Cat's Claw is an herbal remedy
for viral infection. Cat's Claw has also been used for the remedy of cancer
and arthritis.
Cat's Claw,
Cat's Claw root, Cat's claw bark has been used to support
the immune system and promote kidney health, as well as to prevent and abort
pregnancy.
Cat's Claw
- Cat's claw grows wild in many countries of Central and South America,
especially in the Amazon rainforest. CAT'S CLAW is a thick, long, slow growing
woody vine that grows between 400 and 800 meters above sea level in the rain
forests. This vine gets its name from the small, sharp thorns, two at the base
of each pair of leaves, which looks like a cat's claw. These claws enable the
vine to attach itself around trees climbing to a height of 100 feet or higher.
The root (which can grow to the size of a watermelon) and the inside of the bark
are the parts of the plant used in herbal remedies. Because demand for this herb
has increased greatly in the past few years, the Peruvian government now forbids
harvesting the roots of the plant. Since the same compounds are present in the
bark as the root, the plant is now harvested 3 feet above the ground. This
preserves the plant so that it can be harvested again a few years later.
Common Names--cat's claw, uña de gato
Latin Names--Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis
- What Cat's Claw Is Used For
- How Cat's Claw Is Used
The inner bark of cat's claw is used to make liquid extracts, capsules, and
teas. Preparations of cat's claw can also be applied to the skin.
- What the Science Says about Cat's Claw
- There is not enough scientific evidence to determine how
well cat's claw works for any health problem, including arthritis, HIV, or
cancer.
- Small studies in humans have shown a possible benefit of
cat's claw in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but no large trials
have been done. In laboratory studies, cat's claw stimulates part of the
immune system, but it has not been proven to reduce inflammation or boost
the immune system in humans.
- The National Institute on Aging is studying how cat's
claw may affect the brain. Findings may point to new avenues for research in
Alzheimer's disease treatment.
- Side Effects and Cautions about Cat's Claw
- Few side effects have been reported for cat's claw when
it is taken at recommended dosages. Though rare, side effects may include
headaches, dizziness, and vomiting.
- Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
should avoid using cat's claw because of its past use for preventing and
aborting pregnancy.
- Because cat's claw may stimulate the immune system, it is
unclear whether the herb is safe for people with conditions affecting the
immune system.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary
and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do
to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
An herb is a plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential
therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and
roots. Herbal medicine products are dietary supplements that people take
to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed
health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and
fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not
effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
Dietary supplement is a
product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino
acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for
dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.
To use an herbal product as safely as
possible:
-
Consult your doctor first
-
Do not take a bigger dose than the label
recommends
-
Take it under the guidance of a trained
medical professional
-
Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or
nursing
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Why should I use herbal products?
The decision to use herbs to improve your
health is, as with all health decisions, a personal one. There are, however,
many good reasons to consider herbal products to complement your own
health care methods. One of the best reason, however, may be the fact that
herbs and herbal products, continue to provide real health benefits while
maintaining a remarkable safety profile. Readily available natural
substances were the first medicines used by humans. Primitive and ancient
civilizations as well as contemporary cultures throughout the world have
always relied on herbs to provide the benefits that have been observed with
their use. In fact, the World Health Organization has estimated that 80
percent of the world's population continues to use traditional therapies, a
major part of which are derived from plants, as their primary health care
tools. In our own time and culture, most herbs are available in the form of
"herbal supplements." These products are found in the form of teas, tablets,
capsules, liquid extracts, and others. We now have ready access to products
that bring the herbal traditions from all over the world in a variety of
convenient forms. In addition, scientific inquiries continue to develop our
knowledge of the benefits of plants, and often validate the observations
made over the past centuries.
Are herbs safe?
Plants that enjoy broad culinary and
therapeutic usage are generally safe. We can flavor our food with any number
of herbs to make a meal more flavorful. We can appreciate a delicious cup of
peppermint leaf or ginger root tea, or benefit from the soothing properties
of marshmallow root or the bark of slippery elm. We can take an herbal
supplement containing dandelion root or saw palmetto berries, or any number
of the other herbs. Although allergies and reactions have been recorded for
a few herbs that are widely used in foods and supplements, such individual
concerns are also seen with many foods, and do not diminish the safety
profile of the many herbs that are generally recognized as safe. On the
other hand, and as everyone knows, there are any number of plants that are
highly toxic, even deadly.
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