Uncaria tomentosa - Cat's Claw

Description

There are about 60 species of this genus in the pantropics. They are coarse, scandent shrubs, climbing by means of spines. These vines are normally found 400 - 800 m above sea level in the Amazon jungle. The name ‘cat`s claw` describes the curved spines found at the leaf junctures on the stems. Dried portions of varying length and thickness (finger - arm thickness) of the root and/or stem. Brown to red-brown, having fine, lengthwise groves. The odor is mild and the taste is non-distinct but have a later ongoing bitterness.

Parts Used

Root or stem bark.

Constituents

Alkaloids (isoteropodine, pteropodine, mitraphylline, isorynchophylline, rynchophylline isomytraphylline and others); Sterols (B-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol); quinovic acid glycosides, polyhydroxylated triterpenes and catechin tannins. The content of the active ingredients varies a great deal from season to season and according to the part of the plant used. Guaranteed potency is, therefore, of particular interest in this botanical.(1,2)

Mode of Action

Cat`s Claw enhances immunity in cancer patients by increasing immunoglobulin counts. This herb is effective when combined with other conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cat`s Claw is anti-mutagenic. The alkaloids involved need to be activated by HCl. Digestion, therefore, must be adequate. This plant has an anti-inflammatory action (especially in capillary beds) and an immunological moderation action. It appears that the alkaloids, isoterpodine and pteropodine, are responsible for immune activity. Various glycosides have antiviral activity. Rynchophylline reduces blood pressure, lowers blood cholesterol, relaxes blood vessels, dilates peripheral blood circulation, inhibits sympathetic nervous system activity and lowers heart rates. The alkaloids, mytraphylline and hirsutine, are diuretic, inhibit bladder contractions and have an anesthetic effect that is one third the potency of procaine. It is specific for cancer of the urinary tract in females. Some studies have indicated that it is specific for leukemia as it has demonstrated antileukemic effect on cell walls. It has been successful in treating gout. The bark has been used in Europe with AZT in treating AIDS. The herb is considered a strong contraceptive herb in Peru. The alkaloids are anti-arthritic.(3-11)

Therapeutic action

Alterative, diuretic, immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, nervine and spasmodic.

Energetics

Traditional Chinese

Related species (U. rhynchophylla ans U. sinensi; gou teng) considered sweet and cool; entering the Heart and Liver meridians. It extinguishes wind and alleviates spasms; used for Liver heat patterns with internal movement of Liver wind; pacifies Liver yang while draining Liver heat, especially ascendant Liver yang such as headaches and irritability. Releases the exterior.(12)

Folklore

The local natives often drank a cup of the tea daily to ``ward off disease`` as it had ``life-giving`` properties. The shamans used this herb to treat bone pain and to cleanse the kidney. This herb was used by women to recover from childbirth. Used as both a wash and drink, Cat`s Claw helps heal wounds. A decoction of the bark was used for rheumatism, gastric ulcers, inflammation, tumors and as a contraceptive. This herb was also used for dysentery and gonorrhea. This herb was combined with other herbs to treat cancer, especially cancer of the female urinary tract. The decoction has been used against diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, gastritis, parasites, colitis and leaky bowel syndrome. It was drunk, used as washes, injected as an enema, gargled, used as a compress, and poultice, smoked, and used as a snuff. (13-16)

Dosage

Powder - 1-20 gm taken throughout the day
Decoction - 1 - 3 liter equivalents of above powder
Solid extract (4:1) - 500 mg. - 5 gm daily

Toxicity and Contraindications

There is no toxicity, either short term or long term, within the prescribed dosage range. Toxicity occurs when the LD50 in mice is more than 16 g/K (or 120 g for humans) over an extended period of time.

References

1. Cat`s Claw (Una de Gato), Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Apr 1996.
2. De Matta, SM; Alkaloids and procyanidins of Uncaria sp. From Peru; p. 527 -535 1975
3. Cat`s Claw (Una de Gato), Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Apr 1996.
4. Cat`s Claw (Una de Gato), Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Apr 1996.
5. Jones, K., The Herb Report: Una de Gato, Lifegiving Vine of Peru, Am. Herb Assoc., 1994, 10(3):4.
6. Jones, K., The Herb Report: Una de Gato, Lifegiving Vine of Peru, Am. Herb Assoc., 1994, 10(3):4.
7. Stuppner H, Sturn S; Capillary electrophoretic analysis of oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa; J Chromatography 609 (1992) 375 -380
8. Aquino R, Simone et al; Plant metabolites, structures and in vito antiviral activity of quinovic acid glycosides from Uncaria tomentosa and Guettarda platypoda; J Nat Prod Vol 52 (4) p679 - 685; 1989
9. Steinberg PN; Uncaria tomentosa (Cat`s Claw) a wondrous herb from the Peruvian Rain Forest; Townsend Letter; May 1994.
10. Stuppner H, Strum S et al; A differential sensitivity of Oxindole alkaloids to normal and leukemic cell lines; Planta Medica 59, 1993 supplement issue
11. Duke J; The Green Pharmacy; Rodale press; p. 220; 1997
12. Bensky, D. and A. Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Revised Edition), Eastland Press, Seattle, WA, 1993, p. 423
13. Duke, J., and Vasquez R, Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1994.
14. Willard T; Field notes; personal communications with don Antonio.
15.Elkins R; Cat`s Claw Uncaria tomentosa the miricle herb from Peru; Woodland`s Health Series; Woodland Pub Pleasant Grove Ut 1995
16. Steinberg PN; Cat`s Claw, Uncaria tomentosa; Healing Wisdom Pub NY, 1996