Functional Medicine Nutritionist & Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner

Megan Murphy-Rouse MS, CNS®, LD, CAP, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist® and licensed dietician practicing Functional Medicine Nutrition, as well an a National Ayurvedic Medical Association Board Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. She specializes her practice in gastrointestinal and hormonal health.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Megan graduated with honors from the University of Western States with a Master's of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine where her capstone research focused on nutraceuticals to treat and reverse endometriosis. Prior to getting her Master's degree, Megan lived and worked in residency at Mount Madonna Institute, College of  Ayurveda, from 2009-2012 when she graduated as valedictorian and became a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (CAP).  Megan is also a Certified Nutrition Specialist,® designating her as having achieved the most rigorous clinical qualifications to perform personalized medical nutrition therapy. Megan's post-graduate studies have been primarily with the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM). She has completed all seven of the advanced practice modules with IFM and is now a candidate to become an IFM Certified Practitioner (IFMCP). Megan's post-graduate training in Ayurvedic medicine has focused on women's reproductive health with Dr. Sarita Shresta, AyuMD, OBGYN and the seasoned Ayurvedic midwife, Terra Rafael. She has since enhanced this focus with additional training in Functional Endocrinology and Integrative Infertility coursework with Dr. Jaqueline Smeaton, ND. 

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CLINICAL BACKGROUND

Megan has been in clinical practice since 2013. She has mentored with some of the greatest minds in Functional Medicine, including Dr. Michael Stone, MD, IFMCP-M. Dr. Stone was granted the prestigious Linus Pauling Award from the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) in 2019 for his development of "the Functional Medicine Matrix". For five years, Megan worked closely alongside Dr. Stone at his Functional Medicine Family Practice in Ashland Oregon (Stone Medical, PC). Together they co-facilitated many group medical visits on Cardiometabolic health and worked collaboratively to provide comprehensive care for patients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Megan also mentored with international speaker/educator Dr. Filomena Trindade, MD, IFMCP-M for four years. Megan provided Functional Nutrition counseling to patients at Dr. Trindade's clinic and helped Dr. Trindade develop her alkaline-ketogenic food plan as well as her online clinician training program, "The Saudade Certification," which provides comprehensive professional education on gut and hormone health.

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CLINICAL APPROACH 

Megan's unique clinical approach blends the cutting-edge science of Functional Medicine Nutrition with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. She helps individuals identify the underlying cause(s) of imbalances in their bodies that are perpetuating dis-ease. She emphasizes nutrition and lifestyle as primary, foundational interventions, having a food-first approach. As a whole, Megan uses functional medicine, nutritional medicine, lifestyle medicine, nutraceutical, and/or botanical therapies with the aim to correct the root cause(s) of imbalance so that healing can unfold naturally. Megan takes a team approach in her counseling style - working with you to co-create a plan that honors the context of your life and that best suits the unique needs of your body & mind. She works at your pace, respecting the transformative process that it is to incrementally restructure nutrition and lifestyle habits. 

CLINICAL AREAS OF FOCUS

Megan works primarily with women and specializes her work in her two passion areas: (1) gut and (2) hormones.

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Gastrointestinal: 

-IBS and SIBO/IMO, GERD, Constipation, Diarrhea, Heartburn, Bloating, Gas, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Food Sensitivities and Intolerances, Celiac Disease, Peptic Ulceration, Intestinal Yeast Overgrowth, as well as Gallbladder and Pancreatic problems and general dysbiosis of the microbiome.

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Hormones: 

-Impaired female fertility and other hormonal conditions such as: PCOS, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, endometriosis, low ovarian reserve, high FSH, Hypothalamic-pituitary amenorrhea, anovulation, premature ovarian insufficiency, luteal phase defect, PMS, PMDD, recurrent pregnancy loss,  unexplained infertility, age-related infertility, perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia and mood swings,  adrenal dysfunction, as well as reproductive microbiome & aging challenges such as: chronic vaginal candidiasis, repeated UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, atrophic vaginitis, and urogenital syndrome of menopause. 

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-Impaired male fertility and associated conditions such as poor semen parameters, adrenal dysfunction, poor detoxification, high DNA fragmentation index, low testosterone & high estrogen, insulin resistance and recurrent miscarriage in female partners.

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-Pregnancy & Postpartum: Megan is filled with joy to support women in optimizing the health of their pregnancy through each trimester, so Baby has the best possible start to life and a solid foundational health that will last them a lifetime. She also works with issues that may arise in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, insomnia, gallbladder issues, iron deficiency anemia, constipation etc. and postpartum issues such as complex breastfeeding challenges, depression/anxiety and healing from birth.

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Other: 

Megan works frequently with blood sugar regulation issues (hyper or hypoglycemia), weight management, and repairing fractured relationships with food and Self.

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PERSONAL LIFE

In her spare time, you'll find Megan going on long hikes in the Southern Oregon mountains, waterskiing on beautiful freshwater lakes, dancing in the kitchen, singing together in a circle of women, or sipping Puerh tea (gong fu style) and reading her favorite fantasy novels aloud with her best friend and husband, Andrew Murphy-Rouse, and their four-legged firstborn, Zuka the cat, and their affectionate & oh-so-adorable Bernedoodle puppy, Kona Bear. 

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