The Uses for Cats Claw Herb

The increasing demand for alternative remedies brings a native South American vine into the focus of new research. Cat's Claw, Uncaria tomentosa, is not one of the best-known medicinal herbs, but its popularity is growing as news of its healing benefits emerge. For centuries, the root and bark of this plant have been used by South American Indians to treat ailments such as gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, inflammations and fever.

The Plant

• Cat's claw, also knows as "una de gato," is a woody vine that reaches up to 100 feet in length. The name describes a claw-like thorn that sits at the base of the leaves on the stem of the plant.

  It grows wild in the western to central part of South America, yet most of the commercially available plant parts come from Peru. The vine, or liana, has long, oval leaves with softly pointed tips. The leaves are arranged in sets of two along the stem.

  Traditionally the root and the bark were used as remedies, but to guarantee sustainability it is mostly the bark that can be used for commercial purposes today.

The Uses

• Cat's Claw stimulates the immune system. It is used to treat symptoms related to HIV and has been implemented as a cancer fighter. It is said to have positive effects on kidney disease, Alzheimer's, rheumatism, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, especially of the stomach and bowels. Pharmacological research found anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities in Cat's Claw as well as agents that protect healthy cells. Some research also shows a positive effect on viral infections and the discomfort connected to an outbreak of herpes and shingles.

  In native South American cultures, Cat's Claw was also used to prevent and abort pregnancies. This raises a big warning sign for women who are or would like to get pregnant. Do not take Cat's Claw in this case.

How to Take It

• Cat's Claw is available from nutritional supplement providers as a liquid extract, tea or in capsules. There are no clear suggestions for dosage and opinions vary on this subject. Practitioners recommend doses from 1,000 to 6,000 milligram per day or two to four cups of tea. Cat's Claw extracts are also used in ointments for topical applications.

  Herbal remedies are not regulated in the United States. That means that individual products can vary tremendously from each other in their content of active substances.

Side Effects

• Scientific studies are still being performed to determine the effectiveness of Cat's Claw and as with many other natural remedies there is a tug-of-war going on between the users and promoters of the herb and medical researchers. While the benefits can currently neither be confirmed not denied, there are reports of side effects that should not be ignored.

  As already mentioned, nursing and pregnant women or those wanting to be should stay away from Cat's Claw as the consumption of the herb can induce a miscarriage. Individuals with auto-immune diseases or tuberculosis could experience dangerous complications due to the immune boosting nature of Cat's Claw. The same applies to anyone who is expecting an organ transplant.

  Before self-medicating and taking Cat's Claw, consult a doctor and make sure it is safe for you.