Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

Monday, April 20, 2026

Maca Root for Stress and Libido: A Functional Medicine Toronto Fact Sheet

If you venture up the Andes mountains, you’ll find a medicinal herb called maca. Our Toronto functional medicine providers may suggest this herb to help with mood, sperm quality, libido, or menopausal symptoms.

Also called Peruvian ginseng or Lepidium meyenii, maca is praised as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are groups of herbs that can help the body acclimate to stressful situations; when supplemented with, adaptogens can support homeostasis to promote mind-body resilience.

Findings show that maca is bursting with key nutrients, including amino acids, healthy fatty acids, fibre, calcium, and vitamin C. “Besides these essential nutrients, this root contains bioactive compounds responsible for benefits to the human body, which has caused a considerable increase in its consumption in the last 20 years worldwide,” confirms a report from Food and Function.

Whether you want to combat chronic stress or improve fertility, this herb shows promise in fostering men’s and women’s health needs. We highlight introductory facts about this herb, the ways it might promote healthy effects, and how we tailor your clinical experience at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.

What is Maca?

This herb is regularly consumed as a root vegetable and tonic by the Indigenous people of Peru. The hypocotyl can be freshly eaten, or the roots can be boiled and prepared as coffees and juices. Fresh maca is 80 percent water.
There are several factors at play when measuring the nutritional values of this herb. Nutrient levels of maca root depend on where the plant is grown; how heavy the fruit is; and drying/storage conditions.
Maca is in the same family as broccoli and kale. Several parts of the plant contain amino acids, including glutamic acid, tyrosine, arginine, cysteine, tryptophan, leucine, histidine, profile, and methionine.
Additional nutritional properties include: alkaloids, fibre, iron, vitamin B6, iodine, calcium, and vitamin C. The components of this herb may be valuable for fostering detoxification and potentially alleviating fatigue.

Possible Health Benefits

Some functional medicine practitioners may suggest taking maca to support health promotion. Here are some examples of its potential health effects:

Appears to enhance sperm health for reproduction

Male health issues, such as low sperm quality, may be the root cause of 40% of infertility cases, reports a Maturitas journal review. In some studies, maca boosted sperm count and motility when male participants were provided with this herbal supplementation. “Maca contains a group of secondary metabolites such as macamides, macaenes and other lipid fractions that are potentially related to changes in the reproductive tract via modulation in semen quality,” confirms a Phytotherapy Research article.

Maca root may boost libido in women

Low sex drive is a side effect of SSRI antidepressants. But findings demonstrate that maca root may aid in alleviating this dysfunction in postmenopausal women. According to a Menopause article, taking 3.5g per day can lower depression and anxiety, while improving “…measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women independent of estrogenic and androgenic activity.”

Might help manage menopausal symptoms

In a study on early-postmenopausal women (49-58 years old), participants took two maca capsules per day for a couple of months. The results led to reductions in night sweats, hot flashes, headaches, poor sleep, stress, and mood swings.

May improve liver detoxification

Maca is a source of antioxidants that can prevent oxidative damage – these antioxidants include polysaccharides, which happen to be hepatoprotective. Thus, maca has the potential to assist with liver function, helping to effectively detoxify toxins out of the body.

Maca’s antioxidant effects may act as a mood enhancer

Low mood can be exacerbated by oxidative damage. Maca’s antioxidant functions may affect you emotionally, as its detoxifying actions can contribute to mood improvements. Also, the herb may potentially impact dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, so it may be valuable as a mood regulator.

If you’ve always wondered what it’s like to have your therapies tailored, why not give it a shot? New patients are welcome to book sessions at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre; if you’re interested in adding herbal supplementation to your treatment plan, we can explore this during your initial appointment.

Target Your Health Concerns with Herbal Medicine and Functional Medicine Therapies

Functional medicine is a form of health care that emphasizes the root causes of disease symptoms, recognizing the mind-body connection. It fosters a positive relationship between the health practitioner and patient, inviting collaboration between the two parties. Custom tips and plenty of education are offered, inspiring you to take accountability for long-term health needs. Our functional medicine practitioners can guide you with:

Lifestyle counselling
Details on how to read the results of your functional lab tests
How to support your natural healing process with nutrition (i.e. choosing organic food when possible) and additional lifestyle modifications.

