Balms and Manna Blog

Hormones...We all Have Them but Don't Always Like Them!

7/1/2020

In my daily interactions with women, it seems like the topic of hormones frequently come up.

I hear conversations like, "I think my hormones aren't balanced. What is the best way to know?" and "I'm suffering from really bad mood swings for no reason," and "My husband says 'Please ask Becky to help you with your PMS'".

We all have hormones and they are beautiful, amazing things when they are balanced. Hormones are responsible for our metabolism, regulating body temperature, healthy inflammation levels, building muscles and bones, sleep cycles, stress levels, weight, energy and many other body functions.

But in the society we live in, it's easy for hormone imbalance to be a real thing that many women deal with! Pain, irritability, fatigue, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, poor digestion, food sensitivities are all symptoms of imbalanced hormones.

Stress, nutrition, exercise and toxins are fundamental building blocks of healthy hormones. With a little awareness of what your body is telling you, some education about how the body works combined with diligence and time will go a long way to bringing your hormones back into the balance that God intended them to be.

I would love to encourage you on that journey! I offer a 6 month personalized program to help you restore that balance using supplements, lifestyle modifications, nutrition education and encouragement along the way. Email me to schedule a time for us to start your program!

Who's Wants A Natural Bug Spray?

6/15/2020

So many people have been asking what I use instead of bug spray with all those nasty chemicals. As summer heats up, so do the pesky pests when you are outside. I'm so grateful doTERRA has an amazing blend of oils called Terrashield to make my experience outside a pleasant one!

Terrashield comes in a convenient 30 ml spray bottle that is safe to use on babies and adults and is small enough to slip in your purse or bag. I love the invigorating, vanilla scent even though the pests seem to think it smells bad. A few squirts on your wrists, ankles and neck and you are all set!

Get your own bottle!

Understanding Lab Tests

6/3/2020

Do you ever get your labs results back from the doctor and wonder what it means if your numbers are out of range? And then what should you do about it?

Conventional lab ranges are based on a bell curve distribution of test results. What this means is conventional ranges are based off the "normal" person and those ranges get wider and wider as the population gets sicker and sicker. Optimal ranges are based off of what is best for optimal health.

Looking at optimal ranges of lab tests can provide valuable information about body function and processes. It's one of the tools I use to identify risk factors and for lifestyle recommendations for optimizing health. By taking a look at all the results together, it can provide pieces to a build bigger picture of the person's health as a whole.

If you would like more information about lab tests and how they can help you identify risk factors, let me know. I would be glad to help you!

*I do not willfully diagnose or treat diseases or medical conditions, nor do I perform any invasive bodily procedures. I do not prescribe or administer drugs or controlled substances to another person.

Adaptiv. What We All Have to be Right Now

5/15/2020

Adaptiv is a new blend that doTERRA came out with last fall. Little did doTERRA know how much we would need this oil in six months! It's become my purse buddy and goes with me everywhere I go!

Adaptiv helps your body adjust to stress by supporting healthy cortisol levels. What that means is, it helps you to:
*Sleep better
*Feel less anxious
*Sustain attention
*Ease irritability
*Improve energy

It has a fresh but calming scent with Wild Orange, Lavender, Copaiba, Spearmint, Magnolia, Rosemary, Neroli, and Sweetgum oils in the blend.

*To use- Roll on wrist or back of the neck or diffuse 2-3 drops to ease tension and stress. Learn more here.

Iron...How do I Know if I'm Low?

5/1/2020

I've had several women in the last few months come to me with complaints of low iron. Many of them didn't know their iron was low until they did a blood test. In America, 20% of women are iron deficient.

What are the symptoms of low iron?
1- Fatigue
2- Pale skin
3- Dizziness, lightheaded, weakness
4- Fast heart rate, chest pain
5- Headaches
6- Stomach pain
7- Joint pain
8-Craving to eat items that aren't food- ice, dirt, or clay

Raising iron levels through supplementation:
1- Always get a blood test before starting supplementing
2- Ferrous gluconate form is gentle on the bowels
3- Take vitamin C with iron supplement to increase absorption

Raising iron levels through diet:
1- Beef
2- Liver
3- Turkey
4- Chicken
6- Fish
7- Spinach
8- Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
9-Firm tofu
10- Beans and lentils

I'm New to Essential Oils. Tell Me More About Them!

3/27/2020

You’ve seen them on store shelves, you’ve smelled them on the person sitting next to you on the airplane, but what are essential oils exactly? Are they simply a fancy beauty product? Are they a new fad that’ll soon pass?

The truth is, millions of people use essential oils every single day for things like cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, fitness, sleep, overall health, and more.

They are the essence of plants, taken from roots, bark, flowers, seeds, and other plant parts. Essential oils can also protect a plant from predators or environmental conditions.

