Balms and Manna - Balms and Manna Blog

Are Your Oil Bottles Getting Dusty?

4/15/2021

There is nothing worse than investing in essential oils only to have them sit on the shelf and get dusty! Raise your hand if you can relate!

If you have oils that aren't being used, I want to help you!

Message me with a list of oils you have that you aren't using and your health priorities

*I'll create a personalized plan for you to use your oils
*You will receive a beautiful handout on each oil you have with great tips on how to use them
*If you aren't already receiving it, I will send you my weekly 1 minute Stop, Drop and Roll essential oil tip
*Provide you with continued education and resources for essential oils

I will work with you until you are 100% confident with how to use your oils so that you too can live a vibrant, abundant life!

Why Detox?

3/29/2021

Spring is the perfect time to detox! Your body is already naturally detoxing to help it move from winter to spring.

But why do we need to detox? Overtime we pick up toxins from our environment in the air, the chemicals added to the ground, food and products we use and from the things we put on our bodies.

Toxins disrupt our hormone balance, contribute to inflammation, digestion & respiratory problems, weight gain and poor sleep to name a few.

Detoxing promotes:

Better digestion
Better skin
Better metabolism
Better mood
More energy
Less weight
Less inflammation

What is the best detox for you?

Detox can be diet changes such as eliminating dairy, gluten, sugar and process foods.
You can eliminate toxic cleaners and body care products by replacing them with non toxic cleaners such as doTERRA's OnGuard*, Verage or Essential Skin Care lines.
Or you can use herbs and essential oils to focus in on the areas you want to detox.
- Whole Body- Cellular Detox*
- Focus on Chemicals- EnviroDetox*
- Hormone- Indole 3 Carbinol*
- Skin and Body Odor- Liquid Chlorophyll*
- Heavy Metals- Heavy Metal Detox*

If this seems overwhelming, contact me and I would be happy to customize a detox plan for you!
*Can be purchased at the Country Cupboard in Fairbury, IL.

Three Are Better than One!

3/10/2021

Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint are three of the most common, yet powerful essential oils! Essential oils are lovely by themselves but when you combine them together you create a synergy that supersedes their effect individually! This is the case with Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint.

LaLePep as we like to call this blend is an amazing remedy to use for this time of the year as the flowering trees start to bud, the pollen content goes up and things are blooming! It soothes and calms seasonal discomforts and helps you enjoy this time of year.

Lemon is a great cleanser for the body, sinuses and your home! In this blend, it helps to clear out congestion and irritants.

Lavender is soothing and calming to your bodies reaction to irritants. I love to apply this to my throat, forehead and cheekbones when things feel tight and uncomfortable.

Peppermint opens the airways, allows for more blood flow and promotes circulation to assist the body with clearing out irritants.

This blend is best when used multiple times daily before you start to have discomfort. If discomfort arises, apply every 60 minutes until issue is resolved.

To use:
Blend equal parts of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint in a bottle. Use 2-3 drops internally several times a day, diffuse 3-4 drops of the blend or dilute and apply topically to areas of discomfort.

This trio is the perfect blend of oils to start with if you are new to oils and come prepackaged all ready to go in a kit!

Do You Know What's In Your Laundry Detergent?

2/25/2021

The warmth of the sunshine, the birds singing and the daylight lasting longer means spring is almost here! Yay! That makes me think about washing my sheets and hanging my laundry outside! Who doesn't love the fresh scent of air dried laundry?

And speaking of fresh scents of laundry, do you know what gives your laundry it's scent? FRAGRANCE. Fragrance is the term for a companies "patented formula" that they aren't required to disclose. But loaded in "fragrance" are chemicals that our bodies absorb as we wear our clothes all day. These chemicals degrade immune systems, alter hormones, promote free radicals and can cause birth defects and cancer! Learn more about toxins in cleaners at ewg.org

So....these are a few of my favorite non toxic laundry detergents!

1- doTERRA's OnGuard Laundry Detergent
*Free of fragrances, dyes and toxins
*Perfect for top and front loaders
*Color safe and an effective stain remover
*A little goes a long ways- 64 washes per bottle
*Smells amazing
*Wash in all temperatures
*Every bottle has 10 ml of OnGuard Protective Blend essential oil in it!

2- Homemade Toxic Free Laundry Soap
*Economical
*4 simple ingredients
*Easy to make
*Can personalize scent
*Gentle, non toxic
*Wash in all temperatures

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1 bar shaved Castile bar soap (available at the Country Cupboard)
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
3-15 drops of Purify or OnGuard essential oil (or scent of your choice)

Add 1-2 Tbsp of powder with warm or hot water. If using cold water, first run hot water in washing machine to slightly dissolve so it distributes evening through the clothes. You won't see a lot of suds but your clothes will be spectacularly clean!

Why Natural Skin Care?

2/17/2021

I've always struggled with having clear skin and sorting through all the claims and endless options seemed overwhelming to me. I wanted clear and healthy skin but didn't know where to start!

I'd love to share about my skin care journey with you! Join me for INTRO TO NATURAL SKIN CARE webinar on February 19th at 10 am CST.

In 30 minutes, learn about:
*Role of our skin
*Why natural?
*How to choose skin care products
*Harmful ingredients and safety concerns
*Common skin issues
*Nutrition and natural tips for the skin

I want to join! Send me the link!

Want to Change Your Health Habits but Overwhelmed with Where to Start?

2/10/2021

Here are five simple things you can start today to feel and look better!

