Tendon Loving Care Balm

This concentrated balm was made with climbers in mind.

The tendons and ligaments in our hands go through a ton of wear and tear from crag days and training hard. Swelling, bruising, tenderness and finger strain are part of the game.

Treat yourself to some Tendon Loving Care, made with traditional healing herbs like comfrey, solomon’s seal, and gotu kola, among other phytochemically rich compounds.

The herbal ingredients were carefully selected and infused for maximum potency, and have been used for centuries to heal soft tissue injuries like joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscle strains. Massage into the affected area up to 3x/day—a little goes a long way. Because it is made up of only oils (no water), this product is shelf stable for up to 5 years.

Infused with organic and wildcrafted herbs from the Pacific Northwest.

1 oz. reusable tins. Made in Seattle, WA

What’s in this balm?

A number of medicinal plants come together here: Comfrey, Solomon’s Seal, Gotu Kola, Calendula, Arnica, St. John’s Wort, Cottonwood buds, wintergreen and beeswax.

The harvest time for foraged ingredients is highly seasonal—final products may vary in the amounts (I’m working on it). Check out our ingredient breakdown below!

Does the product expire?

Since there is no water in the balm ingredients, the product is shelf stable for many years. It should keep for as long as 3 years or more. If the smell is off, the oil may have gone rancid—it should smell like honey and wintergreen!

How do I use the product?

Apply a small amount over and around the injury site up to 3x/day and gently massage it in. You can use it anywhere on the body for any tendon strains, muscle soreness, or joint pain (though not specifically formulated for complex joint problems including synovitis).

Don’t eat it, and don’t put it on open wounds. While the ingredients are natural, some of them are toxic in large amounts (Arnica and Comfrey).

Use after climbing, or on rest days. TLC has an oil base, so it might grease up your project.

When should I start to see results?

This balm should be used alongside a rehab program that includes progressive loading, adequate rest, and mobility work. Based on various testimonials, and depending on how often you apply it and how disciplined you are with rest and rehab, I’ve seen it reduce recovery time by ~50%. Chronic injuries tend to take longer, while acute injuries respond relatively quickly.

What does the product actually do?

This isn’t like icy hot or tiger balm, where often the pain signals are redirected without addressing underlying issues. This balm helps your body regenerate organized tissue faster, which maximizes tensile strength after recovery and long term tendon health. Studies are included in the ingredient breakdown below.

Why is it green?

No dyes, just plants. Plants are green.