Cat's Claw

UNA DE GATO (Uncaria tomentosa)

Family: RUBIACEAE
Genus: Uncaria
Species: tomentosa. guianensis
Synonyms: Uncaria surinamensis, Nauclea aculeata, N. tomentosa, Ourouparia tomentosa
Common names: Cat's claw, una de gato, Paraguay, Garab, gentle cash, samente, Toroni, tambor Huascar, uña Huascar, uña de Gavilan, hawk's claw, saventaro
Phyto elements: 3beta, 6beta, 7-Acetoxydihydronomiline SD CCO, 19alpha-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-OIC-acid, 5alpha-carboxystrictosidine, Acetyluncaric Acid-PL JSG, adipic-Acid, Alloisopteropodine, Allopteropodine, Angustine, campesterol , Carboxystrictosidine, Catechol Ayl BR, D-catechins, DL-Catechol, Catechutannic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Corynantheine, Corynoxeine, Dihydrocorynantheine, Dihydrocorynantheine-n-oxide, Dihydrogambirtannine, Ellagic Acid, L-Epicathechol, (-)-Epicathechin, Gallicano Acid-, Hanadamine, Hirsutine, Hirsuteine, Hirsutine-N-Oxide, Hyperin, 3-ISO-19-EPI-Ajmalicine, Isocorynozeine, Isomitraphylline, Isopteropodine, Isorhynchophylline, Isorhynchophylline-N-Oxide, Isorotundifoline, Ketouncaric-Acid, Mitraphylline, 11 -Methoxyyohimbine, Oleanolic-acid, Ourouparin, Oxogambirtannine, Pteropodine, Quinovic-acid-3beta-o-(Beta-d-glucopyranosyl - (1 -> 3) beta-d-fucopyranosyl-(27 -> 1) beta-d-glucopyranosyl -ester, Quinovic-acid-3beta-o-beta-d-fucopyranoside, Quinovic-acid-3beta-o-beta-d-fucopyranosyl-(27 -> 1) beta-d-glucopyranosylester, Quinovic-acid-3beta-o -beta-d-quinovopyranoside, Rhynchophylline, Rotundifoline, Speciophylline, Stigmasterol, Uncarine, Uncarine-f, Ursolic-acid
Parts used: bark, root

PROPERTY 'AND ACTIONS

Main actions:

* Stimulates the immune system
* Reduces inflammation
* Protects cells
* Fights the free radicals
* Free the intestine
* Fights cancer cells
* Fighting the leukemia cells
* Invigorates and balances

Other actions:

* Relieves pain
* Kills bacteria
* Detoxifies
* Purifies the blood
* Increases the diuresis
* Lowers blood pressure
* Reduces cholesterol
* Alleviates depression

Assay standards:
Bark of the climber.
Decoction: 1 cup twice a day;
Capsules: 1-2 g 2-3 times a day;
Fluid extract: 2-4 ml twice daily;
Tincture: 2-4 ml twice daily;
Standardized extract: Follow the instructions on the label


Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a woody climber, whose name derives from the shape of uncinata thorns that grow around and climbing claws look like the cat. Cat's claw grows in the rainforest and the tropical areas of South and Central America, including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guinea, Trinidad, Venezuela, Suriname, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.
In Mexico: Latin America and other plant species are commonly called una de gato, but do not belong either to the same genus or family of Uncaria tometosa and toxic properties.

In cat's claw are several chemical elements that you need most of the actions and uses of the plant.
Between the first and most widely studied elements, we are a group of oxidol-alkaloids of which has been documented the effect immunostimulant and anti-leukemia. Another group of alkaloids has shown anti-inflammatory and antiviral actions, while another class of compounds present in cat's claw has been documented for action immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and repair phones.

An important series of studies conducted between 1970 and 1990 on cat's claw should be the journalist and self-taught ethnologist and Klaus Keplinger, its wake, a Peruvian and European researchers. They showed that, used in small quantities, cat's claw increased immune function by 50%.

In addition to this action immunostimulant, has been documented in vitro anti-cancer and anti-leukemic. An Italian research in 2001 showed that in vitro cat's claw can inhibit 90% of the breast cancer cells. A previous Swedish study in 1998 documented the power of the inhibitor in vitro growth of lymphoma and leukemia cells. Previous research on the other hand had already reported as cat's claw reduced some side effects of anti-cancer therapies (hair loss, weight loss, nausea, secondary infections, loss of white blood cells). This was attributed to the adjuvant properties of cat's claw in DNA repair and preventing cells from mutagens.

