CAT’S
CLAW–Uncaria Tomentosa, Uncaria Guianensis, etc.
Also
known as: Una de Gato,
Life-Giving-Vine-of-Peru
Parts
used: leaves, root, bark
Systems/organs
affected: immune,
liver, cardiovascular
Properties: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, depurative,
antibacterial, anti-mutagenic, hypotensive, vermifuge, antiviral,
immune-stimulant, diuretic, anti-tumorous, cytostatic (inhibits cell growth and
division), immune-modulator, contraceptive
Cat’s Claw is a member of the Rubiaceae (bedstraw)
family. It is a woody vining plant with
signature curving thorns that resemble a cat’s claw. It grows wild in the Amazon as well as South
and Central America. There are about 20
varieties of this plant. It can get up
to 100 feet long and is an old and well utilized plant by the Indigenous
cultures of the Americas.
Cat’s Claw dates back to the time
of the Inca’s. It was considered a sacred herb and is used by several Amazonian
tribes even today. Indigenous Shamans
believe it acts as a bridge between the spiritual and physical worlds. The Ashaninka (believed to be the descendants
of the Inca people) live deep in the Amazon jungle and have been using this
plant for centuries. They are the reason
cat’s claw is even known today as they taught the neighboring tribes how to use
the herb. They refer to cat’s claw as ‘kug-kukjagul’ ‘ which means ‘the father of all other forest gods.’ The Incan’s believed it to be a plant made
for royal blood. The plant is still
greatly used in the Amazon-however the Peruvian government have made it illegal
to use the roots due to overharvesting.
The plant is also used there to make furniture and baskets.
In 1926 Arturo Bell, a German
scientist, moved to a small town in the Peruvian rain forest called
Pozuzo. He suffered from a rheumatic
condition which he was able to alleviate using cat’s claw. He went on to use the herb to help a fellow
townsman with lung cancer (drinking it as a tea three times a day-patient was
cancer free after one year). (www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2007/3/nu_catsclaw/page-01)
Since that time cat’s claw has
been proven to help with a great many things and come to be studied by
scientists across the globe. Cat’s claw
was found to dilate blood vessels, relax smooth muscle and stimulate the immune
system in test tube studies. It has been
used in South America for rheumatic conditions, cancer, inflammation, gastric
ulcers, intestinal issues, dysentery, arthritis, allergies, viral infections,
etc. It seems that the studies are
backing up the majority of its past uses.
In fact, scientific studies have proven it to repair damaged DNA. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11515717)
Studies also found that cat’s claw extract made recovery of leukocytes after
chemotherapy much faster. (www.healthline.com/health/leukocytes-in-urine
)
In 2001, study found that those
who took 250-350 mg. of cat’s claw extract daily for 8 weeks were found to have
significantly less DNA damage following chemotherapy than those on a
placebo. They also had an increase in
white blood cell counts-something chemotherapy is known to reduce.
In a double blind study published
in the Journal of Rheumatology, cat’s claw extract was found to reduce
the pain associated with rheumatism better than a placebo. It seems that some species of cat’s claw
contain compounds called pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids which are immune system
modulators. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/119500006).
Apparently the South Africans
believe in this herbs ability to strengthen the immune system. The use of it is fairly common in that
country for HIV and AIDS. (www.avert.org/global-hiv-and-aids-statistics).
Here in the usa they would caution people against using the herb with
retrovirals commonly used to treat HIV/AIDS.
Very unfortunate considering a 2011 study showing that cat’s claw worked
to enhance the way retrovirals worked to slow the progression of the disease. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22024968)
In another study published in Food
and Chemical Toxicology it was found that cat’s claw given in vitro was
found to have anti-herpetic effects. (www.ajcn.nutirion.org/content/79/5/727.full)
Cat’s claw also shows promise
with digestive issues. Scientists found
that supplementing with 250 mg of cat’s claw (uncaria tomentosa) had a
reduction in inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease. (www.pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productld=112&pid=33&gid=000043).
It has also proven useful for gastritis, colitis, leaky gut, diverticulitis,
stomach ulcers, hemorrhoids and more.
In 2001 an interesting in vivo
study done on cat’s claw bark found that it was able to prevent breast cancer
cell growth (cytostatic). (www.ncbi.nllm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724307).
A 2006 study found in the British Journal of Haematology
backed that up. Cat’s claw was found to
contain 5 very potent alkaloids-namely isomitraphylline, isopteropodine,
uncarine F, pteropodine and mitraphylline.
At least four of those were found to inhibit leukemia cell growth in lab
tests. Two of those alkaloids were also
found to induce cell death in cancer cells (called apoptosis). (Uncarine F and
Pteropodine respectively). (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16445836).
Aside from all the studies-the
Cashibo tribe in east Peru have used it for years to cleanse the body and clean
the blood. The Ashaninka use it to clean
the kidneys, treat asthma, to recover from childbirth, to combat chronic
inflammation, bone pain, ulcers and much more.
WebMD says that some people use
it for shingles, parasites, chronic fatigue, Alzheimer’s, gonorrhea, dysentery
and glioblastoma. They also say that
cat’s claw has a few side effects, namely nausea, diarrhea and dizziness. They advise against using cat’s claw if one
takes high blood pressure medication, immune modulating drugs, those on
Parkinson’s medication, those scheduled for surgery and pregnant/nursing
women. It should also not be taken by
those allergic to the Bedstraw family of plants (coffee, madder, bedstraw,
gallium, jasmine, gardenia, etc.) Always
consult a qualified physician before beginning any herbal product and/or
regimen.
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