Cat's Claw for HIV

Cat's claw is a plant indigenous to Central and South America. It is characterized by vines that hook inward, resembling cat claws. Usage of the bark of the plant to treat various diseases dates back to Incan civilizations. HIV is among the health ailments that cat's claw is used for. However, there is not enough scientific evidence as of 2010 to deem cat's claw an effective HIV treatment.

Effects

• According to the Memorial Sloan-Ketting Cancer Center, cat's claw bark contains oxindole alkaloids, glycosides, polyphenols, indole alkaloidal glucosides, beta sitosterol, tannins and catechins. These ingredients help dilate blood vessels to increase blood pressure, reduce cellular inflammation, and help repair DNA damage in cells. Cat's claw purportedly helps the body combat viruses which affect the immune system, such as HIV and herpes.

Usage

• The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that you take a maximum of 1,000 mg of cat's claw per day. Cat's claw bark is available in the form of capsules, teas and liquid tinctures; 350 mg of cat's claw a day is enough to help boost your immune system. Cat's claw is not recommended by the medical center for children, as no pediatric studies on cat's claw exist.

Lack of Evidence

• HIV patients may use cat's claw to help boost the immune system. However, according to the AIDS InfoNet, not enough evidence has been gathered from studies on HIV and cat's claw to support such claims. In fact, overstimulating your immune system may actually worsen HIV. Cat's claw is not backed by the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an effective HIV treatment.

Side Effects

• Cat's claw may cause gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and vomiting. Overdosing on the herb can also decrease blood pressure to an unsafe level. Cat's claw can also cause miscarriage in pregnant women, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Take care in consuming cat's claw with other herbs and prescription medications, as these substances may interact with one another.

Considerations

• AIDS, the last stage of HIV, decreases your immunity to common illnesses and makes you more susceptible to tumor development. Although cat's claw purportedly boosts your immune system, the herb is not proven to help prevent the onset of AIDS once you are diagnosed with HIV. The University of Maryland Medical Center also reports that cat's claw should not be used if you receive an organ transplant, because it can interact with prescription immunosuppressants. Ask your doctor before using cat's claw as an HIV treatment.