1- Eat Real Food- Eat food in its natural state. Try shopping around the perimeter of grocery stores and eating more raw fruits and veggies. Choose foods that represent all the colors of the rainbow to widen your intake of nutrients and vitamins.

2- Minimize Processed Foods- This means anything that comes in a package or bag. The longer the shelf life of what you eat, the shorter yours will be.

3- Eat Healthy Fats- Upgrade your choice of oil from canola, vegetable, corn, soybean and margarine to avocado, coconut, olive oil and butter. Fill your diet with nuts, seeds, olives and salmon.

4- Eat with Friends- Eating with friends improves digestion by slowing down your eating, stimulating more stomach acid to fully digest your food, increased enjoyment and savoring of your meal and decreasing your stress. Turn off the tv, phones and avoid reading or scrolling while you eat.

5- Drink More Water- Drink half your body weight in ounces of water (not tea, juice or other liquids, just water). If drinking water is difficult for you, add doTERRA citrus essential oils to flavor your water and ease your toxin load.

How Do I Know Which Way to Use My Essential Oils?

1/28/2021

Investing in essential oils is one of the best things you can do! But once you get your oils home, it can be a little overwhelming with how to use them. Let me make it super simple for you!

Aromatically

To clean and purify the air
To boost immunity and open the airways
To support emotions and uplift the mood

How to use:

Add 6-8 drops of any combination of essential oils to a diffuser
Drop or roll directly on palms, rub together, cup hands over face without touching, and inhale deeply

Topically

To address any area of the body that needs support (pain, skin issues, etc)
Apply to the bottom of feet, back, back or sides of neck, forehead, temples, chest, abdomen, arms/wrists, legs/knees, hands

How to use:

Use with hot compress when applying to an area of concern
Dilute at a 1:4 ratio with Fractionated Coconut Oil or use a doTERRA touch roller
Use one drop or circle (with roller) up to every 30 minutes as needed

Internally

To address the whole body or body system (such as digestion, metabolism, immunity, hormone balance, nervous system, etc)
For cellular support

* Only for doTERRA essential oils that are labeled for internal use and have supplement facts.

How to use:

Put 1 drop under the tongue
Put 1-2 drops in a water and drink
Put in empty veggie capsule and swallow

If you would like to learn more about how to use your oils, contact me and I'll work with you until you feel 100% comfortable with your oils!

Zinc- It's More Than an Immunity Supplement

1/21/2021

Lately, I've heard a lot of people talking about taking zinc to stay well. It is great for the immune system but it has so many more benefits!

Here are the Top 6 Benefits of Zinc:
1. Supports Immune Function- Improves macrophage, neutrophil and natural killer cell activity

2. Encourages Digestive Absorption- Helps break down amino acids and carbohydrates

3. Helps Balance Hormones and Improves Fertility- Needed for the creation and release of healthy eggs, supports healthy testosterone levels, and needed for the production of estrogen and progesterone

4. Balances Blood Sugar- It binds to insulin and then allows insulin to be released from the pancreas when glucose enters the bloodstream

5. Supports Heart Health- Supports healthy circulation, inflammation and nourishes the lining of blood vessels

6. Powerful Antioxidant for the Eyes and Liver- Encourages healthy cell division and fights oxidative stress, slows down vision loss and macular degeneration, support healthy inflammation in the liver and promotes healthy elimination

My favorite brand of Zinc is Nature's Sunshine. You can purchase it at the Country Cupboard in Fairbury for $19.15 or online here.

Tried and True-For Me and You!

12/30/2020

It was one of those days....
I had a rough day at work and needless to say, I didn't come home in the best mood! I was cranky and whiny and my poor sister patiently listened while I vented. She quietly went to diffuser in the kitchen and put in a few drops of Balance.

After 10 minutes of being home, I was feeling much better. In fact, I thought to myself that my day wasn't really that bad and I totally over reacted. I shared this with my sister and she smiled and said, "That's because I put Balance in the diffuser!"

This was my first experience with Balance and after feeling the difference, it has become part of my daily routine. I roll it on the bottom of my foot in combination with Serenity essential oil. I also have a small bottle of it that I keep in my purse and I feel anxious and stressed, I open the bottle and smell it or rub a little drop on the insides of my wrist.

I have seen this oil calm babies, anxious dogs and confused grandmas! It's an oil that I recommend to almost everyone because who of us doesn't need a little bit more grounding and a little less stress in our lives?

If you don't have this amazing oil and would like a sample, please let me know and I would be happy to send one to you! Or you can get a whole bottle for yourself!

6 Tips for a Healthy and Happy Holiday!

11/27/2020

1. De-stress: Stress can greatly impact your immune system! Take 10-15 minutes every day for "me time" to do something relaxing to slow down your mind and body. Deep breathing, reading, bubble baths, puzzles, hot tea with music or reviewing your day with a friend.

2. Moderation and Healthy Substitutions: Limit your desserts to half portion or only one cookie from the tray. Say "no" when you are full. Substitute less processed sugars like coconut sugar, sucanat, honey and maple syrup for refined sugar.

3. Exercise: Don't forget this important part! Dance to your favorite Christmas music. Take a walk in the snow or to see the Christmas lights. Go sledding, skiing or play in the snow.

4. Simplify: Decide which things are really important to you and eliminate the rest. Don't let pressure make you do things because "you've always done them".

5. Get Your Sleep: You will be a better you when you are rested and can have energy to serve and love others. Try Serenity softgels or diffusing your favorite calming oils!

6. Rejoice! Gratitude lifts our spirits and helps us see joy in the journey. Try writing in a thankful journal every day.