NOW foods Buy Cat's Claw "5000" - Cats claw is a natural extract of the highest quality inner bark of authentic Uncaria tomentosa, an exciting herbal discovery from the Peruvian Rainforest. Also called Una de Gato, cat's claw herb has been used for hundreds of years by the native Ashanica Indians.

Cat's Claw "5000" is a concentrated water and alcohol extract standardized to contain a minimum of 3% total alkaloids (calculated as mitraphylline) and 15% total Polyphenols. You can also find this herb along with boswellia serrata extract in a potent and effective joint product for arthritis called Joint Power Rx.

You can buy Cat's Claw supplement or Joint Power Rx

Potential uses of Cat's Claw herb and extract for various health conditions
Anti-inflammatory
Cat's claw is a remarkably potent inhibitor of TNFalpha production. The primary mechanism for cat's claw anti-inflammatory actions appears to be immunomodulation via suppression of TNFalpha synthesis.

Antioxidant
Cat's claw is an effective antioxidant.

Antitumor benefit
Cat's claw extracts exert a direct anti-proliferative activity on MCF7 (a breast cancer cell line).

Arthritis help
This plant is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis and probably rheumatoid arthritis (see bottom of page). The species, U guianensis and U tomentosa are equiactive. They are effective antioxidants, but their anti-inflammatory properties may result from their ability to inhibit TNFalpha and to a lesser extent PGE2 production. Turmeric supplement has many health benefits, turmeric pill is available in combination with curcumin for reducing inflammation and to help with joint pain. Glucosamine info and supplements that improve arthritis symptoms.

DNA repair
Human volunteers who took cat's claw for 8 weeks had improved DNA repair.

Memory increase
Cat's claw total alkaloids exert a beneficial effect on memory impairment induced by the dysfunction of cholinergic systems in the brain and that the effect of the total alkaloids is partly attributed to the oxindole alkaloids tested.

For a dog
I have an old, 80 pound dog who suffers from arthritis and wonder if it’s safe to give him Cat’s Claw? I currently give him 4-Life Transfer Factor Classic along with the meds his doctor has suggested.
    We are not aware of any studies using cat's claw for a dog or cat. Some pet owners have tried Joint Power Rx which has cat's claw herb and have been satisfied with the results.

Cat's Claw "5000" is a natural extract of the highest quality inner bark of authentic Uncaria tomentosa, an exciting herbal discovery from the Peruvian Rainforest. Also called Una de Gato, it has been used for hundreds of years by the native Ashanica Indians. Cat's Claw "5000" is a concentrated water and alcohol extract standardized to contain a minimum of 3% total alkaloids (calculated as mitraphylline) and 15% total Polyphenols.

Cat's Claw study
Randomized double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Mur E. Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria.
J Rheumatol. 2002.
To evaluate safety and clinical efficacy of a plant extract from the pentacyclic chemotype of Uncaria tomentosa (UT) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty patients undergoing sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine treatment were enrolled in a randomized 52 week, 2 phase study. During the first phase (24 weeks, double blind, placebo controlled), patients were treated with UT extract or placebo. In the second phase (28 weeks) all patients received the plant extract. Twenty-four weeks of treatment with the UT extract resulted in a reduction of the number of painful joints compared to placebo (by 53% vs 24%). Patients receiving the UT extract only during the second phase experienced a reduction in the number of painful and swollen joints and the Ritchie Index compared to the values after 24 weeks of placebo. Only minor side effects were observed. This small preliminary study demonstrates relative safety and modest benefit to the tender joint count of a highly purified extract from the pentacyclic chemotype of cat's claw in patients with active RA taking sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine.

Cat's claw pill usage
Are you aware of any studies with cat's claw extract pill in combination with tribulus terrestris extract or other aphrodisiac herbal products? I am wondering how my immune system will react to the combination.
     We are not aware of such a combination study, but we suggest trying each herb separately for a week or two before combining.