Cats Claw Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Griffe Du Chat, Life-Giving Vine of Peru, Liane du Pérou, Samento, Uña De Gato CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for Cat's Foot
Scientific Name
Uncaria Tormentosa
Why Do People Use Cats Claw?
The oral preparations of Uncaria guianensis (Cats Claw), like cats claw powder, are typically used for peptic ulcers, diverticulitis, gastritis, colitis, parasites, hemorrhoids, leaky bowel syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Other uses of cats claw are for the treatment of herpes simplex, viral infections, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), arthritis, wound healing, allergic rhinitis issues, asthma, gonorrhea, glioblastoma, for birth control, dysentery, cleansing the kidneys and bone pain problems.
Is It Safe To Use?
Possibly Safe - Cats claw powder is likely safe when taken orally for short period. Particular freeze-dried extract of cats claw appears to be safe when utilized for maximum 4 weeks. Another extract with combination of oxindole alkaloids is reported safe for up to 24 weeks utilization.
Likely Unsafe for Pregnant Females - Oral consumption of Uncaria guianensis is considered unsafe for pregnant women; so avoid using it during this stage.
In Lactation - No information available.
How Effective Is Cats Claw?
Likely Effective for Osteoarthritis - Taking a particular freeze-dried cats claw extract, possessing Uncaria guianensis, orally seems to diminish pain of knee related to physical movement within one week of treatment, however it doesn't lessen pain at rest or mitigate swelling of knees.
Likely Effective for Rheumatoid Joint Pain (RA) - Taking orally a particular extract of cats claw (Uncaria tomentosa), containing pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids however free of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids, seems to improve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms. Taking orally in blend with hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine for continuously 24 weeks, cats claw powder appears to decrease the number of joints with pain and swelling in them.
However in order to rate safety for other uses, there is lack of authentic information.
How Cats Claw Works?
Most effective parts of Uncaria guianensis are its bark and roots. Rhynchophylline is thought to be the major alkaloid of cats claw. There are some confirmations that it may have cardiovascular impacts including lowering heart rate, dilating peripheral blood vessels and possibly lowering level of blood cholesterol. Rhynchophylline may also lessen the activity of sympathetic nervous system.
According to some clinical experiments, cats claw powder is thought to work for osteoarthritis because of its anti-inflammatory impacts. It appears to suppress the production tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and prostaglandin E2. There is interest toward utilizing cats claw for rheumatoid arthritis. The immunomodulatory effects are reported due to alkaloids of pentacyclic oxindole found in cats claw, which increase lymphocyte and phagocytosis activity.
Uncaria guianensis has shown to stimulate the production of colony-stimulating elements, IL-6, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and myelopoiesis enhancement in animal models. It also builds the number of blood cells including B and T lymphocytes, granulocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in animal model. But cats claw does not appear to change these cells proportion. Also, cats claw does not appear to expand precursors (germ cells) of the cells, proposing that it delays white blood survival instead of expanding production of cell.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Cats Claw?
Side effects seen with the use of cats claw powder include:
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
How Cats Claw Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Supplements & Herbs with Hypotensive Effects
Use of cats claw powder may have hypotensive effects. Combination of cats claw and other supplements and herbs that possess hypotensive impacts may enhance the potential risks of hypotension. Some of these supplements & herbs consist of casein peptides, andrographis, fish oil, coenzyme Q-10, lycium, L-arginine, theanine, stinging nettle and other supplements & Herbs.
How Cats Claw Interacts With Drugs?
Antihypertensive Drugs - Interaction between antihypertensive drugs and cats claw in moderate so be careful of this combination. This interaction may be responsible for lowering blood pressure so patients should be advised to discontinue cats claw with combination of antihypertensive drugs.
Cytochrome Substrates - Interaction rating of Uncaria guianensis and cytochrome substrates is moderate so be careful of this mixture. Some initial experiments recommend that cats claw powder can inhibit cytochrome enzymes. Combination of cytochrome substrates and cats claw may enhance the level of metabolized drugs, however this reaction has not been observed in human beings. Cytochrome substrates drugs include ketoconazole (Nizoral), triazolam (Halcion), lovastatin (Mevacor), fexofenadine (Allegra), itraconazole (Sporanox) and a number of other drugs.
Immunosuppressants - Interaction rating of cats claw powder and Immunosuppressants is moderate so be careful of this combination. Cats claw powder may inhibit the effects of immunosuppressant therapy because of its immunostimulating activity. It stimulates phagocytosis and enhances mobility of leukocytes and improves cellular respiratory. Drugs in the category of immunosuppressant drugs includes basiliximab (Simulect), azathioprine (Imuran), daclizumab (Zenapax), cyclosporine, mycophenolate (CellCept), muromonab-CD3, prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf, FK506) and other corticosteroids drugs.
How Cats Claw Interacts With Foods?
There is no known interaction between cats claw and other food items.
How Cats Claw Interacts With Lab Tests?
Not known.
How Cats Claw Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Autoimmune Diseases - There is a problem that cats claw may show side effects in patients with autoimmune diseases due to its immune stimulating potential. Patient suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis or some other autoimmune diseases should avoid using Uncaria guianensis without any further recommendation of their physician.
Hypotension - Some diseases like hypotension may be exacerbated by the regular use of cats claw powder.
Leukemia - Initial clinical experiments recommend that cat claw powder may extend survival time of leukemia cell in childhood. It is also reported that cat claw may worsen disease in those patients who are suffering from leukemia. So, such patient should discontinue the use of cats claw.
Surgery - It is reported that cats claw may put adverse effects on blood pressure level. It may be responsible for abnormal control of blood pressure after and during surgical process. So patients should be advised to stop using Uncaria guianensis minimum two weeks before their elective surgical process.
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Cats Claw?
In order to cure osteoarthritis of knee, 100 mg of freeze-dried liquid extract of cats claw should be utilized. For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, 60 mg of cats claw specific extract should be used every day in three equally divided doses.
Comments
In 1997 cat claw was the most known herbs in the United States and was ranked 17th most effective herbs. There are two species of cats claw that are used for medicinal purpose, which are Uncaria guianensis and Uncaria tomentosa. Uncaria guianensis is well known in the European countries and Uncaria tomentosa is famous in the US.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