The functional medicine model is applied to all of our treatment options, integrating Western medicine with holistic nutrition, naturopathic medicine, IV therapy, DUTCH testing for menopausal symptoms, psychotherapy, and more. When patients have access to several treatment modalities, they can draw from a wide variety of tactics to help relieve discomforts, such as concentration issues, fatigue, seasonal sniffles, skin rashes, and brain fog.

Our botanical supplementation services are also adapted with functional medicine principles, and plant-based medicines can be arranged into teas, capsules, etc. We consider your current health status to avoid plant-drug interactions, combining traditional herbal knowledge with modern expertise in pharmacognosy. For your convenience, our dispensary is available online and inside our clinic. We prioritize quality care, so our herbal remedies are ethically sourced and sustainably cultivated.

How can we target your health concerns with botanical medicine? Take a complementary holistic approach to your needs at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre – requesting a meeting with our clinicians is easy! Just click here to reach us and we’ll respond shortly.

Disclaimer: 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

Ai, Zhong, et al. “Antidepressant-Like Behavioral, Anatomical, and Biochemical Effects of Petroleum Ether Extract from Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) in Mice Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress.” Journal of Medicinal Food, vol. 17, no. 5, 2014, p. 535, https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2013.2950. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Alvarado-Corella, Diego, et al. “Exploring the Chemical and Pharmacological Variability of Lepidium Meyenii: A Comprehensive Review of the Effects of Maca.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 15, 2024, p. 1360422, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1360422. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Beharry, Shruti, and Michael Heinrich. “Is the Hype around the Reproductive Health Claims of Maca (Lepidium Meyenii Walp.) Justified?” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 211, 2018, pp. 126-170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.003. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Bower-Cargill, Cherie, et al. “A Systematic Review of the Versatile Effects of the Peruvian Maca Root (Lepidium Meyenii ) on Sexual Dysfunction, Menopausal Symptoms and Related Conditions.” Phytomedicine Plus, vol. 2, no. 4, 2022, p. 100326, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phyplu.2022.100326. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

da Silva Leitão Peres N , Cabrera Parra Bortoluzzi L , Medeiros Marques LL , Formigoni M , Fuchs RHB , Droval AA , Reitz Cardoso FA . Medicinal effects of Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii): a review. Food Funct. 2020 Jan 29;11(1):83-92. doi: 10.1039/c9fo02732g. PMID: 31951246.

Brooks NA, Wilcox G, Walker KZ, Ashton JF, Cox MB, Stojanovska L. Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause. 2008 Nov-Dec;15(6):1157-62. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181732953. PMID: 18784609.

Dording, Christina M., et al. “A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Maca Root As Treatment for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Women.” Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, vol. 2015, 2015, p. 949036, https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/949036. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Gonzales-Arimborgo C, Yupanqui I, Montero E, Alarcón-Yaquetto DE, Zevallos-Concha A, Caballero L, Gasco M, Zhao J, Khan IA, Gonzales GF. Acceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2016 Aug 18;9(3):49. doi: 10.3390/ph9030049. PMID: 27548190; PMCID: PMC5039502.

Lee, Myeong S., et al. “The Use of Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) to Improve Semen Quality: A Systematic Review.” Maturitas, vol. 92, 2016, pp. 64-69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.07.013. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Maca. [Updated 2019 Apr 10]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548552/

Melnikovova, Ingrid, et al. “Evaluation of the Effect of Lepidium Meyenii Walpers in Infertile Patients: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.” Phytotherapy Research, vol. 35, no. 11, 2021, pp. 6359-6368, https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7287. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Meissner, H O., et al. “Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical Responses of Early-postmenopausal Women to Maca in Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Configuration, Outpatient Study.” International Journal of Biomedical Science : IJBS, vol. 2, no. 4, 2006, p. 375, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3614644/. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Minich DM, Ross K, Frame J, Fahoum M, Warner W, Meissner HO. Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses. Nutrients. 2024 Feb 14;16(4):530. doi: 10.3390/nu16040530. PMID: 38398854; PMCID: PMC10892513.

Ulloa Del Carpio N, Alvarado-Corella D, Quiñones-Laveriano DM, Araya-Sibaja A, Vega-Baudrit J, Monagas-Juan M, Navarro-Hoyos M, Villar-López M. Exploring the chemical and pharmacological variability of Lepidium meyenii: a comprehensive review of the effects of maca. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Feb 19;15:1360422. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1360422. PMID: 38440178; PMCID: PMC10910417.

