Balms and Manna Blog

Iron...How do I Know if I'm Low?

5/1/2020

I've had several women in the last few months come to me with complaints of low iron. Many of them didn't know their iron was low until they did a blood test. In America, 20% of women are iron deficient.

What are the symptoms of low iron?
1- Fatigue
2- Pale skin
3- Dizziness, lightheaded, weakness
4- Fast heart rate, chest pain
5- Headaches
6- Stomach pain
7- Joint pain
8-Craving to eat items that aren't food- ice, dirt, or clay

Raising iron levels through supplementation:
1- Always get a blood test before starting supplementing
2- Ferrous gluconate form is gentle on the bowels
3- Take vitamin C with iron supplement to increase absorption

Raising iron levels through diet:
1- Beef
2- Liver
3- Turkey
4- Chicken
6- Fish
7- Spinach
8- Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
9-Firm tofu
10- Beans and lentils

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

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.

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.

Rose....The Queen of Oils

12/18/2019

Rose is one of the most powerful and precious essential oils in the world! Due to the labor-intensive production process, it takes more than 10,000 handpicked rose blossoms to produce one 5ml bottle.

Here's why I love it:
1. It helps bring down walls and opens your heart
2. Applied behind the ear, it will diffuse anger in difficult situations
3. It lowers cortisol levels
4. Promotes less nightmares, less waking, easier waking and faster sleeping
5. Helps with skin tone and imperfections
6. It's beautiful fragrance is calming and soothing!

Apply over your heart every morning and evening.

Pamper a sister, friend, or mother in your life with the gift of dōTERRA’s Rose lotion this holiday season for $20. 100% of the purchase price goes to doTERRA's Healing Hands foundation.

Diffusing a Black Friday Sale!

11/22/2019

Friday, November 29th ONLY! Save $9 off any Animal Diffuser or Petal Diffuser plus get a 5 ml of Lavender, Serenity or Wild Orange oil FREE with your purchase! Perfect Christmas gift for oils users! While supplies last. Only available at the Country Cupboard in Fairbury.

A Must Have for Your Medicine Cabinet!

11/15/2019

Have you heard of anyone talking about elderberry recently? These amazing benefits make this a must have for your medicine cabinet!

Elderberries grow on elder bushes and are wonderfully tasty. But they are also wonderfully beneficial to your immunity! Traditionally they've been used to cleanse the stomach and bowels, fight against respiratory congestion, boost lymphatic drainage and boost immunity. In America, the most common species is Sambucus. The flowers from the elder bush, which are often made into tea, can also support your body against viruses.

How to Use Elderberry:
Adults: Elderberry D3fense is a combination of Echinacea, Royal Jelly, Olive Leaf, White Willow Bark and Vitamin D3 in a capsule, all which promote healthy immunity as well as restoring your body to health when you are under the weather. This can be taken daily to stay healthy all winter long! Learn more here.

Kids: Elderberry syrup is a sweet liquid form of elderberry that is easy and convenient for kids to use. Integrative Therapeutics Elderberry Syrup is a great tasting, natural berry with a high potency extract. This can also be taken daily to maintain strong immunity!

Both Elderberry D3fense and Integrative Therapeutics Elderberry Syrup are available at the Country Cupboard for purchase!

Can You Live Without Grapefruit?

11/15/2019

Grapefruit oil is becoming one of the most popular essential oils on the market. It doesn't just smell good, it IS good! I'm not sure about you, but I don't want to be without my daily drop of Grapefruit! Here's why:

Use Grapefruit oil for weight loss
Experimental research shows that diffusing Grapefruit oil may help to curb cravings. Additionally, when taken internally, Grapefruit can help to support blood sugar levels that are already in the normal range.*

Use Grapefruit oil for skin
Keep its lovely aroma with you all day and improve the appearance of your skin by incorporating Grapefruit oil into your skincare routine to reduce the appearance of blemishes. Remember though, as a citrus oil, the use of Grapefruit oil on the skin poses a risk for sun sensitivity, so avoid ultra-violet rays for at least 12 hours after applying Grapefruit to the skin.

Use Grapefruit oil to support a healthy metabolism*
Because it contains the chemical constituent limonene, Grapefruit essential oil has internal cleansing and purifying properties and gently cleanses the body with detoxifying benefits.* To take full advantage of these benefits, simply add one to two drops to a glass of water, and drink.

Use Grapefruit oil to create an uplifting environment
Feeling bored and sluggish at work in the afternoon? Try diffusing Grapefruit oil at your desk. Need a little pick-me-up in the morning? Place a drop of Grapefruit oil in your palms, rub your hands together, and inhale deeply to take in its energizing, delightful aroma.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.