Product Name: Uncaria Tomentosa Extract

Botanical source: Uncaria Tomentosa

 Specification: Alkaloid 3%~5%

 Test Method: HPLC

 Part of used: Leaf

 Appearance: Brown yellow fine powder

Description:

Cat's claw is a type of woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest. It gets its name from the thorns growing on the vine that resemble cat's claws.

Cat's claw has long been used for its health benefits and was a staple of Inca medicine, used to treat everything from wounds to an upset stomach. The root bark of the vine was used to make tea and was also ground into powder .

Modern research has begun to shed light on the wide range of cat's claw benefits. The supplement is used to lower blood pressure, fight inflammation and boost the immune system (in addition to a wide range of other uses).


 

Cat's Claw Extract Benefits

Cat's claw extract has a wide range of health benefits. Here are some of the most notable benefits of supplementing with cat's claw extract:

Blood Pressure

Hypotension, or high blood pressure, affects millions of people and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Cat's claw may be an effective way of lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.

Studies in mice have indicated that cat's claw may be helpful for patients with hypotension. It did this by affecting calcium channels, leading to a lower blood pressure (x). More research is needed to see if these effects are also seen in humans.

Cat's claw should not be used as a primary treatment for high blood pressure. However, it may be useful when combined with other medication.

Digestive Support

Cat's claw may also help with healthy digestive support and reduce irritation in the intestines.

Specifically, cat's claw has been shown to have a positive effect on people with Crohn's disease. This is a condition where there is chronic inflammation in the intestines, leading to pain, digestive discomfort and malnutrition (x).

Patients with Crohn's disease were given 250 mg per day of cat's claw to help fight inflammation in the intestines. Although cat's claw was unable to treat the condition, it did help reduce inflammation. This can also lead to better absorption of nutrients, as well as less digestive discomfort (x).

It should be noted that studies of cat's claw on digestive health have been largely limited to people with Crohn's disease. It's still unknown if the supplement has a positive effect on those with health digestive systems.

The supplement is also not recommended as a main treatment for serious cases of digestive distress. However, it may be effective when used in combination with other therapies.

Anti-Inflammatory

Cat's claw has been shown to contain a number of compounds that can reduce inflammation, such as pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid. This compound can block the production of inflammatory agents, helping reduce swelling and prevent pain from inflamed joints (x).

The anti-inflammatory effects of cat's claw may be helpful in treating arthritis. Patients who took cat's claw for a year showed significantly improved symptoms with fewer inflamed joints (x).

Positive results were also seen when cat's claw was used to treat osteoarthritis. This is a condition where the bones rub against the joints, causing inflammation and pain (x).

Patients who were given cat's claw over the course of four weeks showed less pain when active than those who did not receive the treatment. However, inflammation did not go down.

Immune Support

Cat's claw may also be able to boost the body's immune response to infections, speeding healing times and helping prevent colds and flus.

Multiple studies have supported the role of cat's claw in increasing immune function. One study found that men who were given cat's claw extract had higher levels of lymphocytes, cells that help fight infections (x).

Another study, this one conducted in rats, found that cat's claw significantly boosted levels of lymphocytes without any noticeable side effects (x).

These studies are still early, and they were not linked to any specific disease. That means we still don't know how the body responds when cat's claw is used to treat certain infections. However, there were few side effects, so the supplement appears to be a safe way to increase immune activity.

Cancer

Cat's claw may have a role in fighting certain types of leukemia. It contains a number of oxindole alkaloids, compounds that can prevent cancer cells from growing. These compounds may also be able to kill off cancer cells, preventing the spread of leukemia (x).

Much more research is needed to understand the role that cat's claw may have in cancer. It should also not be used as a primary treatment for any type of cancer. However, it may be a useful supplement when combined with other first line cancer medications.