Cats Claw

Species name: uncaria tomentosa.

Also known as: una de gato.

What is Cat’s Claw: What is Cat’s Claw? What is it used for? What does it have to do with cats? Cat’s Claw is a truly remarkable herb that is still being carefully studied even today.

Originating in the Peruvian rain forest, Cat's Claw contains six oxindole alkaloids, three of which have been proven to be effective immuno-stimulants, giving this herb many popular uses.

Cat's Claw is a woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of South and Central America which has recently gained a lot of attention in the herbal world.

Cat's Claw is named after the hook-like thorns that grow along its vine. The bark and root of this herb have been used among native people of the rainforest for centuries to treat a variety of health problems including arthritis, ulcers, sexually transmitted diseases, fevers and cancer.

Some women consumed cat's claw as a contraceptive because large doses of this herb were believed to cause temporary infertility. Cat's claw got its name from the curved, claw-like thorns that grow on its stem.

The root and bark of cat's claw are the parts used for medicinal purposes. The thorny vine of Cat’s Claw can climb as high as 100 feet. Much of the cat's claw currently sold in the United States was grown in Peru.

Home Remedies using Cats Claw:

Benefits of Cat’s Claw:

Studies seem to show that cat's claw boosts the activity of the immune system, reduces inflammation, helps scavenge damaging particles known as free radicals, and destroy cancerous cells.

This herb has an unusual ability to cleanse and de-toxify the entire digestive tract, which can correct nutritional imbalances caused by digestive blockages. While there is still some speculation over the safety of long term use of this herb, many people still use it today.

Uses of Cat’s Claw:

  • To treat inflammatory disorders such as arthritis
  • To treat viral diseases such as HIV/AIDS
  • To treat gastrointestinal illnesses such as Crohn's disease, ulcers, and certain cancers
  • Tea: 1 gram (1,000 mg) root bark to 8 ounces water, boil 10 to 15 minutes, cool, and strain. Drink 1 cup three times daily.
  • Tincture (solution made from herb and alcohol, or herb, alcohol, and water): 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoonful two to three times daily
  • Dry, encapsulated standardized extract: 20 to 60 mg daily

Side Effects of Cat’s Claw:

Diarrhea or loose stools which tend to be mild and go away with continued use of the herb.