Description
Cat’s claw, Uncaria tomentosa, is a traditional medicinal plant from the Amazon. It contains alkaloids, quinĂłvic acid, phytosterols, polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids. It is known as huasca, paraguayo, saventaro, uña de gavilán, and samento.
Traditional Medicine claimed properties include:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiviral
- Antioxidant
- Analgesic (pain killer)
- Diuretic
- Stimulates and strengthens the function of our immune system
- Improves digestion
- Regulates the menstrual cycle
- Improves general weakness to accelerate recovery
- Prevents proliferation and kills cancer cells
Disorders treated with cat’s claw in traditional medicine:
- Gout or high uric acid
- Osteoarthritis, arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Hemorrhoids
- Diabetes
- Cirrhosis
- Diarrhea, Gastritis, Diverticulitis, Leaky gut syndrome, and Colitis
- Shingles and Herpes
- CFS
- Cancer, especially urinary tract and brain
- Asthma and hay fever
- Alzheimer’s disease
Diseases treated by cat’s claw in western medicine include:
- Osteoarthritis: Taking a specific combination supplement containing cat’s claw and maca for 8 weeks seems to reduce pain and stiffness, improve function, and reduce the need to use rescue medication as well as taking glucosamine sulfate.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Taking a specific cat’s claw extract that contains pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids but is free of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids appears to improve symptoms of RA . Taken by mouth in combination with sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine for 24 weeks, cat’s claw seems to reduce the number of painful and swollen joints.
- Human papilloma virus (HPV): A combination of echinacea, grapefruit, papaya, pau d’arco, and cat’s claw three times daily for one month can reduce the recurrence of anal warts after surgical removal in people with HPV.
How to Use Una de Gato
Cat’s claw is prepared as an infusion, although it can also be found in tincture, powder, or capsules form.
- For osteoarthritis of the knee: 100 mg daily of freeze-dried cat’s claw extract.
- For rheumatoid arthritis: 20 mg 3X per day of cat’s claw extract without tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
