To all of our clients at Primal Practice, I wanted to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you who I have had the privilege and honor to meet and take care of while here. My time here has been wonderful, challenging, and rewarding. I never take it lightly when a parent hands me their child, when a mom is requesting support for her pregnancy and postpartum, or when a person comes in seeking better health and vitality for themselves. As a chiropractor I think I have one of the best jobs in the world, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to be YOUR chiropractor. 
My family and I will be in Kalispell, which isn't so far away, so if you're ever in the area, reach out and say hi!
Until we meet again, be well, stay healthy, and get adjusted! :) 

In love, health and wellness,
Dr. Morgan

Who loves the smell of a candle burning?
I must admit I do, but here's something to know: I'm picky about my candles, and actually, with most scents in my home. The fragrances that burn off in a candle, or a scentsy pot, or an air freshener (like a Glade plug-in) definitely smell good, but can have negative impacts on your health. 
If you struggle with headaches, sinus issues, or respiratory problems, assess the scents in your home. Burning a candle of paraffin wax releases volatile organic compounds into the air, like acetone, benzene, and tuolene. These are known carcinogens. The burning can also release particulate matter into the air. If you still want to burn candles, choose ones that are made with beeswax, soy wax, or other plant based waxes. 
If you want to switch from air fresheners or scentsy pots, try a diffuser with different blends of essential oils! The beauty of using a diffuser is that you get to pick the scent and mix it up whenever you want. You may have noticed we have several diffusers around in the office and have smelled different blends that Aimee usually whips up! Questions about diffusers, oils, candles, or scents in general? Let us know!

In health and wellness,
Dr. Morgan

What is another easy way to make a swap in the chemicals in your home? Your laundry soap! You wear your clothes all day long and the chemicals on the materials can leach into your skin (ever buy a new pair of blue jeans and end up with colored legs?). What you are washing your clothes, bedding, towels, in matters! 
The sulfates, phenols, oxylates, bleaches, surfactants, distillants, and brighteners in the soaps can be toxic to your skin. This also goes for fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Your skin absorbs these chemicals. Sometimes in the office, if a kiddo is struggling with a rash, we recommend switching out laundry soaps. It doesn't matter if you don't necessarily have sensitive skin, all of us absorb chemicals through our skin. 
Why does this matter? Because quality ingredients matter! Your body must adapt to all the stressors you encounter on a daily basis, whether physical, chemical, or mental. An overwhelm of stress leads subluxations developing in your nervous system as your body struggles to adapt to the stress input. An overwhelmed nervous system cannot function properly, and leads to us feeling symptoms as our body attempts to communicate with us to change our ways.
Here in Missoula, KeliGreen is a laundry soap company with a mission to provide "healthy, safe, and effective biodegradable soap whose sole purpose is to clean your clothes while leaving no trace behind." You can find the soap at The Good Food Store, Orange Street Food Farm, Missoula Community Food Co-op, and Missoula Fresh Market. Check it out and let us know what you think!

In health and wellness,
​Dr. Morgan

What is the load of the chemical stressors in your life? It can initially be overwhelming to consider all of the difference products you use on a daily basis, but one swap at a time is easy enough to do, and your health will thank you for it!
Deodorants and anti-perspirants are a commonly used product, but it is important to consider the quality of the ingredients in your deodorant. Is there aluminum? Sulfates? Parabens? Fragrance? Your skin is highly absorbent and the things you put on your skin get pulled into your body. Your armpit is close to lymphatic tissue and breast tissue. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin. Applying a deodorant with aluminum in it means your body is absorbing that metal in and it is going into the lymph and breast tissues. Obviously, it is a very minute amount but it adds up over time. Sulfates, parabens, and fragrance are known toxic chemicals as well. The sticky thing with fragrance is that companies don't need to disclose what makes up their specific fragrances; they are only required to label that they are using fragrance (this also goes for natural flavoring labels on food, but that's for a different conversation). 
Swapping out your deodorant is a super easy way to decrease the chemical stressors in your home. Coming Up Rainbows is a local business that makes a great deodorant with quality ingredients and no harsh chemicals. You can find Erika, the maker, on Instagram @cominguprainbows or find her products at some of the local grocery stories, like Orange Street Food farm. 

In health and wellness,
​Dr. Morgan