catsclaw

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What does Cat's Claw do?

Cat's Claw root and/or inner bark is a medicinal herb used primarily for it's anti-inflammatory actions. Traditionally it has been used to treat gout, inflammation, and swelling. There are also reports that Cat's Claw has been used as a contraceptive, for cleansing the intestinal tract, and in helping resist viral infections. It is thought to be an anti-oxidant. There have been suggestions it may be useful in the treatment of arthritis, ulcers, cancer, tumors, and AIDS.

Should my health care professional be advised before I take Cat's Claw?

There is little information available on Cat's Claw, however, in the following cases they should be consulted first to be on the safe side, as there is one reference suggesting that Cat's Claw usage may be contraindicated if: You will be undergoing skin grafts (may cause rejection of foreign cells) You will be undergoing an organ transplant (may cause rejection of foreign cells) You are undergoing hormonal therapy You are taking thymus extracts You are receiving insulin You have a hemophiliac condition and have been prescribed fresh blood You are to receive a vaccine

Are there other times my health care professional needs to be advised before I take Cat's Claw?

They should be consulted first if you are: Pregnant or trying to get pregnant (contraindicated if pregnant) Breast-feeding (contraindicated if breast-feeding) If you plan to administer this herb to a child of any age (traditionally contraindicated for use with children under the age of three)

How should I take this herb?

Take Cat's Claw capsules or tablets by mouth. Swallow the capsules with a large drink of water. For the best bioavailability and if you have a sensitive stomach, it is often recommended that you take Cat's Claw as a tincture, infusion, or tea. You can take Cat's Claw with or without food. Using a standardized product is highly recommended.

What should the dosage be?

Consult your health care professional for appropriate dosages. Note: If using on a child over the age of three or an adult over the age of 65, it is often recommended that dosages start low and increase gradually and then only if needed.

What side effects may I notice from taking Cat's Claw?

Side effects from Cat's Claw usage are not well known. If you experience any side effects, stop usage immediately and report them to your health care professional. Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (stop usage and report it to your health care professional if they are continuing or bothersome): Diarrhea (decrease dosage or stop usage)

What do I need to watch out for with Cat's Claw?

Read labels carefully before purchasing. There have been reported cases of herbal products being sold that did not contain active ingredients (the herbs active constituents) needed to be of any therapeutic value. Buying a standardized product when purchasing tinctures, capsule, or tablets may reduce the possibility of this occurrence. Look also for products that are clearly labeled with the ingredients contained and amounts.

Where can I keep my herbal product?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30°C (59 and 86°F). The raw herb, tinctures or infusions should be stored in airtight, dry, and light resistant containers. If there is an expiration date listed on the herbal product, throw away the unused portion after the expiration date. Raw herbs, tinctures, ointments, etc all have varying life spans. Generally, an herbal product will have the longest life span when it has been extracted in alcohol.

Can you tell me a little more about Cat's Claw?

Cat's Claw or "una de gato" is a woody vine indigenous to the Amazon. It can grow up to 100 feet in length and has very thorny stems. It prefers to grow on the trees in the rain forests of Peru. Cat's Claw is used medicinally by the Ashaninka Indians of Peru for treating s.c. problems as digestive complaints and arthritis. They also believe that the herb has the ability to influence the balance or "regulation" of the spiritual and physical beings of an individual. Though Europe began to investigate this herb in the 1950's, to date there is still little research that has been conducted on its efficacy. Even with this lack of research, it is growing in popularity. In 1997 it was in seventh place for top herbal supplement sales in the United States. Due to fears of overharvesting and potential destruction to the rainforests, Peru limits the harvesting of Cat's Claw. Laws protecting the root form being harvested are in effect. Currently only the bark is approved for harvesting.

What are the actions that have been associated with the herb?

Cat's Claw is thought to enhance the action of white blood cells, act as an anti-oxidant, and have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.

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