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. (References 1, 2, 3)
Properties
attributed to cat's claw include:
-
Adaptogenic
-
Anti-microbial
-
Antioxidant
-
Anti-viral
-
Anti-inflammatory
-
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)
The Effects of
Cat's Claw on Intestinal Permeability
(Leaky Gut Syndrome)
After using cat's
claw in working with approximately 150 patients between 1988 and 1992,
Dr. Brent Davis reports that "Uncaria tomentosa has the ability to break
through severe intestinal derangements that no other available products
can touch." He refers to the herb as "the opener of the way" because of
its remarkable ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract and help
patients suffering from many different stomach and bowel disorders including
leaky bowel syndrome. irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis,
hemorrhoids. fistulas. gastritis, ulcers, parasites and intestinal flora
imbalance. (References 1,2,3)
By cleansing
the intestinal walls, cat's claw enables the body to better absorb nutrients,
thus helping to correct nutritional imbalances created by digestive blockages.
(Reference 2) Many doctors today believe that cat's claw may have a "profound
ability to get rid of deep-seated infection lodged in the bowel and perhaps
even the mesentery, which can derange the uterus and associated anatomic
parts: the prostate, liver, spleen, kidneys, thymus and thyroid, for starters."(5)
Davis calls cat's claw "a world class herb which has the power to arrest
and reverse deep-seated pathology allowing a more rapid return to health...''
(References l, 2)
The Ashanika
Indians of Peru have long regarded una de gato tea as a sacred beverage.
It is used as a cleansing and tonic herb for the immune, intestinal and
structural systems.
In traditional
medicine of Peru, una de gato is categorized as a "warm plant" or, more
accurately, for warm conditions (inflammations) including arthritis, gastritis,
asthma and dermal and genito-urinary tract inflammations. It is also used
to treat diabetes, cancer, tumors, viral infections, menstrual disorders
convalescence and debility. A few tribes also use cat's claw as a remedy
for dysentery, (Reference 6) and at least one tribe uses the herb to treat
gonorrhea. (Reference 7)
Cat's Claw Can
Reduce Pain and Inflammation in Arthritic Conditions
The anti-inflammatory
effects of cat's claw have proven beneficial in the treatment of arthritis,
rheumatism, bursitis and gout. As an antioxidant, it also helps protect
cells from damage caused by free radicals. Its beneficial effects in treating
arthritis pain may also be due, in part, to its ability to cleanse the
digestive tract and aid in removing toxins from the body. Arthritis, joint
pain and inflammation as well as chronic fatigue, allergies, immune deficiency
and a host of other conditions have been associated with defects in intestinal
permeability (leaky bowel syndrome! and toxin overload. (References 9,
10)
Some of the
glycosides present in the herb may also add protection from pain. This
may explain, in part, how cat's claw has been helpful in reducing pain
associated with chemotherapy, radiation treatment and AZT use. (Reference
l1)
A wealth of
beneficial phytochemicals have been found in cat's claw including quinovic
acid glycosides, several oxindol alkaloids, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols,
triterpines and the plant sterols beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol.
(References l, 3) Researchers believe that the activity of the whole plant
extract is greater than the sum of its parts. (References 3, 5, 7)
Cat's Claw Alkaloids
Stimulate General Immunity
Unique alkaloids
in una de gato seem to enhance the immune system in a general way. These
alkaloids have a pronounced effect on the ability of white blood cells
to engulf and digest harmful micro-organisms and foreign matter. (Reference
3) Austrian researcher Klaus Keplinger has obtained two U.S. patents for
isolating some of the herb's major components. According to these patents,
six oxindol alkaloids have been isolated from cat's claw and four of these
have been proven "suitable for the unspecified stimulation of the immunologic
system". Laboratory testing has shown these alkaloids to have a pronounced
enhancement effect on phagocytosis (the ability of the white blood cells
and macrophages to attack, engulf and digest harmful micro-organisms, foreign
matter and debris). The most immunologically active alkaloid appears to
be isoteropodine or isomer A. (References 1, 2) Cat's claw has also been
shown to increase the production of leukocytes and specifically T4 lymphocytes,
thus blocking the advance of many viral illnesses. Quinovic acid glycosides
in cat's claw back up the immune system and protect the body from viruses
and virus caused cancers. (References l, 2)
Dr. Donna Schwontkowski,
D.C., calls cat's claw the most powerful immune-enhancer of all the herbs
native to the Peruvian Amazon. Preliminary studies suggest that the herb
has the ability to stop viral infections in the early stages, help patients
who are chemically sensitive, fight opportunistic infections in AIDS patients
and de-crease the visible size of some skin tumors and cysts. (References
3, 8) According to Dr. Satya Ambrose, N. D., cats claw seems to enhance
overall immunity while increasing stamina and energy in patients who suffer
from physical and mental exhaustion due to an overactive or stressful lifestyle.