Learning how to use essential oils is easy.
Essential oils can be used to:
· Promote healthy-looking skin.
· Cleanse the air and eliminate odors.
· Help maintain a healthy respiratory system and feelings of clear breathing.*
· Support good oral hygiene.*
· Promote healthy digestion.*
· Create an uplifting atmosphere.

Here are a few examples of ways you can use essential oils:
· Diffuse a few drops of essential oil using a diffuser.
· Place a drop of oil in your hands, rub your palms together, and inhale deeply.
· Apply essential oils to the wrists and wear as a personal fragrance.
· Add a drop of oil to your moisturizer or face cleanser to promote healthy-looking skin
Put a few drops in a glass of water for internal benefits (Lemon oil and Grapefruit oil work well for this).

Don’t wait another day to experience the amazing benefits of essential oils. Still wondering how to use essential oils? It’s easier than you might think. Leave a comment below and I’ll answer your essential oil questions!

Simple but Powerful! Easy, Homemade Liquid Soap

3/18/2020

I've been making my own dish and hand soap for years! It's honestly one of the easiest things to do and it only requires a few ingredients! Plus, I love that I can add essential oils for immune boosting benefits or for a scent to match the season!

Dish Soap

1 1/2 cups Liquid Castile soap (available at the Country Cupboard)
1/2 cup water
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 tsp baking soda
20 drops of essential oil

Mix all ingredients together and put in a 16 oz glass pump bottle (available at the Country Cupboard).
*The vegetable glycerin and baking soda keep it from gumming up and sticking to the spout on your pump.
**You can also use this recipe for hand soap as well.

Why Should I Use Cedarwood?

2/21/2020

Cedarwood is maybe an essential oil you've heard of but you aren't sure how to use it.

Its warm, woody, calming cedar scent soothes the body and mind. Diffuse in your home or office to promote feelings of confidence, self-esteem, and evoke feelings of wellness.
Add an extra boost of vitality and wellness to your workout. Before beginning, massage one to two drops onto chest for motivation throughout any workout.
Incorporate into your daily facial routine by adding one to two drops to your facial toner or moisturizer for added clarifying properties and to help improve the appearance of skin imperfections.

Learn more about dōTERRA Cedarwood by checking out its uses and benefits below.
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-cedarwood-oil

How Safe is Your Dishwasher Detergent?

1/25/2020

Have you ever considered that what you wash your dishes with eventually ends up in your body? Yikes! Do you really want to be ingesting what's in your detergent?

According to Environmental Working Group, the leading two dishwasher detergents- Cascade and Finish both have moderate to high risks to your health.

Cascade Platinum Action Pacs detergent has a high risk for cancer, developmental and reproductive health, skin irritation and asthma/respiratory health.

Finish Quantum Max Powerball detergent has a moderate risk for skin irritation, damage to vision and DNA, cancer, digestive effects, developmental/reproductive/endocrine and respiratory effects.

If thinking about your dishwasher detergent causes alarm to you, you have a few options.

1- Make your own dishwasher detergent (recipe below) that has little to no risks to your health. It only has 4 ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store and made in 5 minutes or less! Plus it makes your dishes sparkle!

2- Go to Environmental Working Group and search under your favorite detergent to see how safe it is for you.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup citric acid
1/2 cup kosher salt

Put all ingredients in a large bowl and stir together until combined. Use 1/2-1 tablespoon per dishwasher load.

Top 5 Uses for Lemongrass Oil

1/8/2020

Lemongrass is a unique oil with a fresh uplifting scent! My favorite uses for lemongrass are when my muscles are sore, when I need to relieve urinary discomfort and if my cholesterol levels need balancing.

Use Lemongrass oil for lymph and cardiovascular support

Place a drop in a Veggie Cap and swallow to keep fluids and bowels moving.
Place a drop in a Veggie Cap and swallow to maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Use Lemongrass oil for the skin and muscles

Combine Lemongrass oil with Tea Tree oil and apply the mixture to your fingernails and toenails to keep them looking clean.
Soothe muscles and ligaments: Add a few drops of Lemongrass oil to a lotion or a carrier oil and massage the legs and feet after a tough workout.

Use Lemongrass oil to uplift mood

Diffuse to overpower feelings of nervousness or eliminate mental fatigue.
Diffuse at your desk at work to help promote a positive outlook and heighten your awareness.

Use Lemongrass oil for cooking

Culinary uses: Add a drop (or less) of Lemongrass oil to soups, teas, seafood, curries, beef dishes, or poultry dishes for an extra kick of flavor.

Use Lemongrass oil for urinary support

Add a drop to a veggie cap or rub diluted over the abdomen to ease urinary discomfort.