Another significant area of study focused on anti-inflammatory properties of cat's claw. Tests have shown that cat's claw can inhibit the inflammation by 46% to 89%, thus validating the traditional use of plants for arthritis and rheumatism as well as for gastrointestinal inflammation.

Argentine researchers instead have studied and documented the effect of antioxidant and inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor alpha. A U.S. research has shown this not to immunostimulant properties of alkaloids in cat's claw, but to those of an anti-inflammatory group of glycosides that act as on the inflammatory chemical that is the first factor of tumor growth. In this same group of phyto-chemical elements were also assigned antiviral properties.

Other alkaloids in cat's claw have been studied for their hypotensive properties, vasosilatatorie as well as for the action of lowering heart rate and blood cholesterol levels.

Finally, the most recent research has investigated the possible effects of cat's claw on individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease, as well as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain and obesity.

Besides these uses, many others are in folk medicine. Therefore we report here is a brief summary.


Colombia: For dysentery, gonorrhea
Guinea: French for dysentery
Peru: For abscesses, AIDS, arthritis, asthma, purify the blood, bone pain, cancer, cirrhosis, diabetes, diarrhea, general prevention, dysentery, fever, gastric ulcers, gastritis, gonorrhea, hemorrhages, herpes, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, intestinal disorders, menstrual irregularities, kidney cleansing, prostate, rheumatism, herpes zoster, skin problems, stomach disorders, problems with ulcers, urinary tract disorders, cancer, wounds
Suriname: For diarrhea, intestinal problems, wounds



CAT'S CLAW

Primary method of preparation: decoction, fluid extract or capsules

Key actions (in order):
Immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, antimutageno (cellular protector), anti-cancer, anti-ulcer

Main uses:

1. as immunostimulant and adjuvant therapies against cancer (to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and protect cells)
2nd depurative as intestinal and anti-inflammatory for Chron's disease, colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome and of other intestinal problems
3rd as anti-inflammatory for arthritis (all types) and pain / tears / muscle injury
4th overall daily as a tonic (to tone, balance and strengthen all the bodily functions)
5th to ulcers of the stomach, the ulcerative colitis, as prior ulcers of the stomach and bowel protector of


Properties / actions documented by research:
Anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anticancer, anti-depressive, anti-leukemia, anti-mutagenic (cellular protector), antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, contraceptive, immunostimulant

Other properties / actions of documented traditional use:
Analgesic, anticoagulant, anti-dysentery, blood purifying, detoxifying, gastrotonico (tones, balances, strengthens the gastric system), cholesterol lowering (lowers cholesterol), tonic (tones, balances, strengthens all bodily functions), healing

Traditional preparation:
Tablets or capsules:

* Prevention and generally strengthening the immune system: 1 g in tablets or capsules per day
* Therapeutic use: 20 grams per day and on average 2-3 g two or three times a day
* For arthritis, intestinal and digestive problems: 3-5 g per day


Decoction:

* Prevention and maintenance: ½ - 1 cup once a day, up to 1 cup three times a day in special cases. Add lemon juice or vinegar (½ teaspoon per cup of water) while the decoction bubbles, to extract more alkaloids and less tannin from the bark.


Contraindications:

* Cat's claw may have immunostimulant effects and is contraindicated before or after any organ transplantation, bone marrow or skin grafting
* Cat's claw may have inhibitory properties of fertility and is contraindicated for women seeking to become pregnant.
* Cat's claw contains several chemicals that may reduce the platelet aggregation and dilute the blood. E 'contraindicated in cases of blood disorders such as haemophilia
* The bark of cat's claw requires sufficient stomach acid to help the decomposition of tannins and alkaloids during digestion and to facilitate their absorption. Do not take tablets / capsules together with antacids drugs. Do not take liquid extracts or dyes with a high content of tannin (dark) by mouth and dilute first in water or acidic juices (like orange juice)
* High dosages of cat's claw (3-4 g at a time) can cause abdominal pain or gastrointestinal problems including diarrhea. By continuing to use these effects may disappear. Discontinue or reduce dosage if diarrhea persists for more than 3-4 days

Interaction with drugs:

* Do not use with drugs that suppress the immune function, such as cyclosporin or other medications prescribed following an organ transplantation
* For some studies, it appears that cat's claw may protect against gastrointestinal damage associated with NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen
* It can enhance the effect of cumadina and other drugs that liquifying blood

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