The Climbing Vine

Cats Claw or Una de Gato, Uncaria tomentosa is named for the cats claw like spines located on the underside of the leaves of this liana, or woody vine. It is these very spines which enable it to climb tall rainforest trees to the canopy high above as it vies for sunlight in sustaining its growth. 
            It is native to Amazonia and much of the tropical rainforest of the Americas, where it is has been used widely as a sacred medicinal plant for centuries by cultures therein. These peoples use it to treat the gamut of inflammatory conditions including the likes of asthma, ulcers, viral infections, menstrual disorders, cancer, and diabetes. These therapeutic effects have been, in part, researched and attributed to phytochemical constituents including unique alkaloids found in significant concentrations in Cats Claw.

Cats Claw has been shown to be immunomodulatory in nature. Basically, it is an inhibitor of certain immune system components which stimulate TNF alpha, an inflammatory mediator in our bodies, and which is responsible for inflammation in the above conditions. TNF alpha is also involved with autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and certain types of arthritis. Based on this, it could very well be that Cats Claw may be effective in relief from these and other conditions resulting from TNF alpha activity.

 Indeed, clinical studies do validate these general therapeutic effects. Cats Claw has also shown antioxidant activities in scientific evaluation.  The antioxidant action is possibly related to the presence of proanthocyanadins which also underlie the anti-inflammatory activity of Cats Claw. Antioxidant activity helps to reduce cell damage due to inflammation and aging.

Researchers are currently evaluating the many previously determined positive effects in treating different types of cancer with Cats Claw, and, additionally, this liana is being researched for effectively reducing viral loads in AIDS patients. There have been interesting results demonstrating that Cats Claw normalizes levels of white blood cells and thus promotes an overall more optimally functioning immune system. And, one study has shown a significant increase in bodily DNA repair. Since decreased DNA damage and increased DNA repair are often accompanied by more quickly recovering and enhanced immune function it seems plausible that Cats Claw might well have some therapeutic benefit across a wide variety of ailments.

The immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, white blood cell normalizing effects of Cats Claw illustrate wide possibilities in the relief of specific conditions, but also it demonstrates wide utility and potential usefulness for restoration of balance and keeping your immune system working at peak performance. Perhaps Cats Claw brings the body back into the balance that we know is essential—or, as the Ashaninka people of Amazonia say when they are healthy and in balance, “nocaratanaje” or “I carry harmony.” They promote this harmony through the use of sacred plants, in particular, Cats Claw. Let us learn from traditions in health as we usher in a new era in true healing and harmony!