Cat’s Claw Powder

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) powder made from ground root bark

What is Cat’s Claw?

The plant known as Cat’s Claw owes its name to its appearance, which strongly resembles the claws of house cats. This woody climbing vine is mainly found in tropical climates such as Colombia, Ecuador, Trinidad, Venezuela, and Costa Rica, where it thrives in dense undergrowth. In its search for sunlight, Cat’s Claw climbs trees and can reach remarkable heights of up to 100 meters. Along its shoots grow resilient leaves, between which are slightly curved thorns that resemble feline claws.

For our products, we exclusively use the root bark of Cat’s Claw, as Traditional Chinese Medicine attributes the greatest potential to this part of the plant. Since a healthy and sustainable lifestyle is especially important to us, we place great value on the quality of our raw materials.

Cat’s Claw in Indigenous Traditions and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Modern science has identified a number of Cat’s Claw’s active compounds. In addition to flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenes, Uncaria tomentosa also contains a variety of steroids and other components. These findings partly explain why Cat’s Claw has such a long history of use. Its alkaloids are considered immune-modulating, its triterpenes are used to ward off unwanted intruders, and its flavonoids help protect cells from oxidative stress.

Indigenous peoples along the Amazon have long valued the diverse properties of Cat’s Claw for a wide range of applications. They prize Uncaria tomentosa especially for its anti-inflammatory properties, traditionally using it for chronic conditions of the respiratory system and joints. Cat’s Claw is also employed for ailments of modern civilization, from joint pain to metabolic disorders. Even in serious illnesses such as cancer, indigenous communities trust in the strength of this plant.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Uncaria tomentosa is also used, particularly for dizziness and symptoms related to excessive “liver fire.”

Stephen Harrod Buhner also mentions Cat’s Claw in his works as a preferred herb in protocols for Lyme disease.

Cat’s Claw is available as a dietary supplement, made from the root bark of the climbing vine, native mainly to South America, especially Peru.

Ingredients

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) from the root bark

Note

We offer this powder as a botanical raw material (food grade) without any specified purpose.