Uncaria tomentosa | Cats Claw

The information provided within this blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Botanical Name: Uncaria tomentosa

Common Name: Cat's Claw

Other Names: Una de Gato

Energetics: Cold, Bitter and Sweet.

Cats Claw is a large woody vine that climbs and creeps up surrounding plants quite aggressively. With yellow, bell shaped flowers and 3 clawed tendrils growing between them, in early traditional herbal medicine they were characterised by their ability to "claw into roots problems" such as abscess, tumours and arthritis. Which in my perspective suggests that Cat's claw as a herb is very localised.

Main Active Constituents

• Oxindole Alkaloids

• Plant Sterols

• Polyphenols

• Quinovic Acid Glycosides

• Polyhydroxylated Tripterpenes

Primary Herbal Actions

• Immune Enhancing

• Anti-Inflammatory

• Antioxidant

Secondary Herbal Actions

• Vulnerary

• Hypotensive

• Anti-Microbial

• Anti-Bacterial

Primary Clinical Indications

The current and traditionally research indicate that Cats Claw is useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions which are also triggering an underlying immune response such as:

• Arthritis

• Gout

• Gastritis

• Cystitis

Cats Claw in Peru is considered one of the most powerful herbs and was exclusively used to eliminate disturbance in the communication between the body and spirit.

When to Avoid

Typically not recommended for those taking insulin, thymus extracts, vaccines, immune globulin or sera. Potential synergistic effects with anti-hypertensive medications. Patients undergoing grafts and organ transplants, haemophiliacs, and use caution in SLE (lupus).

Side Effects & Toxicity

Aside from mild nausea, it appears to have few side effects. There is one case report of acute renal failure in an adult with systemic lupus erythematosus who took cat’s claw.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Cats Claw should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation as traditionally the root of cats claw was used as a contraceptive; and pharmacologically had demonstrated an anti-fertility effect in an animal model.