Cat’s Claw - Uncaria Tomentosa
Botanical name and description
Cat’s Claw or Uncaria tomentosa is a member of the Rubiaceae family and is native to South and Central America. This robust woody vine thrives in the Amazon River basin and is indigenous to many tropical forests across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru. The plant is known as ‘uña de gato’, ‘samento’, ‘minsho-mentis’ and ‘garabato’ and is revered as ‘the life-giving vine of Peru’. Cat’s Claw’s name is derived from the curved and elongated thorns which protrude from the stems, reminiscent of feline claws. The younger stems are green, with bronze coloured tips at sites of new growth, whilst older stems are light-brown and greyish in colour, and develop a woody texture over time, with some plants recorded to be 30m in height and 15cm thick. Cat’s Claw prefers temperate or sub-tropical weather, and flowers in spring and summer, producing large tubular yellow flowers. In western herbal medicine, the bark and roots are used to make herbal teas, capsules and liquids.
History and traditional use
Cat’s Claw has a long history within the indigenous tribes of the Amazon River basin whereby the bark and roots were prepared as a decoction to treat various ailments. Ethnic groups in the Peruvian Amazon, such as the Ashaninka, Aguaruna, Huambisa, Jivaro, Shipibo-Conibo, Bora, Mashiguenga, Campa, and Piro tribes have utilised Cat’s Claw for centuries to treat conditions including arthritis, allergies, asthma, diabetes, cancer, and bacterial and viral infections. The Ashaninka tribal healers would use the decoctions to treat sick tribe members suffering from infections, high blood pressure, tumours, abscesses, boils, wounds, and generalised aches and pains. Additionally, the bark was used for male and female reproductive concerns, including prostatitis, irregular menstrual cycles, female discharges, contraception, gonorrhoea, and inflammation of the urinary tract. Furthermore, this medicine was used in respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, specifically stomach ulcers, to sooth and prevent recurrence.
Actions and usage today
Today, Cat’s claw is used for conditions such as fever, fatigue, muscle and joint aches associated with bacterial and viral infections. Studies have demonstrated antiviral, antibacterial, immunostimulatory, and immunomodulatory actions on TNF-α production, macrophage migration, and cytokine release in the body. However, the most reported activity of Cat’s Claw is as an anti-inflammatory, particularly for arthritis (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis). The herb has extensive clinical evidence in South America for successfully treating arthritis at a dose of 30 to 300 mg per day to reduce inflammation and pain at joint sites, and negate the side effects of anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) on the stomach and small intestines. Additionally, studies indicate therapeutic efficacy for gastrointestinal inflammation via gastroprotective, antioxidant, and mucous membrane trophorestorative actions, which may reduce the recurrence of gastric ulcers in some patients. More recently, evidence suggests potential benefits in Cat’s Claw’s ability to preserve glucose homeostasis, reduce hepatic steatosis, and reduce the severity of symptoms from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
