Cats claw is a large, woody vine that gets its name from the thorns that grow along the vine that look like the claws of a cat. Cats claw herb has been used medicinally by the indigenous people of the Amazon rain forest for over 2,000 years. Cats claw has been used in Peru and Europe since the early 1990 as an adjunctive treatment for cancer and AIDS 1-3 In the 1970's to early 1990's independent researchers in Spain, France, Japan, Germany and Peru published research on the immune-stimulating alkaloids in Cats claw herb. Many of these studies showed that Cats claw herb increased immune function by up to 50%. 4-11 These Cats claw research results were substantiated by Canadian researchers at the University of Ottawa (1999) and by Peruvian researchers (1998).12-13 In 2001 an Italian in vitro study of Cats claw herb showed that it directly inhibited the growth of a human breast cancer cell line by 90%, while a different in vitro study by another research group reported that it inhibited the binding of estrogens in human breast cancer cells. 14-15
Ingredients and suggested use for Cats claw herb:
100% Pure Cats claw (Uncaria tomentosa) extracted in distilled water and 40% alcohol. Usage - 60 drops (2ml) twice a day or as required, under the tongue or to be added into water or juice.
Cats claw references:
1. Immodal Pharmaka, GmbH., “Krallendorn® Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC Root Extract. Information for Physicians and Dispensing Chemists. 3d rev. ed.” Volders, Austria: September 1995, 20 pages.
2. Keplinger, U.M. “Einfluss von Krallendorn extract auf Retrovirale Infektioned,” Zurcher AIDS Kongress, Zurich, Switzerland, October 16 and 17, 1992, program and abstracts.
3. Keplinger, U.M., “Therapy of HIV-infected individuals in the pathological categories CDCA1 and CDCB2 with a preparation containing IMM-207,” IV. Osterreichicher AIDS-Kongress, Vienna, Austria, September 17 and 18, 1993, abstracts:45.
4. Montenegro de Matta, S., et al. “Alkaloids and procyanidins of an Uncaria sp. From Peru.” Il Farmaco. Ed. Sc. 1976; 31:527-535.
5. Ozaki, Y., et al. “Pharmacological studies on Uncaria and Amsonia alkaloids.” Japanese Journal of Pharmacology (suppl.) 1980; 30: 137pp.
6. Kreutzkamp, B.”Niedermolekulare Inhalstoffe mit Immunstimulierenden Eigenschaften aus Uncaria tomentosa, Okoubaka aubrevillei und anderen Drogen.” Dissertation of the faculty of chemistry and pharmacy of Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, May 1984.
7. Stuppner, H., et al. “HPLC analysis of the main oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa.” Chromatographia 1992; 34 (11/12): 597-600.
8. Wagner, H., et al. “Die Alkaloide von Uncaria tomentosa und ihre Phagozytosesteigernde Wirkung” Planta Medica 1985;51: 419-423.
9. Laus,G., et al. “Seperation of sterioisomeric oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa by high performance liquid chromatography.” J. of Chromatography 1994; 662:243-249.
10. Lavault, M., et al. “Alcaloides de Uncaria guianensis.” Planta Medica 1983; 47: 244-245.
11. Hemingway, S.R. and J.D. Phillipson. “Alkaloids from South American species of Uncaria (Rubiaceae). J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1974 suppl.; 26: 113pp.
12. Lemaire, I., et al. “Stimulation of interleukin-1 and -6 production in alveolar macrophages by the neotropical liana, Uncaria tomentosa (uńa de gato).” J. Ethnopharmacol. 1999; 64(2): 109-115.
13. Marina, M.D., “Evaluacion de la actividal immunoestimulante de Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. Uńa de gato en ratones albinos.” Biodiversidad Salud 1998; 1(1): 16-19.
14. Riva, L., et al. “The antiproliferative effects of Uncaria tomentosa extracts and fractions on the growth of breast cancer cell line.” Anticancer Res. 2001; 21(4A): 2457-2461.
15. Salazar, E.L., et al. “Depletion of specific binding sites for estrogen receptor by Unicaria tomentosa.” Proc. West. Pharmacol. Soc. 1998; 41(1): 123-124.
Cats claw herb