Wang, Yali, et al. “Maca: An Andean Crop with Multi-pharmacological Functions.” Food Research International, vol. 40, no. 7, 2007, pp. 783-792, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2007.02.005. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Original article "Toronto Functional Medicine Centre – (416) 968-6961" first appeared in the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Can Environmental Toxins Disrupt Your Skin? An IV Therapy Toronto Report

As we’ve discussed in our IV Therapy Toronto blog, exposures to contaminants – like mold and second-hand smoke – can influence disease formation. But does this mean that toxins can affect our skin, too? As a matter of fact, yes!

Environmental toxins can impact skin health because the skin is a protective barrier and an organ that interacts with the outside world. “As the body’s largest and most exposed organ, the skin encounters a multitude of environmental aggressors, … leading to premature chrono and photoaging, pigmentation disorders, and an increased prevalence of inflammatory skin diseases,” confirms a JAAD Reviews article.

Indeed, contaminants have been linked to declines in skin aging and inflammatory conditions – which can compromise your skin’s protective duties. Here, we explain these detrimental effects on the skin and how to take protective measures with functional medicine and IV therapy treatments.

How Environmental Toxins Can Harm Your Skin

Over time, environmental stressors don’t just stay on the skin’s surface – they can change how our skin looks, feels, and heals. Here’s how toxins can influence your skin and why protecting it matters:

Contaminants can cause oxidative stress and premature aging: Toxins generate free radicals – these are unstable molecules that can damage skin cells and proteins like collagen and elastin. This can lead to the formation of wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, and a dull-like appearance.
These exposures can cause inflammation and the formation of skin conditions: Pollutants can disrupt the skin’s natural microbiome and trigger chronic low-grade inflammation. In fact, “Acne, hyperpigmentation, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis have been shown to be influenced by air pollution,” explains an article from the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology.
They can disrupt the functioning of the skin barrier: The skin keeps moisture in and irritants out of the body. Environmental toxins can deteriorate this barrier, which can lead to dryness, sensitivity, and increased permeability. A compromised barrier makes skin prone to infections and irritants, too.

Common Environmental Toxins That Can Harm Your Skin

Air pollutants

Cigarette smke (first and second-hand)

Heavy metals: (i.e. arsenic, lead, cadmium)

UV radiation

Emdocrine-dirupting chemicals from plastics, pesticides, etc.

Hyperpigmentation can form from pollution: Some toxins, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (which are emitted from traffic and industrial pollution), stimulate melanin overproduction. This can potentially cause the formation of dark spots and uneven pigmentation.
Toxicities promote carcinogenic effects: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation (which happens to be a natural environmental toxin) and certain chemicals, such as arsenic or dioxins, boosts the risks for skin cancer by damaging DNA.
Pollutants can also impair skin healing abilities: Environmental toxins can reduce the skin’s ability to regenerate and repair itself, delaying wound healing and recovery from irritations. This is due to excessive oxidative damage and inflammation, which can impede re-epithelialization – the process in which new skin is formed for restoring the barrier.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Skin from Pollution?

We cannot control some of the toxicities around us – but what we can do is use methods to optimize our skin health. Here are some general tips to start:

Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Remove makeup at night and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face and body during the day.
Use moisturizers that contain ceramides. Ceramides are lipids on the epidermis that act as protective layers against pollutants – think of them as ‘bricks’ for the skin! As we mature, the body takes longer to replenish ceramides, which can lead to moisture loss and skin sensitivities. When ceramides are added to moisturizers, they can help soften and protect the skin.
You can also apply topical antioxidants, such as lotions and serums containing vitamin C. Consider taking oral supplements or get custom intravenous therapy with antioxidant ingredients, including glutathione, NAC, NAD+, vitamin E, and more – combining IV therapy with healthy living and other treatments can help protect skin from the inside-out.
Support the body’s natural elimination processes and overall metabolic function. For example, detoxification may improve from eating hydrating foods, like watermelon, leafy greens, and citrus fruits; getting enough sleep at night; being physically active; and staying hydrated with water and electrolytes.

If you’re struggling with wrinkles, dark spots, or unsolved rashes, learn more about our custom integrated therapy services today! We understand that health care is a personal choice, which is why patients are welcome to collaborate with our functional medicine practitioners. Think of our practice as a wellness & recovery hub, where lab tests, high-dose nutrients, and more are customized for your unique biology. (Downtown Toronto in-person and virtual care is available.)

