress that therapeutic treatments should be merged with lifestyle modifications, such as eating antioxidant-rich meals, getting regular exercise, and healthily practicing stress management. And prior to embarking on new therapies, patients should consult with clinicians experienced in functional and integrative medicine – some therapies (e.g. HBOT) do require medical supervision, screening, and contraindication checks. At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, the treatments listed above (and more!) are available for new and existing patients. If you want to step-up your wellness game – especially to prevent and/or treat SAD – please visit us today.
Suggested reading: Functional Medicine Toronto Mindset: The Surprising Nutrient Behind Hair Loss
Customizing patient care with functional clinical insight
Custom healthcare can be accessed in the heart of Toronto. We are located in Yorkville, a neighborhood with access to both parking and public transportation. Think of our clinic as a wellness sanctuary – a place where you can take actionable steps towards health enhancements.
We have a professional therapeutic partnership between ourselves and our patients, and we encourage you to ask questions anytime! Education is key to making personal health decisions, and ample time is provided for each appointment. We carefully discuss your condition, how to interpret laboratory testing reports, and what you can personally do to help reach optimal function. Explaining the rationale of treatments is important to us and our patients – we can integrate treatment plans with several modalities, including allopathic/Western medicine, psychotherapy, naturopathic medicine, intravenous therapy, hormone optimization tactics, preventative medicine, light pod therapy, nutritional / botanical supplementation, and more.
A holistic health/lifestyle strategy that combines complementary and naturopathic medicine is suitable for chronic conditions, especially neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions, menopausal symptoms (i.e. vaginal dryness), and recovery from environmental toxins (i.e. heavy metals). We adapt all modalities, even making doses of IV therapy, botanical medicine, and hormone therapies (i.e. bio-identical hormones) unique to your biology only.
Note: Tailoring your therapies will involve a hearty discussion between our health provider and yourself. During your first appointment, we’ll discuss your lifestyle and environmental factors, genetic predispositions, current diet, and more – comprehending these allows us to adapt therapies for your needs.
What’s causing your low mood and chronic fatigue? Let’s investigate this with our patient-centred approach to wellness! Call us now to book your first consultation with our functional medicine Toronto providers – in-person and virtual sessions are available.
Disclaimer:
Some therapies discussed in this article may have emerging or mixed evidence for seasonal mood concerns and may not be appropriate for everyone. Recommendations are individualized following clinical assessment and are not intended to replace primary mental health care or medical treatment when indicated. The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media.
References
Campbell PD, Miller AM, Woesner ME. Bright Light Therapy: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Beyond. Einstein J Biol Med. 2017;32:E13-E25. PMID: 31528147; PMCID: PMC6746555.
Canadian Psychological Association. ““Psychology Works” Fact Sheet: Seasonal Affective Disorder (Depression with Seasonal Pattern).” Canadian Psychological Association, posted 31 Dec. 2020, updated 27 Nov. 2024, cpa.ca/psychology-works-fact-sheet-seasonal-affective-disorder-depression-with-seasonal-pattern/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Chen, Zuo, et al. “Treatment Measures for Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Network Meta-analysis.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 350, 2024, pp. 531-536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.028. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Feng JJ, Li YH. Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on depression and anxiety in the patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (a STROBE-compliant article). Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Jul;96(29):e7334. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007334. PMID: 28723746; PMCID: PMC5521886.
Forneris CA, Nussbaumer-Streit B, Morgan LC, Greenblatt A, Van Noord MG, Gaynes BN, Wipplinger J, Lux LJ, Winkler D, Gartlehner G. Psychological therapies for preventing seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 May 24;5(5):CD011270. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011270.pub3. PMID: 31124141; PMCID: PMC6533196.
Jahan-Mihan A, Stevens P, Medero-Alfonso S, Brace G, Overby LK, Berg K, Labyak C. The Role of Water-Soluble Vitamins and Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder in Adults. Nutrients. 2024 Jun 17;16(12):1902. doi: 10.3390/nu16121902. PMID: 38931257; PMCID: PMC11206829.
Larsen, Erik R., et al. “Transcranial Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields for Treatment-resistant Depression: A Multicenter 8-week Single-arm Cohort Study: The Eighth Trial of the Danish University Antidepressant Group.” European Psychiatry : The Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, vol. 63, no. 1, 2020, p. e18, https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.3. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Mohammad Alizadeh MA, Abrari K, Lashkar Blouki T, Ghorbanian MT, Jadidi M. Pulsed electromagnetic field attenuated PTSD-induced failure of conditioned fear extinction. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2019 Jun;22(6):650-659. doi: 10.22038/ijbms.2019.32576.7797. PMID: 31231493; PMCID: PMC6570745.
Munir S, Gunturu S, Abbas M. Seasonal Affective Disorder. [Updated 2024 Apr 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568745/
“Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).” CAMH, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2025, www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/seasonal-affective-disorder. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Van Belkum, S.M., et al. “Treatment of Depression with Low-strength Transcranial Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields: A Mechanistic Point of View.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, vol. 71, 2016, pp. 137-143, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.07.006. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
