Cat's Claw

Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)is a high-climbing vine most often found in the Amazonian highlands of Peru. It is named for its thorns which look much like a  cat's claw. The bark from the Uncaria tomentosa, where several of its highly active elements are found, is stripped without killing the vine,  thereby protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Amazon. Extensive research has shown that certain components extracted from this herb can enhance the body’s own immune system, (which helps to keep that system in balance in spite of continual exposure to environmental stressors), and can support intestinal health. Research continues in an effort to identify specifically which components of the vine enable these beneficial activities.

Some of the compounds identified to date are:

The presence of these additional compounds may provide some explanation for the protective and rejuvenating characteristics of this powerful herb.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Cats Claw
Cats Claw appears to inhibit TNF-alpha production and serve as an antioxidant.1 It contains a number of proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids, suggesting an antioxidant mechanism underlies its anti-inflammatory activity.2 A study from Universidad Nactional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru, evaluated the efficacy of cat’s claw extract in controlling pain among patients with knee OA (n=45).3 Pain associated with activity was significantly reduced in patients taking cat’s claw, with benefits occurring with the first week of therapy; it also inhibited TNF-alpha and PGE2 production.

Reference:
1. Hardin SR. “Cat’s claw: an Amazonian vine decreases inflammation in osteoarthritis.” Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Feb;13(1):25-8.
2. Gonçalves C, Dinis T, Batista MT. “Antioxidant properties of proanthocyanidins of Uncaria tomentosa bark decoction: a mechanism for anti-inflammatory activity.” Phytochemistry. 2005 Jan;66(1):89-98.
3. Piscoya J et al. “Efficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat's claw in osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species Uncaria guianensis.” Inflamm Res. 2001 Sep;50(9):442-8.

Research:

Use of herbal therapies among midlife Mexican women., Zenk SN, Shaver JL, Peragallo N, Fox P, Chavez N. School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Sept 2001.

Review of antiviral and immunomodulating properties of plants of the Peruvian rainforest with a particular emphasis on Una de Gato and Sangre de Grado. Williams JE. California Acupuncture College, San Diego, CA, USA. Dec 2001.

Antiinflammatory actions of cat's claw: the role of NF-kappaB., Sandoval-Chacon M, Thompson JH, Zhang XJ, Liu X, Mannick EE, Sadowska-Krowicka H, Charbonnet RM, Clark DA, Miller MJ. LSU Medical Center, Department of Paediatrics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. Dec 1998.

Articles:

"The Healing Cat's Claw", Chris Kilham, www.medicinehunter.com.