(Reference 3)
Rynchophylline
Inhibits Platelet Aggregation and Thrombosis
Rynchophylline,
a fifth alkaloid found in Uncaria tomentosa, has been studied at the Shanghai
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In laboratory testing, rynchophylline
displays an ability to inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombosis. This
suggests that cat's claw may be useful in preventing strokes and reducing
the risk of heart attack by lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation,
inhibiting formation of plaque on arterial walls and formation of blood
clots in the brain, heart and arteries. (Reference 2)
It is important
to understand that most of the clinical research, trials and reports completed
to date which show the alkaloids to be antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immuno-stimulating,
antimutagenic, antioxidant and have other benefits, are tests determining
the alkaloid's active principals "in-vitro". This means they have been
proven in the test tube - not "in-vivo", or in the human body. While these
in-vitro tests are very promising, many more in-vivo tests will be needed
to determine the true efficacy of this plant for specific diseases in humans.
Three trials
that could be considered in-vivo, were in fact, human studies. Two were
performed using "Krallendorn" which is a cat's claw extract produced by
a German company called Immodal. One of these documents is termed a "therapy
observation" and spans a ten year period with 78 patients suffering from
brain tumors treated with Krallendorn. Another is a summary of a trial
with 32 HIV-infected patients treated with Krallendorn from 1987 to 1991.
The third in-vivo test was performed by an Italian group studying the plant's
antimutagenic properties on smokers and non-smokers.
In-vivo tests
and trials are currently underway at several institutions in several countries
and some preliminary results look promising, but the final results are
not in yet. Cat's claw has not been clinically proven to cure AIDS or cancer.
One of the
best sources on cat's claw is the book,
The Saga of the Cat's Claw,
by Dr. Fernando Cabieses. Dr. Cabieses is a well known neurologist and
neurosurgeon with residency in Lima, Peru. He is Professor Emeritus at
the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos and Honorary Professor at the Universities
of Trujillo, Piura, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Cusco, Arequipa and Garcilaso
de la Vega. He is also Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at the University
of Miami, Florida, a member of the World Health Organization Committee
for Traditional Medicine and is the Chairman of the Instituto Nacional
de Medicina Tradicional of Peru, a branch of the Ministry of Health (The
National Institute of Traditional Medicine of Peru). He has studied cat's
claw extensively, as well as all available clinical research reports and
trials. In his book, he gives a clear and easily understood translation
of each of the clinical in-vitro studies and what they mean. We would like
to share his views on cat's claw concerning AIDS in his book:
"Therefore,
'in-vitro', we already know that the alkaloids of our plant stimulate the
immune mechanisms. This is excellent. It opens a promising avenue of research
"in-vivo" in order to determine whether these substances are active in
conditions where the immune system is depressed. None of us is unaware
of AIDS, the horrible monster stalking humanity, and much hue and cry has
been raised about Uncaria tomentosa's effects as a miracle cure for this
cursed condition. But so far, no such cure exists. Most of the alleged
successes are the works of quacks, adventurers and outright swindlers.
Some of the noise comes from a few bona-fide but ignorant physicians or
others influenced by cases which are certainly interesting but, unfortunately,
poorly documented. The subject demands much more study, and to speak now
of "cures" when the evaluation is still under way cruelly raises false
hopes in desperate people. Several Peruvian groups, among them Professor
Eduardo Gotuzzo and Doctor Rosario Rojas, are currently conducting topnotch
studies which should soon give us more reliable information."
Dr. Cabieses'
closing statements in The Saga of the Cat's Claw are the following:
"The proper
design of research protocols for human application in neoplastic diseases
and in severe problems of immune deficiency (AIDS) is not child's play,
and the limits between the possible and the desirable are frequently cloudy
and diffuse. A link between "in vitro" and "in vivo" is now being designed
in Peruvian medical institutions of great prestige like the University
Cayetano Heredia and Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas, as
well as under the direction of experts in alternative medicines like natural
medicine (Father Edmundo Szeliga, Doctor Mirez, Doctor Lida Obregon) and
homeopathy (Dr. F. P. Iaccarino). This leads me to believe that it won't
be too long, dear reader, before you and I can sit down together again
for a second addition of this monograph.
Meanwhile,
what should we do? What should you and I do with all the information invading
our homes and our hospitals about "Una de Gato" in Peru? What do we do,
dear aunt of my neighbor? What do we do, dear doctor, respected colleague?
Do we resist the tide and abstain from using this interesting plant of
our jungle? What do we tell our friend, the desperate father of the young
fellow who has AIDS? Do we tell him to ignore this ray of hope? Do we,
as doctors, tell our patient suffering from a malignant tumor not to seek
refuge in "Una de Gato", at least to satisfy his desperate relatives? Or
do we tell our patients and our friends to buy a ticket to this lottery
and see what happens with "Una de Gato"? Do we love Uncaria or not? Do
we accept it or prohibit it?
