Aging Gracefully Arthritis Salve

Overhead flat lay of boswellia resin, calendula flowers, and a Boswellia and Calendula botanical salve tin

Heartland Botanicals • Home Recipe Card

Makes: One 1 oz tin (~30 g). A dog-safe, lick-safe salve for stiff or flaring joints — built on Solomon’s Seal for the connective tissue and Boswellia for inflammation.

↓ Download the printable card (PDF)

The PDF includes fill-in fields for your batch date, herb combo, and discard-by date.

Step 1 — Pick your herbs (choose one)

Joint is hot, swollen, or “angry” → Solomon’s Seal + Plantain leaf

Joint is stiff or creaky (especially in the morning) → Solomon’s Seal + Calendula flowers

Pick one combo. Don’t mix both. Safe for dogs to lick when made as written.

Step 2 — Make the infused oil (do this 2–3 days ahead)

What you need:

  • Coconut oil (or olive oil) — ½ cup (120 mL)
    Coconut is best — firmer, longer shelf life
  • Solomon’s Seal root — dried, chopped small — 2 heaping tsp (7 g)
    Chop to pea-size or smaller
  • Plantain leaf OR Calendula flowers — dried — 2 Tbsp loosely packed (4 g)
    Use whichever you picked in Step 1

How to do it:

  1. Make sure all herbs are completely dry before you start. Any moisture = mold.
  2. Put the herbs in a clean, dry glass jar. Pour the oil over them so all herbs are covered.
  3. Set the jar in a slow cooker or pot of warm water. Keep the heat on Warm (not Hot). Target: under 110°F / 43°C. Use a thermometer if you have one.
  4. Leave it on 8–10 hours a day for 2–3 days. Turn it off at night. Give the jar a gentle shake each morning.
  5. When done, pour through cheesecloth or a fine strainer. Squeeze out every drop. Label the jar with the herb name and date.

You’ll end up with about ½ cup of infused oil — enough for 4 to 5 tins of salve.

Step 3 — Make the salve (about 15 minutes)

What you need:

  • Infused oil (from Step 2) — 26 g (~2 Tbsp)
    Weigh it if you can — it matters
  • Beeswax pastilles — 6.5 g (~1¼ tsp)
    More wax = firmer. Less = softer.
  • Boswellia extract powder (60–65% boswellic acids) — 300 mg (use a mg scale)
    Add AFTER removing from heat

How to do it:

  1. Double boiler setup: Put 1–2 inches of water in a small saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Set a heat-safe glass jar or small Pyrex inside the pan (water should not touch the bottom of your jar if possible, or keep it very shallow).
  2. Add the 26 g infused oil and 6.5 g beeswax to the jar. Stir gently as it melts.
  3. Once everything is melted and clear — take it off the heat. Don’t let it boil.
  4. Wait 1–2 minutes until it’s not steaming anymore, then stir in the 300 mg Boswellia powder. Stir well for about a minute until no clumps remain.
  5. Optional: drip a little on a cold plate and wait 30 seconds. Too hard? Add a little more oil. Too soft? Add a tiny bit more wax, re-melt.
  6. Pour into your 1 oz tin or jar right away — it sets quickly. Fill close to the top.
  7. Leave it alone at room temperature for 1–2 hours to set. Don’t put it in the fridge while it’s still warm.
  8. Label it immediately: herb combo used, date made, discard-by date.

Step 4 — Storing it (shelf life & what to watch for)

Oil used How long it lasts
Coconut oil base 9–12 months
Olive oil base 6–9 months

Storage rules:

  • Keep it in a cool, dark spot — a drawer or cupboard, not the bathroom or near the stove.
  • Always use dry fingers or a clean spatula. Wet fingers are the #1 way to ruin it early.
  • Lid on tight after every use.
  • Hot weather? You can refrigerate it — just let it soften a little before applying.

Throw it away if you notice any of these:

  • Smell: Rancid, sour, paint-y, or “crayon” smell. Fresh salve smells mild and a little waxy.
  • Look: Fuzzy mold, strange discoloration, or liquid pooling in the jar.
  • Texture: Oily separation or unusual sliminess.
  • History: Wet utensils dipped in, left open too long, or you can’t remember when you made it.

When in doubt — throw it out.

How to use (for dogs)

Apply a thin layer to the sore joint 2–3 times a day during a flare. Trim fur over the area if it’s thick so the salve actually reaches the skin. To clean buildup, wipe with a damp cloth or diluted apple cider vinegar (1 part ACV : 3 parts water), then let it dry before applying again.

This is a comfort support product — if a joint is severely swollen, hot, or your dog won’t put weight on it, see a vet.

Quick checklist — before you pour

  • Herbs were fully dry before infusing
  • Oil was strained clean — no herb bits
  • Wax fully melted, no chunks
  • Boswellia added off-heat and stirred smooth
  • Tin / jar is clean and dry
  • Label filled out with herb combo + date made + discard-by date

Want to track your batches? The printable PDF has a fill-in batch log.

Heartland Botanicals • For personal/home use only • Not evaluated by the FDA • Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.