Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

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!

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.

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.

Bug Off!

6/21/2018

Whether you’re a hiker, biker, camper, or outdoor enthusiast of any kind, you will love the convenience and protection that the newly formulated doTERRA TerraShield Spray provides.

You can keep it in backpacks, purses, and vehicles as an outdoor protectant on the go. It is easy enough for the whole family to apply and is safe on your little ones! Help your kids take advantage of their summer outdoor activities by with the Outdoor Blend.

Read more about the great benefits of Terrashield.

Perfect Purse Addition...

10/19/2017

The wait is over, ladies and gentlemen!

dōTERRA has released the On Guard® Sanitizing Mist. Not only is this product going to bring the amazing aroma of On Guard around anytime you spray it, but it will kill 99.9% of bacteria and other germs without drying out your hands! Could we ask for anything more? Probably not. This 27mL bottle of sanitizing mist is perfect to keep with you at all times in your backpack, your purse, or even in your pocket.

To learn more about this new life-saver of a product, check out the spotlight on dōTERRA.com: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/product-spotlight-onguard-sanitizing-mist

Just arrived....Herbal Salves

10/4/2017

Herbal Salve is amazing stuff! It's a combination of local beeswax, essential oils and herbs to create a topical balm for your skin.

Arnica Salve has been shown to be effective in speeding up healing time for sprains, bruises, swelling and muscle pain.

Calendula Salve is soothing and calming for chapped skin, soothes minor cuts, scrapes and irritated skin and reduces the appearance of scars. Calendula is a key ingredients in most organic diaper creams.

Chickweed Salve calms irritated skin on contact, speeds the healing of cuts and nosebleeds, sooths cuts, bug bites, bee stings and rashes. Chickweed is high in antioxidants and is great for gardeners with sensitive hands.

Comfrey Salve promotes new cell growth to help speed up the healing of minor injuries and bones breaks. Comfrey supports healthy inflammatory levels and helps relieve pain.

Each salve comes in a 4 oz tin for just $10.99. Stop in at the Country Cupboard to see the whole selection!

It's Just Around the Corner. Don't Let Sickness Catch You Off Guard!

8/25/2017

On Guard! Perfect to get a jump start protecting you from the season to come!
This is a lovely oil not only because of the amazing benefits after a long day at work but because it smells so good!

A few of my personal favorite uses are for blood sugar head tension, in my favorite hand sanitizer (see recipe below) and a few extra drops to boost my immune system when I am around someone who is sick.

Another great way to use this oil is the On Guard Beadlets. They are 1/4th of a drop of oil from the bottle which is the perfect amount if you need a quick pick me up. On Guard is one of the most popular oils blends at dōTERRA because of its wide range of uses. How have you used the oil in your home?

To learn more about this versatile oil, check out its spotlight here: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-doterra-on-guard-protective-blend.

Hand Sanitizer
5 Tablespoons aloe vera gel
4 Tablespoons water
½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
10 drops On Guard essential oil
5 drops Wild Orange essential oil
*All items including glass spritzer can be purchased at the Country Cupboard

Blend together in a glass bowl using a whisk. Pour into a glass spritzer bottle using a funnel.

The Coconut Oil Cure

6/9/2017

I had a recent recommendation for The Coconut Oil Cure by one of my loyal customers. After leafing through it, I agreed with her and now it's on the shelves at The Country Cupboard.

Not only does it explain the benefits and uses of coconut oil but it also has some fabulous recipes for weight loss, beauty and optimal health.

Complete with enticing pictures, just $14.99!

Here's a peek at the recipes:
Orange Creamsicle Whipped Body Butter
Coconut Face Cleanser
Soothing Headache Balm
Healing Burn Salve
Raspberry Yogurt Smoothie
Coconut Chocolate Milkshake
Honey Nut Granola
Spicy Coconut Quinoa Bowl
Sticky Coconut Pork Ribs
Light Coconut Mousse

Tired but Wired!

4/1/2017

Adrenal glands are tiny glands that help us manage our stress. When we have ongoing stress, these glands become fatigued! This may cause you to:

have trouble going to sleep and staying asleep
wake up feeling groggy and tired
have nervous energy and irritability
feel stressed and overwhelmed
have sugar cravings
have low blood pressure

Managing stress is the #1 way to overcome adrenal fatigue. Try exercising, massage, meditation, exercises, going to bed/getting up at the same time, and hot baths. Adaptogens, like Mito2Max, are great supplements for supporting adrenals as well as NutriCalm, Zinc and Vitamin C. (All available at the Country Cupboard).

If you would like to learn more about this, I would love to hear from you!