Biology's dizzying
advances have confronted us with hundreds of dilemmas like this one. When
you face a true dilemma, you suddenly find that you have no answers. A
dilemma is a question without answers. Or, to put it better, a dilemma
is a question with two or more answers, whose every answer is at once attractive
and defensible and capable of leading us to defeat and frustration. Modern
biology has brought us to a vast field paved with dilemmas like this; disoriented,
we now seek satisfaction for all our doubts and questions. Such satisfaction
does not exist. A road there must be built and found in the labyrinth of
biological dilemmas, and the way to do so is called Bio-ethics.
The ethics
of Biology. A science that still does not clearly exist. An elusive, slippery,
unattainable moral law. A set of rules where it is always difficult to
find what is good, what is proper, what is just. A time bomb hidden behind
each scientific discovery.
That is why
I wrote this monograph. To shed some light on this difficult path. Here
we have a "new" medication which is recommended and praised by many people
who have used it. Here we have scientific evidence that it is not toxic.
Laboratory tests carried out in serious academic institutions prove that
the extracts of this plant have clear anti-inflammatory effects, that it
has some action modulating the immune mechanisms, and that, in certain
circumstances, it inhibits the crazed growth of cancerous cells. . . .
So we still
have not identified the active principal? We have not identified how it
works? For two hundred years, quina bark saved more lives annually than
those killed by the atomic bomb in 1945. And during all those years, nobody
knew that there was an alkaloid which would later be named Quinine. For
a hundred years, humankind used aspirin to stop pain and inflammation,
though nobody knew until the discovery of prostaglandins why it worked.
Of course,
in this dangerous quagmire of official indecision, the indifference of
the authorities and the absence of controls acts as an incentive to fraud,
to the illegal substitution of products, to falsification, adulteration
and deceit. These should lead us, physicians and conscientious citizens,
to help our patients and friends help themselves against con artists and
quacks and who promote spurious and adulterated products. All physicians
who have patients taking this particular medicinal plant should try to
document seriously and scientifically all those cases, positive or negative,
in order to gather enough scientific information about the medical effects
of Uncaria.
The following
are quotes that have been extracted from the compilation of many documents
from around the world. These are the opinions and claims of each individual
author:
Excerpted from
the book: Herbs of the Amazon - Traditional and Common Uses, by
Dr. Donna Schwontkowski, Doctor of Chiropractic:
"Una de Gato is
considered one of the most important botanicals in the rain forest. In
Peru, Una de Gato tea is used as a medicinal herb with almost unlimited
curative properties. This herb is a powerful cellular rejuvenator. It has
been used for the treatment of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach),
ulcers, cancer, arthritis, rheumatism, irregularities of the female cycle,
and acne. It is also used to treat organic depression. External applications
of Una de Gato include the treatment of wounds, fungus, fistulas and hemorrhoids.
European research shows that Una de Gato activates the immune system by
increasing lymphocytic (white blood cell) activity."
Excerpted from
the book: Traditional Uses of Rainforest Botanicals by John Easterling:
"It is considered
one of the most important botanicals in the Rainforest. By supporting and
enhancing immune system function, Una de Gato is indicated in a broad spectrum
of conditions including all types of infections. Urarina tribesman of Peru
tell stories of Una de Gato curing tumors. Una de Gato was one of the plants
researched by the National Institute for Health as an anti-cancer agent.
Studies from various laboratories indicate it normalizes the immunoglobins
by activating T-lymphocytes and macrophages."
Excerpted from
the book: Powerful and Unusual Herbs from the Amazon and China,
Published by the World Preservation Society:
"Una de Gato from
the Peruvian rain forest is a favorite for stimulating the immune system.
World wide research done on this powerful herb has led scientists to patent
many of the single chemicals found in it for use in healing cancer, arthritis,
AIDS, and other diseases. However, traditional wisdom shows that using
the whole plant can be far more powerful than any one isolated ingredient."
Excerpted from
The
Herb Quarterly, Winter 1994, in an article titled "Cat's Claw (Una
de Gato) A Wondrous Herb From the Amazon Rain Forest" by Phillip Steinberg:
"In July 1989,
U.S. Patent No 4,844,901 was issued to an Austrian scientist named Klaus
Keplinger, and a second patent, No. 4,940,725, was issued to him in July
1990. These patents explain how Dr. Keplinger isolated six oxindole alkaloids
from the root of Uncaria tomentosa and that four of these alkaloids have
been proven to be "suitable for the unspecified stimulation of the immunologic
system". According to Keplinger's research, these four alkaloids have been
shown to have a pronounced enhancement effect on phagocytosis (the ability
of the white blood cells and macrophages to attack, engulf and digest harmful
micro-organisms, foreign matter, and debris.) According to both patents,
the most immunologically active alkaloid is isopteropodine or isomer A.
Besides isomer A and the other three immuno-stimulating alkaloids, there
exists another alkaloid known as rynchophylline. This alkaloid has been
studied at the Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine. According to their
findings, rynchophylline has demonstrated an ability to inhibit platelet
aggregation and Thrombosis, which suggests that rynchophylline may be useful
in preventing strokes and reducing the risk of heart attack by lowering
blood pressure, increasing circulation, and inhibiting both the formation
of plaque on the arterial walls and the formation of blood clots in the
brain, heart, and arteries."
