Balms and Manna Blog

My Happy Place!

10/25/2019

Diffusing.

For me, it creates a place of rest, comfort and safety! I reach for my diffuser when my day is tough and I need an extra boost. I feel so empowered to have something that can improve my health, calm and comfort me just with the beautiful scents of essential oils!

My favorite diffuser blends:
Rosemary and Spearmint for energy and focus.
Balance and Serenity for stress and calming.
Arborvitae, Melaleuca and OnGuard for immunity.
Vetiver and Petitgrain for sleep and rest.

And just a little secret. One can never have too many diffusers. (Don't tell, but I have a diffuser in almost every room in my house!)

Purchase your favorite dōTERRA diffuser.

6 Reasons to Use Eucalyptus Oil

10/11/2019

People often ask, “How do I use my Eucalyptus oil?" You’ll love what this cleansing, relaxing, and soothing essential oil can do for you.

Reason 1: Promotes relaxation
Diffusing Eucalyptus oil can help create a tranquil atmosphere in your home, while also decreasing feelings of tension and promoting relaxation.

Reason 2: Promotes feelings of clear breathing
Because it contains the chemical component eucalyptol, Eucalyptus oil is useful for creating a cooling vapor when applied to the skin or inhaled. When the seasons change, you can rub a few drops of Eucalyptus on your chest to promote feelings of open airways.

Reason 3: A cleansing agent
Combine Eucalyptus with Lemon and Peppermint oil in a spray bottle, and then use the mixture to wipe down surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom, or other common areas of your home. Not only will the essential oil mixture give you peace of mind concerning the nontoxic cleanliness of your home, but you’ll love the wonderful aroma that lingers after you finish.

Reason 4: Use in a soothing massage
Blend with Fractionated Coconut Oil and gently rub on the problem area and enjoy the cooling, soothing effects. The aroma of Eucalyptus will also help to clear the mind and calm feelings of tension and stress.

Reason 5: Clean and revitalize the skin
If your skin feels oily, consider adding a few drops of Eucalyptus to your daily moisturizer or toner to experience the oil’s skin-revitalizing benefits.

Reason 6: Support during menstruation
Due to its soothing, calming nature, Eucalyptus is frequently used to provide support during menstruation. Simply massaging Eucalyptus oil into the lower abdomen daily during menstruation.

If you don't have Eucalyptus oil, you can purchase it here.

Fall is in the air!

9/25/2019

Is anyone else loving this time of year? There is something about the glow of the sun, the days getting shorter, the air crisper, and pumpkin flavored drinks back! A sweet and spicy essential oil that pairs well with the fall season is dōTERRA’s Cinnamon Bark oil.

I love diffusing Cinnamon for warm and cozy feelings in my home, plus it has amazing immune benefits to keep the seasonal bugs away! It's also delicious in a steaming cup of water to make a lovely Cinnamon tea (1 drop) or adding it to your morning hot cereal with an added benefit of blood sugar balancing! Yum!

Can't wait? Purchase a bottle of dōTERRA Cinnamon Bark oil here.

This One's in My Top 5....Neroli!

8/30/2019

I hope you all had a great summer and enjoyed the time with family!

Life can get stressful with your family’s fall schedule changes but dōTERRA Neroli Touch is here to help you out! Neroli oil has a wide variety of uses which means that your whole family can benefit from it!

The smell of this oil is amazing....just like a fresh summer rainstorm. It instills relaxation, uplifts mood, reduces feelings of anxiousness, improves ability to learn and memory recall, and helps to release emotions! This
is why I use it every day!

Neroli is steam-distilled from the small white flowers of the bitter orange tree making it part of the same family as Orange and Petitgrain.

Learn about all the benefits of dōTERRA Neroli Touch here.

Ready or Not, Here Comes School!

8/16/2019

Transitions aren't fun for anyone! New places, faces and stages can cause anxiety and worry. And sadness over leaving what was. But they don't have to be hard. Being thankful for the good parts of the past and looking for the positive in the future is a great place to start!

Try these tips to make back to school transitions easier on you and your little ones!

Immune Support- Schools are full of people harboring their own microorganisms. Strengthen your immune system so you don't have to worry about what you come in contact with! Your body will be strong enough to fight them off. These are some of my favorites!

Sunshine Heros Multiple Vitamin and Mineral- Daily support of eleven essential nutrients deficient in modern diets
Sunshine Heros Elderberry Immune- Pop one of these chewables full of immune boosting nutrients in at the first sign of being sick
PB Assist Jr-Great watermelon flavored probiotics just for kids! Immunity starts in the gut. Keep the good bacteria stronger than the bad bacteria
Silver shield- Powerful for any bacteria based threats! Easy to take and virtually tasteless.
OnGuard Essential Oil- Powerful blend of oils to boost the immune system. Use just the oil or find it in hand sanitizer, hand soap, cleaner concentrate, toothpaste and mouthwash.

Stress Support- Ease worries and anxious feelings by calming the mind and the nervous system.

