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Cat's claw has been
reportedly used by indigenous peoples in the Andes to treat
inflammation, rheumatism, gastric ulcers, tumors, dysentery,
and as birth control. Cat's claw is popular in South
American folk medicine for intestinal complaints, gastric
ulcers, arthritis, and to promote wound healing.
Source:
www.all-natural.com
Cat’s Claw. A new
botanical nutrient, Uncaria Tomentosa, is being called by
many the "Miracle Herb from the Rain Forest of Peru". It has been
drawing increasingly more interest among the proponents of natural
health care. Although virtually unheard of in the United States
until recently, the beneficial effects of the Peruvian herb
Uncaria tomentosa, commonly known as "una de gato" in Spanish
and "cat's claw" in English, have been studied at research
facilities in Peru, Austria, Germany, England, Hungary and Italy,
since the 1970's. These studies suggest that the herb may be
beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, bursitis, allergies,
diabetes, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, herpes, organic
depression, menstrual irregularities and disorders of the stomach
and intestines.
Properties
attributed to cat's claw include:
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Adaptogenic
-
Anti-microbial
-
Antioxidant
-
Anti-viral
-
Anti-inflammatory
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Anti-tumor
This emergence of
knowledge about the activity of cat's claw could not have come at a
better time! Many people have become fearful that the war on cancer
is being lost, that new potentially deadly viruses are evolving, and
that more deadly "super-bacteria" are developing due to over use of
prescription antibiotics. This is why increased attention is being
placed upon "Nature's Pharmacy", the botanical or herbal nutrients
that offer so much hope.
In referring to
cat's claw, Newsweek reported that this "rain forest herb has
been long used to treat asthma, ulcers, and cancer. ("Nature's
Biggest Sellers", Newsweek, November 6, 1995, page 68) In an
article in Newlife, this herb was described as having so many
therapeutic uses that it far surpasses such well known botanicals as
Echinacea, Golden Seal, Astragalus, Siberian Ginseng, as well as
Reishi and Shaitake mushrooms. ("Cat's Claw - A Wonder Herb from the
Peruvian Rain Forest", Newlife, February, 1995)
Dr. Brent Davis
described cat's claw as "The Opener of the Way" in referring to its
ability to detoxify the intestinal Tract and to treat a variety of
stomach and bowel disorders. ( Cat's Claw News, May/June,
1995)
The
anti-inflammatory qualities of cat's claw have been found to be
useful in the treatment of arthritis. ( Journal of Natural
Products, 54: Page 453, 1991; Arthritis News, 1: Summer,
1989)
The possible
anti-cancer qualities of cat's claw were explored in a study on the
mutagenic (ability to create mutations) activity in cigarette
smokers' urine. Non-smokers did not show mutagenic activity in their
urine, while cigarette smokers did. After taking this natural plant
substance, smokers' urine showed a dramatic decrease of mutagenic
activity. ("Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activity of Uncaria",
Journal of Ethnopharmacy, 38: page 63, 1993)
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