Cat's Claw

The Peruvian Wonder Herb

Dec 9, 2008

Cat's Claw was used for over 2000 years in the Amazon rain forest before being discovered by the International health care market.

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is frequently known better under its Peruvian moniker, Una de Gato. It has been used for millennia in the protected rain forests of South America, and in the 1980s, it drew a great deal of interest as it demonstrated remarkable results against cancer and HIV/AIDS. Its immune-boosting properties have been researched steadily since then.

Context

Cat’s Claw was initially used by the tribes of Peru as a contraceptive and even an abortifacient. It was also used to address gastric ulcers and tumors, intestinal disorders, rheumatism, inflammation, arthritis, gonorrhea, dysentery, and cancer of the urinary tract. It is important to be aware that there is another plant from Mexico that also bears the common name of Una de Gato, but it is not related and can be toxic. Only South American Cat’s Claw with matching botanical name is considered safe.

Many South American tribes have used Cat’s Claw, and they seem to focus on using it for different purposes, all of which appear to have a reasonable level of effectiveness. The Ashaninka tribe, the largest commercial supplier of Cat’s Claw, lists its uses as including asthma and urinary tract inflammations. Other tribes also add diabetes, hemorrhaging, menstrual irregularity, cirrhosis, fevers, abscesses, and general purification of the body.

Research and Uses

As with many “recently discovered herbs”, many of the initial claims of efficacy (“cures cancer”, “cures AIDS”, etc.) are based on anecdotal tales and not on objective scientific research. As time has gone on, modern pharmaceutical companies have tried to remedy that. The model of experimentation, however, tends to focus on separation of chemical constituents from an herb instead of whole-food analysis. This has led to a wide difference in the results achieved in different arenas.

We do know, however, that Cat’s Claw has a definite immune supporting reaction. Of the illnesses that it is indicated to work well with, many are auto-immune disorders. This makes Cat’s Claw an anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent more desirable than Echinacea or Astragalus for people who are suffering from Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or other cases where the immune system is not functioning properly. It is a registered pharmaceutical in Germany and is only available by prescription.

Contraindications, Warnings, and Disclaimers

Cat’s Claw was used firstly by the Peruvian tribes as a contraceptive and abortifacient – DO NOT use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Do not give to children younger than three years old. Do not use if you have hemophilia. Cat’s Claw may cause diarrhea within the first ten days of treatment. It may also cause headaches, abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing. Because of the potential of drug interaction, only use Cat’s Claw under the direction of a qualified practitioner. When purchasing Cat’s Claw, be sure to get it only from a reputable source, and make sure that the botanical name is Uncaria tomentosa.

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The copyright of the article Cat's Claw in Herbal Properties/Benefits is owned by Dawn Ellis-Lopez. Permission to republish Cat's Claw in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.