Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's Claw)

Question 1

How do you recognise Cat’s Claw?

Answer 1

• A climbing vine with pairs of opposite leaves and pairs of hooks along the stem.
• Native to Central & South America.
• Popular as an OTC (over the counter) product.
• Uncaria guianensisis also used.

Question 2

What are Cat’s Claw ‘s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Tetracyclic indole alkaloids.
* Pentacyclic indole alkaloids.
* Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids.
* Pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids
* The actions of the herb are usually primarily attributed to the oxindole alkaloids. The tetracyclic oxindoles have effects on the CNS. They inhibit the action of the pentacyclic oxindoles which are immunomodulatory.
* Two botanically similar, but chemically different, strains of the plant exist, one higher in each type of oxindole alkaloid. Those desired are the plants that are high in pentacyclic oxindoles.

Question 3

What family is Cat’s Claw?

Answer 3

Rubiaceae - same a woodruff, cleavers and coffee

Question 4

What is Cat’s Claw good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Often taken as antiinflammatories and immunomodulators, so often used for arthritis and IBD. Still emerging information.

Actions:
* Anti-inflammatory.
* Immunomodulator.
* Anti-cancer.

Applications:
* Osteo & rheumatoid arthritis.
* Autoimmune diseases.
* Inflammatory bowel diseases.
* Prostatitis.
* Cancer.
* Used in traditional Peruvian medicine as a tonic & has also been used as a contraceptive.

Question 5

What is Cat’s Claw ‘s Latin name?

Answer 5

Uncaria tomentosa

Question 6

What parts of Cat’s Claw do you use?

Answer 6

Bark and root

Question 7

What safety issues might Cat’s Claw have?

Answer 7

Safety – avoid in pregnancy

Question 8

What useful research does Cat’s Claw have?

Answer 8

https://examine.com/supplements/uncariatomentosa/research/#sources-and-composition*

Efficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat’s claw in osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species Uncaria guianensis abstract only

Vilcacora [Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. and Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) Gmell.] – a review of published scientific literature

Question 9

What remedies might you use Cat’s Claw in?

Answer 9

• Dose: Kerry Bone suggests 30 – 75ml/week of 1:2 tincture
• Not used by many herbalists in practice - available as a supplement hence why worth knowing about
• Bendle finds there is a lot of confusion about the plant, so he does not use it.