Cat’s Claw
(Uncaria tomentosa)
Botanical Information
A stout vine with sharp, curved thorns along the stems. The vine clambers up into the canopies of tropical rainforests.
Working with Cat’s Claw
Part(s) Used
Inner Bark
Herb Forms
Tincture, capsule, bulk herb.
Cat’s claw is a widespread vine growing in the Amazon. There is little traditional use information available–it was apparently not widely used by native peoples, except in a very small area of Peru. Austrian researchers became interested in the herb in the late 1970s when they heard a report that it miraculously cured a case of advanced cancer. A number of constituents have been isolated and identified, but little pharmacological or clinical research has been performed on the herb. Preliminary scientific studies have shown it to have immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory properties. Cat’s claw is being touted by some companies in the U.S. herb industry as a "cure-all," similar to the South American herbs Suma (Pfaffia paniculata) and Pau d’arco (Tabebuia spp.). The herb may be effective for some ailments, but it needs more research before a definitive statement about its exact applications and contraindications can be made.
It is currently being touted as a benefit to HIV patients by some herbal practitioners who have used it. It is also being used as an aid to help relieve the symptoms of dermatological disorders (dermatitis, acne), allergies, arthritis, inflammatory bowel syndromes (irritable bowel syndrome), herpes, and most of all cancer.
Cat’s claw has a taste of and a temperature of COOL.
Cautions
None known.
Conditions treated with Cat’s Claw
Condition
Treatment Support
Application
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The information given here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. The information is drawn from numerous sources—both traditional medicine practice, from the clinical experience of many herbalists currently practicing, and supported by decades of scientific research from the author. The research most consulted includes human clinical trials that help to determine the most effective and safe herbs for various needs, the best doses, and types of preparations.
The information offered in this database is not intended as a substitute for any that may have been prescribed by your health practitioner or physician.