Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

Life is Better with Copaiba

3/29/2022

LIFE IS BETTER WITH COPAIBA

Do you struggle with sleep, anxious feelings, poor digestion or poor circulation? Do you wish that you had something that would just make your life better and more comfortable?

Copaiba is an essential oil that most people have never heard about. It comes from the copaiba tree which is native to South America. The main constitute of Copaiba is beta-caryophyllene which is powerfully relaxing, soothing and supports your endocannabinoid system. This system in your body is responsible for managing inflammation and bringing the body systems into balance.

SO HOW IS LIFE BETTER WITH COPAIBA?

Taking a softgel capsule before going to bed can promote a better night's sleep
Using 1-2 drops internally under the tongue or as a softgel daily can support healthy hormones, a stronger nervous system, less discomfort, better digestion, circulation and immunity
Massage on topically to ease discomfort
Add a few drops to your moisturizer to reduce the appearance of blemishes and keep the skin looking clearer and healthier.

WHY I LOVE COPAIBA-

Taking a softgel nightly before bed helps me sleep better and keeps my fingers from falling asleep during the night.
It helps me have an overall calmer mood, less anxious feelings and makes life's challenges easier to deal with.
I notice less congestion in my lymph (think less PMS issues), sinuses, liver (clearer skin and less head tension) and healthy inflammation levels in my veins (think less discomfort and better circulation).
I also notice more hormone balance (less moodiness, bloating and fatigue).

Does this sound like an oil you would like to try? I would be happy to share a sample of this with you so you can also feel power and support of this amazing oil! Or if you don't want to wait, get yours now!

I WANT A SAMPLE

Are You Normal? What Does Your Gut Tell You?

2/3/2022

ARE YOU NORMAL? WHAT DOES YOUR GUT TELL YOU?

I am amazed at how many people I know think that having a bowel movement every other day is normal! Or easily dismiss bloating, gas and indigestion as something that everyone deals with. It doesn't have to be that way!

Our gut health is so important and tied to so many other functions in our body!

Our gut health affects our mood. Our vagus nerve, which travels from our gut to our brain, signals that "gut feeling" to our brain. So the more inflammation our gut has, the more anxious and depressed we are going to feel.
70% of our immunity is in our gut. Imbalanced bacteria depletes our immune systems and leads to so many conditions.
Our skin is a direct reflection of our gut. The healthier and more balanced our gut biome is the clearer our skin will be.

How to support a healthy gut:

Limit sugars which are inflammatory, feed yeast and other bacteria in the gut.
Processed foods are full of preservatives, chemicals and food dyes. These increase inflammation, irritation and discomfort
Probiotics replenish good bacteria and help balance the gut biome. Anyone can benefit from them! Fermented food such as kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut are all good ways to get probiotics in your diet. Or you can take a probiotic instead.
- When choosing a probiotic, make sure you have at least 6 billion CFUs for it to be effective. doTERRA's PB Assist is double encapsulated to allow for the outer capsule to be dissolved by stomach acid and the actual probiotics to get to the gut where they need to work.
Often gluten is a hidden trigger for inflammation and gut irritation. Try eliminating gluten for several weeks and notice what changes you experience with your gut health.
A digestive enzyme can be helpful for absorption of our nutrients so out body has what it needs and can function better. Digestive enzymes also ease digestive discomfort from gas and bloating.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIGESTIVE HEALTH

5 Ways to Start the New Year Off Right

12/29/2021

5 WAYS TO START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT

January-that time of year when the holiday festivities leave us feeling a few pounds heavier, a little more brain fogged and a little less energetic than we'd like to be. It's a New Year and a great time to reset our routines and choices!

Here are five simple ways to start the New Year off right!

DE-STRESS- Start with noticing signs that indicate you are stressed. Even better is to make a list of these things. Focus on awareness of when you are stressed and listening to your body.

Make a list of 10 things you truly enjoy that you feel refreshed and renewed after doing. As you become increasingly aware of when you are stressed, pull out your list and spend 10-15 minutes de-stressing.

EXERCISE- Just 15 minutes of movement every day, especially outside will help to balance your hormones, increase your energy and mood. Talk a walk in the snow, go sledding, ice skating or a bike ride when the weather is good.

GET YOUR SLEEP- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night is foundation to everything! Your weight, ability to detox, mood, energy, hormone balance, stress levels and even digestion!

Set a sleep and wake time and stay within an hour of that time frame to regulate your circadian rhythms. Take the 30-60 minutes before bed to turn off all screens, do some reading, journaling, devotions, gratitude or a relaxing bath with essential oils.

If falling asleep or staying asleep is hard for you, try Serenity softgels. They promote deep and restful sleep and are truly amazing!

DRINK WATER- Drinking water hydrates your skin, improves digestion and elimination, reduces feelings of hunger and calorie intake and helps flush out toxins. Half your body weight in ounces daily is the general recommendation

REDUCE SUGAR- The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily! Sugar slows down your immune system, increases inflammation, creates brain fog and drains your energy. It's also contributes to heart disease, fatty liver, diabetes and cancer.

Get my Sugar Substitute Reference Guide

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.

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!

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!

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