Magnesium- Wonderful for sleeping, stress, and relaxing muscles. Add the powder to your drink or rub on magnesium cream before bed and before leaving for school.
Liquid Calm- A blend of oils especially for calming emotions and anxious feelings

And my absolute favorite: The Kids Collection!
Stress, Immune, Focus, Calming, Pain and Motivation support all in one simple kit. Diluted for kids, easy to take with them to school and flash cards to teach them which ones they need for which issues!

All items available at the Country Cupboard.

Natural Hair Care

7/31/2019

Benefit from the natural properties of essential oils by incorporating them into your hair care routine. dōTERRA offers many DIYs for your hair. These recipes are moisturizing, detangling, repairing, cleansing, and wonderfully scented. They hold your hair in place, offer texture, and are protecting. If you are looking for natural alternatives to your hair products, essential oils are the perfect option.

For the full list of essential oil hair DIYs read here.

Frankincense- The King of Oils

7/5/2019

This week I'm spotlighting Frankincense Essential Oil. It’s wonderful woody aroma is uplifting for the mood, supportive for the nervous system, wonderful for skin health and essential for healthy inflammation levels. For anyone seeking a helpful essential oil tip, always remember, if in doubt, use Frankincense.

Do you ever experience irritating razor bumps? Provide relief to your skin with this do-it-yourself Razor Relief Serum enhanced with Frankincense essential oil. Frankincense is one of the best oils to help skin feel and look rejuvenated. By using this serum infused with Frankincense oil, the chemical properties of the oil will aid in reducing appearances of skin imperfections and the serum will benefit the irritated skin by soothing the sensitive razor bumps for an all-day appearance and feel your skin will love.

For more information on doTERRA Frankincense, visit the spotlight here.

July 05th, 2019

7/5/2019

Choosing a Brand for Your Supplements

6/7/2019

Have you ever walked down the supplement isle of a store to find a supplement and left feeling more confused? How do you know which brand is REALLY good for you?

Natural products and supplements aren't regulated by the FDA and can contain any levels of fillers and impurities in them while claiming to be high quality. The best way to know if your supplement is pure is to research the company and it's quality standards.

1. Bio Available- Is your supplement bio available, meaning does it break down in your body in a form that you can use? Try putting your supplement in water to see if it dissolves. If it doesn't dissolve, then it's not bio available.

2. Safety and Potency- Does the company manufactures their own products? 85% of brands don't make or test their products. These sellers aren't responsible for their quality.

3. Testing- What tests do they run on your supplements to check for quality and purity? Are they transparent about testing and results? Do they have their own laboratory and scientific team? Are their products also tested by a third party company?

doTERRA and Nature's Sunshine ensure quality, run 600 quality tests for potency, herbal content and cleanliness. They grow crops around the world in their natural habitat and visit their facilities around the world to see first hand their manufacturing practices and make sure the manufacturer has good sustainability. They research and test for potency based on climate, time harvested and natural habitat.

These companies are so committed to quality they would rather not offer a product than sell something that is poor quality. This is why they are my top choice of supplements and natural products!

The best test is they work and you see the results. You can't change peoples lives with average products.

Make Your Own Natural First Aid Kit

5/31/2019

Golden Salve-A tiny jar of WONDERS! This is my go to for any cuts, scrapes, bumps, painful, irritated or damaged skin. It soothes swelling and pain and speeds up repair time. $30.39

Activated Charcoal- Absorbs irritants in the digestive tract. Perfect for loose stools, poisoning or spider bites. Dosage may need to be altered depending upon the toxicity of condition. Apply an open capsule mixed with Correct X or Silver Shield Gel for bites. $31.55
*For poisoning call the Poison Control Center. Do not take with prescription medication.

Tri-ease-Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint Essential Oil in a convenient capsule for traveling. Essential for those who suffer from seasonal threats when enjoying the outside. $30.67

Terrashield- Non-toxic, effective and vanilla scented bug repellent. Small and easy to carry and apply! $13.99

OnGuard Softgels-Great for those unexpected immune challenges! $34.67

Echinacea/Golden Seal- Boosts immunity and is especially good for sniffles and respiratory threats. $32.25

Natural Magnesium Calm- Powdered magnesium. Perfect for adding to water or juice to keep bowels moving, support stress and restful sleep. $30.99

Essential Oil Key chain ($8.49)
with the following oils:
Peppermint-Keeps you alert when driving (add to water or car diffuser), soothes digestion and cools.
Ginger-Soothes upset stomach in the car, plane or boat
Balance-Supports body with stress, soothes mood and calms emotions.
Deep Blue- Apply to sore muscles and joints
Serenity- Promotes restful sleep
Lavender-Soothes irritated skin and calms mood
Frankincense-Supports healthy inflammation, nervous system and works for any situation
Melaleuca- Apply to bites and stings and cleans broken skin

Hand Sanitizer- Alcohol free with OnGuard to gently ward off germs and strengthen your immunity. $2.59

Breathe Stick- Convenience of Breathe in a stick. Easy and simple to apply! $11.33

Breathe Drops- A soothing menthol lozenge. Wonderful for tickles, congestion and any respiratory irritation. $15.99

OnGuard Drops- A delightful cinnamon lozenge. Amazing for those sore throats and tickles and boosting immunity! $15.99