How To Get Functional Medicine and IV Therapy from Our Toronto Clinic

We are accepting new patients who are committed to optimizing their wellness. Getting treated by our functional and IV therapy clinicians is an easy process – all you need to do is attend an initial consult with one of our practitioners! During this session, we take ample time to discuss your health goals, symptoms, genetic predisposition, lifestyle/environmental factors and more. As we are an integrative functional medicine practice, we take your unique factors into account for customizing your treatment plan.

Tailored health strategies can include a range of modalities, integrating allopathic and naturopathic medicine with herbal remedies, compression therapy, Chinese medicine, among others. Each of our therapies are customized with functional medicine principles, including doses for intravenous therapy drips. Vitamin drip therapy is administered in our IV Lounge and is conveniently located inside our clinic. We can prescribe a variety of nutrients from our IV vitamin drip menu, including amino acids, NAD+, high-dose vitamin C infusions, glutathione, vitamin B1, and other nutrients; IV drips can be customized for unique holistic health goals, especially for complimenting sports medicine and/or sports rehabilitation treatments.

Next to tailoring doses of vitamin IV therapy, you should know that we only use natural ingredients – we do not add preservatives to our IV drips! Safety and efficiency are important to us, too, and IV drip therapy sessions are carefully supervised by our team of naturopathic doctors, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners. Please don’t hesitate to call or email our front desk today.

When combined with lifestyle changes and added functional medicine therapies, tailored IV drips can support health enhancements. Revolutionize your skin & body health now – simply start here to reach our IV Lounge in Toronto for a consultation.

References

Bocheva G, Slominski RM, Slominski AT. Environmental Air Pollutants Affecting Skin Functions with Systemic Implications. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jun 22;24(13):10502. doi: 10.3390/ijms241310502. PMID: 37445680; PMCID: PMC10341863.

Eberlein-König, Barbara, et al. “Air Pollution (Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Dioxide) and Skin Aging.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology, vol. 139, no. 1, 2019, pp. 52–59. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30627745/.

Haykal, Diala, et al. “The Impact of Pollution and Climate Change on Skin Health: Mechanisms, Protective Strategies, and Future Directions.” JAAD Reviews, vol. 6, 2025, pp. 1-11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdrv.2025.05.001. Accessed 10 Sept. 2025.

Kim, Kyung-Chan, et al. “Air Pollution, Autophagy, and Skin Aging: Impact of Particulate Matter (PM10) on Human Dermal Fibroblasts.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 19, no. 9, 2018, Article 2727. MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/9/2727.

Kim, Kyung-A, et al. “Particulate Matter–Induced Emerging Health Effects Associated with Oxidative Stress and Inflammation.” Antioxidants, vol. 13, no. 10, 2024, Article 1256. MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/10/1256.

Lee JW, Ratnakumar K, Hung KF, Rokunohe D, Kawasumi M. Deciphering UV-induced DNA Damage Responses to Prevent and Treat Skin Cancer. Photochem Photobiol. 2020 May;96(3):478-499. doi: 10.1111/php.13245. Epub 2020 May 4. PMID: 32119110; PMCID: PMC7651136.

Rinnerthaler, Mark, et al. “Oxidative Stress and Ageing: The Influence of Environmental Pollution, Sunlight and Diet on Skin.” Cosmetics, vol. 4, no. 1, 2017, Article 4. MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/4/1/4.

Roberts, Wendy. “Air Pollution and Skin Disorders.” International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, vol. 7, no. 1, 2021, pp. 91-97, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.11.001. Accessed 11 Sept. 2025.

Rousselle, Patricia, et al. “Re-epithelialization of Adult Skin Wounds: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies.” Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, vol. 146, 2019, pp. 344-365, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2018.06.019. Accessed 12 Sept. 2025.

Schikowski, Tamara, et al. “Environmental Air Pollutants Affecting Skin Functions with Systemic Implications.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 13, 2023, Article 10502. MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/13/10502.

Uddin, Md. Jashim, et al. “Elemental and Molecular Imaging of Human Full Thickness Skin after Exposure to Heavy Metals.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 740, 2020, Article 140122. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32851388/.

Xu, Fang, et al. “The Impact of Air Pollution on Skin and Related Disorders: A Comprehensive Review.” Frontiers in Environmental Science, vol. 9, 2021, Article 730380. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33527709/.

Original article "Toronto Functional Medicine Centre – (416) 968-6961" first appeared in the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website.