Native to the Amazon rainforest and other areas of Central and South America, cat's claw is a herb that you will find thriving in forest areasBeing a plant that can be seen easily, just look for woody vines with hooked spines that grow on them, resembling a cat's claw.
This plant can have a height of 30 metersHowever, the thorns serve an important purpose, as they allow the vines to adhere to the bark of the trees.
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The Asháninka tribe of Peru has the longest recorded history of using this herb. In fact, today they are also the largest commercial source of this herb in Peru.
The Ashaninka use cat's claw to treat asthma and urinary tract inflammations, to recover from childbirth, as a kidney cleanser, to heal deep wounds, for arthritis, rheumatism and bone pain, to control inflammation and gastric ulcers, for cancer and to support cellular health.
It has also been called «the life that gives life to Peru«. However, it should not be confused with the Antennaria dioica L., which is a small perennial plant, these two being very different.
Characteristics of cat's claw
There are two species of cat's claw plant that have been used medicinally, these being the Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. The former is more commonly used in the US, while the latter is more popular in Europe.
This type of plant can be grown in organic soils on the slopes of forest mountains and where the rain always accompanies anywhere between 250 and 900 meters (820 to 2,952 feet) above sea level.
However, there are serious threats to this plant, such as particularly the over-harvesting and destruction of the rainforest.
As a result the Uncaria tomentosa is increasingly popular as it grows at lower elevations near rivers, making it easier for wild gatherers find, collect and transport.
The roots and bark of the plant are what are used for medicinal preparations of cat's claw, as they contain an impressive mix of chemicals, such as alkaloids and glycosides.
Uses
Cat's claw can come in liquid extract, powder, and tablet form. It can also be used to make tea and is that the medicinal uses of cat's claw plant have known each other for a long time
Cat's claw is not a recent discovery, as there have been records of it being used in ancient times. South Americans used it to alleviate conditions such as asthma, arthritis, stomach ulcers, and inflammation.
The ancient Inca civilization also used this plant for viral infections and to stimulate the immune system.
In the 1970s, scientists conducted studies to learn more about its healing potential, its being aim to study the potential of this plant to alleviate cancer symptoms and other diseases.
A 1989 study also found that the roots contain oxidizing alkaloids that can boost the immune system.
Health benefits
The potential of the cat's claw plant to improve health comes mainly from the oxindole alkaloids that found in its roots and bark. These alkaloids are said to boost the immune system, leading to the various medicinal and healing benefits of this herb.
Isopterpodine or Isomer A is the most active alkaloid in cat's claw and is said to helps prevent various viral problems. Studies have also found that extracts made from this plant can help protect the human body against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, such as:
Promotes good immune function
Cat's claw increases the white blood cell count in the body, which stimulates antioxidant action. It can also help stop the spread of disease and help eradicate bacterial infections and other pathogens.
Accelerates wound healing
Its glucoside quinovic acid can help relieve inflammation, promoting wound healing and preventing them from getting infected.
Helps provide intestinal support
This herb helps relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction. According to organic data, people with leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestive system disorders such as ulcers and infections may find cat's claw particularly helpful, as can help cleanse the digestive tract and ensure a good intestinal flora.
Provides relief from inflammation-related diseases
It suppresses the synthesis of TNF-alpha and thus helps to alleviate the symptoms associated with low back pain, arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis) and other inflammatory diseases.
It can help relieve the symptoms of viral infections, it can even be beneficial against shingles, cold sores and AIDS.
Cat's claw improves DNA repair
Laboratory experiments provide evidence that cat's claw effects extend to the cellular level and can help preserve DNA integrity, the genetic blueprint of the body's cells.
DNA is highly vulnerable to free radical damage, which can contribute to the onset of cancer and other deadly diseases.
To determine whether cat's claw extract can protect delicate DNA from oxidative stress, scientists conducted a study of cultured human skin cells. They found that an aqueous extract of cat's claw protected skin cells from death induced by ultraviolet radiation, by increase the ability of cells to repair DNA damage induced by ultraviolet light.
Uncaria tomentosa and cancer
Although chemotherapy plays an important role in cancer treatment, its major drawback is that can damage DNA in healthy cells.
Adult volunteers who had previously undergone chemotherapy with water-soluble cat's claw extract supplements for eight weeks, showed markedly less DNA damage and further repair of this.
The participants also demonstrated an increase in the proliferation of white blood cells, this being an important finding, since chemotherapy generally suppresses white blood cell counts and therefore, increases susceptibility to infections.
In this way the cat's claw plant can provide crucial DNA and white blood cell support to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
For more information on this and other medicinal plants, you can consult the website of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the United States: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/graviola.