Do you want to know about the cat’s claw plant? Here we will explain the benefits and contraindications of cat’s claw, but first we will analyze this plant from a botanical point of view.
Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is native to the rainforest regions of Central and South America, especially in the upper Amazon region of Peru and neighboring countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad, Venezuela, Suriname , Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.
The reported range of the plants is from Belize in the north to Paraguay in the south. Maranhao, Brazil, is the easternmost area where Uncaria tomentosa has been found to grow in the wild.
It favors mountain slopes on organic soils of primary (old growth) forest, between 250 and 900 meters above sea level. It can also be found in disturbed forest, but rarely in secondary forest. Overexploitation and destruction of the ancient rainforest is a serious threat to Uncaria tomentosa.
Because it is increasingly difficult to find on mountain slopes, wild collectors are replacing its close relative, Uncaria guianensis, a species that grows at lower elevations closer to rivers, making it more easy to find, collect and transport in the lower areas near the rivers.
Plant Description: Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) is a woody vine that can reach more than 30 m in height in the rainforest canopy.
The vine has hooked spines that resemble a cat’s claws, giving the plant its name and allowing the vine to cling to the bark of the tree. The vine can reach several centimeters in diameter and often develops roots from the nodes. Its sap is clear and watery with an astringent taste.
The outer rind has shallow longitudinal fissures, and the inner rind is fibrous, appearing golden yellow when ground into a powder. The terminal branchlets are quadrangular and greenish-yellow.
The leaves are bright green, simple, opposite, compound, and dimorphic, with small broad leaflets that are ovate or lanceolate when ripe. Curved, hook-shaped spines grow at the base of the leaves. The yellow flowers are trumpet-shaped, either solitary or in axillary clusters, 3 inches long and 4 inches broad.
The fruit capsules are generally 20 inches long, linear and flat, containing long, oblong seeds that are dispersed by the wind. The tubers are produced by both young and mature plants, allowing for new growth. If the tubers are left intact when the plant is harvested, the same plant can be harvested again after four years.
Part of the plant used: bark, root, leaves.
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Health benefits of cat’s claw
It is believed that the Cat’s claw has the following health properties; antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, cytostatic, cleansing, diuretic, hypotensive, immunostimulant, vermifuge.
It has been used as an herbal medicine for generations by various native tribes in South America. It has traditionally been used to treat intestinal ailments, asthma, wounds, cancer, tumors, arthritis, inflammation, diabetes, menstrual cycle irregularities, fevers, ulcers, dysentery and rheumatism. Uña de gato has reportedly been used traditionally as birth control by several different indigenous Peruvian tribes.
The Ash ninka tribe in central Peru have the longest recorded history of using cat’s claw as a medicinal plant. The Ash·ninka worshiped this plant, naming it kug-kukjaui. Uncaria tomentosa was the highest deity, giving rise to all other deities. The Ash·ninka carved the images of the minor deities into the long woody shoots of the plant, giving their images very long profiles and oval faces.
Contemporary herbalists consider the herb to be a natural immunostimulant, improving white blood cell function. A group of oxindol alkaloids found in cat’s claw have been documented with immunostimulating and antileukemic.
The most immune-stimulating component is believed to be isopteropodin (A-isomer), which increases the immune response in the body and acts as an antioxidant to scavenge free radicals.
Cat’s claw may also work to kill viruses, bacteria, and microorganisms that can cause diseases such as herpes and candida. patients with AIDS and those who are HIV positives have been treated with Krallendon, an ingredient that stimulates the immunity of cat’s claw.
Cat’s claw has anti-inflammatory properties, mainly due to the glycosides present in the herb, which make it an effective natural remedy for the treatment of arthritis, gastritisulcers and inflammatory bowel disorders.
The glycosides work synergistically to reduce edema associated with inflammatory conditions. The main mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effect of cat’s claw appear to be due to suppression of TNF-alpha synthesis.
Additional uses as a medicinal herb include treatments for Crohn’s diseasegastric ulcers, colitis, gastritis, diverticulitis and leaky gut syndromeand is reputed to be a good herbal remedy for chronic fatigue syndrome.
The alkaloids rhynchophylline, hirsutine, and mitraphylline found in cat’s claw have antihypertensive and vasodilatory properties that may be beneficial in preventing stroke and heart attack by preventing clots in blood vessels, slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation and lower blood cholesterol levels
Cat’s claw has been used as a disjunctive treatment for cancer, AIDS, and other diseases that affect the immune system.
The first trials with cancer patients taking cat’s claw along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy reported fewer side effects, including hair loss, weight loss, nausea, secondary infections, and skin problems. But more studies are needed to confirm this.
Additional research substantiates the effectiveness of cat’s claw as an herbal medicine for cancer treatment, indicating that cat’s claw may aid in cellular DNA repair and prevent cells from mutating.
It is also believed to help prevent the loss of white blood cells and damage to immune cells caused by many chemotherapy drugs (a common side effect called leukopenia).
A research project recently discovered that the immunostimulating alkaloids pteropodin and isopteropodin in cat’s claw may have a positive modulatory effect on brain neurotransmitters called 5-HT receptors (2). These receptor sites are targets for drugs used in the treatment of conditions such as depressionanxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain conditions and obesity.
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Dosage and administration
Tea: 1 – 10 g (1,000 mg) of root bark in 8 ounces of water; boil 10-15 minutes, cool and strain. Drink 1 cup 3 times a day or follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Tincture (solution made of herb and alcohol, or herb, alcohol, and water): 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon 2 – 3 times daily or follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Encapsulated standardized dry extract: 100 mg per day for osteoarthritis; 250 – 350 mg per day for immune support or follow manufacturer’s instructions.
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Contraindications and side effects of cat’s claw
Cat’s claw appears to have few side effects, but very little scientific research has currently been done on the benefits and possible side effects of this herb.
There have been reports of dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea when taking cat’s claw and, as it has traditionally been used for birth control, it should not be used during pregnancy as it can cause a spontaneous abortion.
Because cat’s claw can stimulate the immune system, it should not be used with medications intended to suppress the immune system, such as cyclosporine or other medications prescribed after organ transplantation or to treat autoimmune disease.
Cat’s claw may interact with anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications), diuretics, estrogens, or progestins, including birth control pills and antihypertensive (blood pressure) medications.
The use of herbs is a traditional way of strengthening the body and treating diseases. However, herbs can have side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. Always check with your primary healthcare provider before using cat’s claw.
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