Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.