| Health Mail Vol.1 Issue 3 | Title : Cat's Claw - (Una de Gato) | 1/1 |
| Go to: | Contents |
This Herb is from the Peruvian Rainforest. Its official name is Uncaria tomentosa. Some cultures also call it the 'Sacred Herb of the Rain Forest' . This vine gets it name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves which look like a cat's claw. These claws enable it to attach itself around trees and climb to heights of up to 100 feet. This plant is protected in Peru. It is though to have powerful immune-boosting, detoxifying and anti-cancer properties. It is also thought to be anti-inflammatory and therefore could help people with eczema, arthritis, and respiratory problems like asthma. The active substances in Cat's Claw are alkaloids, tannins and several other phytochemicals. Cat's Claw has long been used as a homeopathic treatment for intestinal ailments. It is also referred to as the 'opener of the way' because of its ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract and its ability to treat stomach and bowel disorders. European clinical studies have used the extract from the bark in combination with AZT in the treatment of AIDS Cat's Claw was first written about in the mid-1960's by a European teacher, Arturo Brell, and U.S. University professor EugeneWhitworth. The ethnic uses began to be recorded, plant samples taken and initial screening of active constituents performed. Then in the early 1970's came Klaus Keplinger, a journalist and self-taught ethnologist from Innnsbruck, Austria, who was responsible for organizing the first definitive studies on Cat's Claw. Keplinger's work in the 1970's and 1980's led to several extracts of cat's claw being sold in Austria and Germany as prescription medicines. Four U.S. patents describing the alkaloid extraction methods and the immunostimulating actions of the alkaloids found in Cat's Claw, fuelled worldwide interest in the medicinal properties of this valuable vine of the rainforest. In May of 1994, the World Health Organization sponsored the First International Conference on Cat's Claw in Geneva Switzerland. At the conference, Cat's Claw received official recognition as a medicinal plant and it was pointed out that not since quinine was discovered in the bark of a Peruvian tree in the 17th century, has any other rainforest plant ever prompted such worldwide attention. The most interest to date has been on the oxindole alkaloids found in the bark and roots of Cat's Claw. These have been documented to stimulate the immune system. Studies indicate at least six of these oxindole alkaloids can increase immune function by up to 50% even when given in relatively small amounts. This has led to its use around the world as an adjunctive treatment for cancer and AIDS as well as other diseases which negatively impact the immune system. Toxicity studies were performed in 1997 and showed no toxicity for Cat' Claw at any of the dosages measured. The local Peruvians make a tea out of the thorny bark and drink it as a daily tonic. To fight an infection, or if you feel you are coming down with a cold or you are feeling run down, then you could take 2g a day. Make sure you buy a brand that is made from the bark of the tree, not the roots. Higher Nature Cat's Claw Super Concentrated – (30 capsules around £7.50. Available by mail order on 01435 882880 from the UK) |
|
To send in a comment or a more detailed contribution, please follow this link. |
| Go to: | Contents |