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A Peruvian Newcomer
This vine from the highlands of the Peruvian Amazon is a newcomer to American herbal medicine. Cat's claw (una de gato) was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1990s after studies in Europe showed that it has anti-inflammatory, immunity-stimulating, and tumor-fighting qualities.
Common Uses- As an anti-inflammatory, in the treatment of arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, ulcers
- To stimulate the immune system, in the treatment of all types of infection, including HIV
- To help fight tumors, in the treatment of a variety of types of cancer
- In the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke
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Cat's claw research is still in its infancy, but studies to date have validated -- and expanded upon -- the herb's traditional uses. It has anti-inflammatory, immunity-stimulating, and tumor-fighting action. In addition, it also appears to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease. [1, 2, 3]
German, Austrian, and Canadian researchers report that cat's claw stimulates the immune system. South American scientists report that exposure to cat's claw extract stimulates white blood cells to devour more pathogenic micro-organisms. This tends to validate the herb's traditional use as a treatment for infections. [4, 5]
In a cell-culture study, researchers at Louisiana State University Medical Center have shown that cat's claw has significant anti-inflammatory effects. This tends to validate its traditional use for inflammatory conditions. [6]
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute found "encouraging" evidence of anti-tumor effects, but funding for this research program was terminated in the early 1980s before any conclusions could be reached. [7] A 1993 study by Italian researchers showed that cat's claw contains no cancer-initiating (mutagenic) compounds, but that it does contain cancer-preventive compounds. As part of this study, a longtime smoker whose urine contained mutagenic compounds was given cat's claw daily for 15 days. At the end of that period, his urine contained a lesser amount of the mutagenic compounds. [8]
Researchers at China's Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine have shown that cat's claw reduces cholesterol and blood pressure, inhibits the formation of arterial plaque deposits, and helps prevent the internal blood clots that trigger heart attack and most strokes. [9]
To date, however, there have been no rigorous clinical trials of cat's claw, so its effects in humans remain unclear. On the other hand, an increasing number of anecdotal reports in the herb literature suggest that cat's claw helps treat Crohn's disease, chronic prostatitis, canker sores, sinus infections, and flu. [10, 11]
In 1989 and 1990, an Austrian company was awarded U.S. patents (4,844,901 and 4,940,725) for a chemical process that extracts cat's claw's six medicinal compounds. [12]
Sources
1 Anon. "Cat's Claw," The Review of Natural Products 4-1996.
2 Jones, K. "Recent Research on Una de Gato," Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 4-1996.
3 Steinberg, P. "Cat's Claw: Medicinal Properties of This Amazon Vine," Nutrition Science News 10-95.
4 Lemaire, I., et al. "Stimulation of Interleukin-1 and IL-6 production in Alveolar Macrophages by the Neotropical Liana, Uncaria Tomentosa (Una de Gato)," Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1999) 64:109.
5 Steinberg, P. "Cat's Claw: Medicinal Properties of This Amazon Vine," Nutrition Science News 10-95.
6 Sandoval-Chacon, M., et al. "Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Cat's Claw," Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1998) 12:1279.
7 Blumenthal, M. "Una de Gato: Rainforest Herbs Gets Scientific and Industry Attention," Whole Foods 10-1995.
8 Rizzi, R., et al. "Mutagenic and Antimutagenic activities of Uncaria Tomentosa and Its Extracts," Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1993) 38:63.
9 Steinberg, P. "Cat's Claw: Medicinal Properties of This Amazon Vine," Nutrition Science News 10-95.
10 Blumenthal, M. "Una de Gato: Rainforest Herbs Gets Scientific and Industry Attention," Whole Foods 10-1995.
11 Ibid.
12 Steinberg, P. "Cat's Claw: Medicinal Properties of This Amazon Vine," Nutrition Science News 10-95.
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Use
Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa and U. guianensis) is a climbing woody vine that often reaches 100 feet in height as it grows up trees in the high Peruvian Amazon. It climbs with the help of hooks that resemble cat's claws; hence, the plant's name. The hooks grow out of the stem at leaf junctions. Cut the stem, and drinkable water exudes from it. But the medicinal part of the plant is its root bark. [13, 14]
The indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon have an oral culture and no written language, so it's impossible to determine how long they have used cat's claw medicinally. However, ethnobotanists speculate that it has been used for centuries. Amazonian Peruvians use the herb to treat inflammatory conditions, infections, and tumors. [15, 16]
Instructions
Most herbalists familiar with cat's claw recommend a dose of 2 to 3 grams three times a day, either in tea or in capsules. [17]
Sources
13 Blumenthal, M. "Una de Gato: Rainforest Herbs Gets Scientific and Industry Attention," Whole Foods 10-1995.
14 Ibid.
15 Steinberg, P. "Cat's Claw: Medicinal Properties of This Amazon Vine," Nutrition Science News 10-95.
16 Ibid.
17 Consensus view of all sources.
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Anon. "Cat's Claw," The Review of Natural Products 4-1996.
Associated Press. "Popular Herb Thought to Be Poisonous," Austin [Texas] American Statesman 9-5-95.
Blumenthal, M. "Una de Gato: Rainforest Herbs Gets Scientific and Industry Attention," Whole Foods 10-1995.
Jones, K. "Recent Research on Una de Gato," Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 4-1996.
Lemaire, I., et al. "Stimulation of Interleukin-1 and IL-6 production in Alveolar Macrophages by the Neotropical Liana, Uncaria Tomentosa (Una de Gato)," Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1999) 64:109.
Rizzi, R., et al. "Mutagenic and Antimutagenic activities of Uncaria Tomentosa and Its Extracts," Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1993) 38:63.
Sandoval-Chacon, M., et al. "Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Cat's Claw," Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1998) 12:1279.
Santa-Maria, A., et al. "Evaluation of the Toxicity of Uncaria Tomentosa by Bioassays in Vitro," Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1997) 57:183.
Steinberg, P. "Cat's Claw: Medicinal Properties of This Amazon Vine," Nutrition Science News 10-95.
Weiner, M. Herbs That Heal. Mill Valley, CA: Quantum Books, 1994, pp. 139-140.
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