CLINICAL FOCUS: Neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, migraines, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, seizures, and many more. Supporting brain health.
Welcome! I’m Dr. Maria Shapoval, ND. I am a naturopathic doctor focusing on Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, as well as supporting brain health. During the Coronavirus Outbreak, I will only be providing care through telemedicine for patients in Ontario. Consulting options are available through telemedicine to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. If you consider yourself someone who is willing to try new things and maintain an open mind, I would be honored and excited to introduce you to new treatment options that may improve your the way you live – no matter what condition or prognosis you are facing. All I ask for is your willingness to try and a positive attitude.
Accepting Telemedicine appointments for May 2020.
I am passionate about neurological conditions, in particular Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Thus I dedicate my clinical practice to supporting patients suffering from these conditions and focusing on supporting brain health and prevention. One of my favorite aspects of naturopathic medicine is the flexibility that it offers. There are so many different treatments to choose from. This flexibility is crucial when dealing with complex neurological conditions. Brain health does not only affect the function of the nervous system but end up affecting the whole person. Conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s influence mood, digestive function, quality of life, even the sleep and cardiovascular systems. These conditions do not fit the neat borders of medical classifications and require us to provide integrative treatments to address the multiple factors of these diseases. Hence why it is so important to have access to a wide range of treatment options. Preventing brain disease is also very important as in today’s world we see an increase in stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other problems of the nerves.
Research is very important to my clinical practice! As it is my job to provide you with both safe and effective treatments I spend a lot of time making sure I am up to date on the latest neurological research. I frequently travel to various neurological conferences around the country and engage in courses and certifications to expand my expertise. As a member of the research team at the Department of Research & Clinical Epidemiology at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine located in Toronto, I am thus privileged to coordinate clinical trials and contribute to the development of new naturopathic treatments. I am a member of the Movement Disorder Society. This gives me the opportunity to engage with the leading neurologists around the globe and receive additional training. This year I had the great pleasure of attending the 21st International Congress on Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. This is the largest international conference that was attend by close to five thousand leading neurologists and researchers in the world.
Parkinson’s Disease affects between 1-2% of the population over the age of 65. The key symptoms include tremor, slowing down of movement, and muscle rigidity. However, there is significant variability in the presentation. Additional motor symptoms can include gait abnormalities, balance problems, difficulty with speech and hand writing as well as changes in facial expressions. Non motor symptoms can include constipation, loss of smell or a change in smell, urinary and sexual difficulties and sleep abnormalities. As a naturopathic doctor I can offer support in managing both motor and non-motor symptoms through diverse range of treatment options (see Services for more details).
Naturopathic Doctors are regulated in Ontario under the Regulated Health Professional Act by The College of Naturopaths of Ontario. After completing a 4 year undergraduate degree, naturopathic doctors complete an intensive 4 year naturopathic medicine program that includes 1 year of clinical internship and countless hours of clinical observation. In addition, ND’s must successfully complete two licensing exams – Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations. ND’s may further their education by completing a 2 year residency. In my case, I had the privilege of competing the 2 year residency focusing on research in Parkinson’s disease.
While I am currently located within Toronto and am seeing patients with the Greater Toronto Area, I am do video/audio conferences for long distance patients located in Ontario as well as Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and Northwest Territories. For more information please schedule a free phone consultation by calling 647-483-2224
CBD and Parkinson’s Disease Almost fifty percent of my patients inquire about medical marijuana for their Parkinson’s Disease at some point during the course of their condition. Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is composed of over 400 different compounds. There are also different species of Cannabis, including C. sativa, C. indica and C. ruderalis. The percentages of these compounds … Continued
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Shinyin-Yoku is “forest bathing”. This practice comes from the early 80’s of Japan and helps to relieve negative emotions, balance cortisol and release stress. It is a practice that incorporates the healing power of nature with stress management techniques and provides a way to connect to the environment. My recent experience: Pause… take a deep … Continued
Painful Cramps or Dysmenorrhea: A Few Naturopathic Treatments Menstrual cramps can be quite painful and debilitating! Dysmenorrhea, which is the medical term for painful menstrual cramps, affects between 50 to 80 percent of women. While mild cramping can interfere with quality of life and cause the sufferer to reach for a painkiller like Advil … Continued
