CAT’S CLAW

Uncaria tomentosa

DESCRIPTION

Uncaria tomentosa, commonly known in Spanish as uña de gato and in English as "cat’s claw," is a vine found wrapped around the trees in the rainforest of Peru.

Historically uña de gato was used by natives as a tribal medicine for arthritis, gastritis, cancer and other diseases. Recent research, indicates that the constituents of cat’s claw may contain properties that aid the digestive and immune systems.

An isolate of the uña de gato plant is being used successfully in other countries such as Austria and Germany for the treatment of AIDS and cancer.

Uña de gato is thought to help those suffering from a variety of stomach and bowel disorders. These disorders include: Crohn’s disease, ulcers, gastritis, parasites, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, leaky bowel syndrome and intestinal flora imbalance.

Indian folklore tells that uña de gato, also used in the form of tea, has been successful in curing tumors and other known deadly diseases. The Indians of this native land regard Uncaria tomentosa as a sacred herbal panacea. Spanish labels often recommend uña de gato for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, gastritis and female hormonal imbalances.

The bark and roots have been used for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years by the native Ashanica Indians for treatment of a wide variety of health problems associated with the immune and digestive systems.

Today, bark (which has all the medicinal properties) from the vine is typically the part used for medicinal purposes and the root is spared in order to avoid killing the plant, so protecting the Amazon Rainforest.

There are many species of Uncaria. Uncaria guinanensis and U. tomentosa are two common ones native to the jungle regions of Peru, from the Amazon Basin south to the high jungle areas of the province of Junin.

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES

Italian and Peruvian researchers have isolated many beneficial constituents inherent in cat’s claw including several polyphenols, triterpines, and the plant steroids beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol.

The presence of these additional compounds may explain uña de gato’s believed antioxidant, antiviral, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has found that the Uncaria tomentosa exerts a protective action ("Uña de gato showed no mutagenic effect and displayed significant antimutagenic activity as an antioxidant.").

GASTOINTESTINAL DISORDERS

"Uña de gato is often called "the opener of the way" because of its remarkable ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract and help those suffering from different stomach and bowel disorders," according to Brent W. Davis, D.C.

A relationship that is a key concept from folk medicine to advanced gastroenterology is: bad bowels... bad immunity... cancer. Gastrointestinal function and intestinal flora composition in relationship to cancer has been widely studied.

It has been heard many times that doctors today believe uña de gato may have a profound ability to get rid of deep-seated infection lodged in the bowel and perhaps even in the mesentery, which can derange the uterus and associated anatomic parts: the prostate, the liver, the spleen, the kidneys, the thymus and the thyroid – for starters.

VIRAL DISEASES

On November 28, 1988 and June 17, 1993, articles regarding Uncaria tomentosa as an extract called "Krallendon" (a drug) appeared in El Commercio, a major metropolitan newspaper in Lima, Peru.

Krallendon is being tested at Immodel, an Australian laboratory, by Dr. Keplinger, the director.

The articles discussed Dr. Keplinger’s success in using Uncaria tomentosa to treat allergies, neurobronchitis, genital herpes and herpes zoster.

According to the article, Dr. Keplinger has been able to reverse the progression of aids and cancer in many of his patients by using Krallendon alone or in conjunction with AZT. The studies also showed a reduction in the side effects of AZT and radiation therapy for cancer.

In other areas, Uncaria tomentosa has been discussed as one of about a dozen herbs used to treat cancer and other serious disorders.

RHEUMATIC DISORDERS

Uña de gato has been used by the Peruvians for centuries in the treatment of arthritis, because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

In his highly acclaimed, best selling book, Vibrational Healing, Richard Gerber, M.D., states that "cat’s claw is a unique herbal remedy that has been used for many years by native healers of Peru." He also states that uña de gato shows great promise for the treatment of arthritis when taken internally.

European studies have determined that Uncaria tomentosa has very low toxicity even if taken in large amounts. This may be of interest for those individuals suffering from painful joints who are unable to take medications due to side effects.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Uña de gato is contraindicated for transplant carriers because of possible graft rejection. During pregnancy, or if nursing, uña de gato should not be used.
It may be best to avoid this herb if you have any chronic health condition resulting from over-stimulation of the immune-system, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma or Show-Gren's syndrome.

Dr. Brent Davis has seen the undesirable side-effect of diarrhea. He states that uña de gato may alter bowel consistency. This is generally an indication that Uña de Gato is working. It’s kind of like the ascorbic acid advocates saying "take it till it runs, then back off."

CONCLUSION

"Uncaria tomentosa is a world-class herb which has the power to arrest and reverse deep-seated pathology, allowing a more rapid return to health," states Dr. Brent Davis.

Studies suggest uña de gato may be beneficial in the treatment of cancer, arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism, genital herpes and herpes zoster, allergies, ulcers, systemic candidiasis, diabetes, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS and irregular female cycles, environmental toxin poisoning, bowel and intestinal disorders, organic depression, and those infected with the HIV virus.

Because of the reported beneficial effects resulting from the use of uña de gato coupled with its legendary history, and its good history of safety factors, many believe that Uncaria tomentosa has tremendous potential as a successful preventative and treatment for many of today’s serious health challenges, although much testing is still needed.
The master rain forest herbalist Leslie Taylor has used cat's claw tinctures and teas to treat cancer and HIV with remarkable success.