Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

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!

Simple and Easy Immune Booster!

9/18/2020

Right now, staying healthy is on most people's minds! Having a strong immune system is always a priority to me pandemic or no pandemic!

OnGuard Protective Essential Oil Blend is my go-to for year round immunity support! This blend of Clove, Cinnamon, Wild Orange, Rosemary and Eucalyptus not only smells so warm and inviting but it's easy to use!

* Add 6 drops to your diffuser
* Add 30 drops to a 10 ml roller and fill with Fractionated Coconut oil and roll 1 circle on the bottom of your feet twice daily. (Or just purchase a OnGuard Touch which is a 10 ml roller already diluted and ready to go!)
*Add 1 drop of OnGuard to a glass of water or under your tongue

For an even more powerful immune boost:
14 drops Lemon essential oil
10 drops Tea Tree essential oil
10 drops OnGuard essential oil
8 drops Oregano (or Thyme for kids) essential oil
Add to a 10 ml roller and fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil. Apply 1 circle to the bottom of feet twice daily.

Lastly, if I feel something coming on and I need something more, I pop an OnGuard softgel in my mouth twice a day until I feel better. Works every time!!

Our immune systems stay strong when we support them consistently so these recommendations give the best results when done daily.

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

8/12/2020

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.

6 Benefits Of Fennel Essential Oil

7/10/2020

Fennel essential oil is steam distilled from the crushed seeds of the fennel plant. It's a sweet, somewhat spicy and licorice like scent. Use Fennel to go from unproductive to flourishing!

1- Breast feeding or low milk supply- use in a capsule or water to stimulate milk supply

2- Stomach discomfort- Take in a capsule or massage over abdomen to ease occasional gas, upset stomach or tension.

3- PMS or menopausal issues- Take in a capsule or massage over abdomen to balance and tone organs

4-Move fluid- Combine with grapefruit and take in a capsule or massage over affected area to stimulate movement of stagnate fluid

5- Blood sugar balance- Take in a capsule to curb cravings

6- Sluggish bowels- Combine with lemon and take in a capsule to keep things moving

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!

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.

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

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.