Cat's claw, known as una de gato in Spanish, is a herb
derived from a vine-type plant which grows widely in the
countries of Central and South America, and is particularly
common in the Amazon rainforests and Peru. So vast and
botanically rich are the wilds of the Amazon rain forest
that many herbal practitioners still look to it as a
potential source of powerful, but as yet undiscovered,
herbal remedies. Although this hope might seem to some
like wishful thinking, the example of cat's claw suggests
that it may not be entirely fanciful; because although the
herb has only very recently become known in the West, it
has been used as health tonic and treatment by the
indigenous peoples of the region for many centuries.
But the claims made for the benefits of cat's claw need to
be treated with some caution, because there are those who
would have you regard it as something akin to a miracle
herb or universal panacea; and orthodox medicine, as
always, is rightly sceptical of the wilder claims of the
herbal or "natural" remedy lobby.
Rendered into liquid form, however, extracts of cat's claw
have been found to have potent adaptogenic,
anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, and these
are therefore used by herbal therapists to tackle a wide
variety of common ailments. The anti-inflammatory
qualities of the herb indicate potential benefits in the
treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and bursitis; as well as
digestive problems and ulcers, whilst as an adaptogen and
anti-oxidant cat's claw is believed to boost the immune
system, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and even help
in the fight against cancer.
Serious research into the benefits of cat's claw has been
underway in Europe since the 1970s, and although, as noted
above, conventional medicine remains reluctant to confirm
the herb's therapeutic value, the fact that cat's claw is
only available on prescription in certain countries is a
clear indication of its biochemical potency. Cat's
claw's power as an immune system booster appears to be
related to unique properties in the alkaloids derived from
it, certain of which appear directly to enhance the ability
of the body's white blood cells to destroy potentially
harmful foreign matter. These alkaloids also seem to
stimulate the production of the vital T4 lymphocyte and
leucocyte immune system cells which are crucial in fighting
viral infections.
One particular such alkaloid, rynchophylline, is also
believed to be of great benefit to the cardio-vascular
system in preventing blood "stickiness", or the potentially
catastrophic formation of clots in circulating blood in the
heart and brain. Like other anti-oxidants, cat's claw may
also help to prevent the oxidation of low density lipids
(LDL), or "bad cholesterol", and the consequent build up of
deposits inside the arteries leading to atherosclerosis.
Recent research also suggests that the anti-oxidant action
of cat's claw may also help to prevent the deposit of the
plaques within brain tissue which are implicated in the
development of Alzheimer's disease.
The many potential benefits of cat's claw make it a hugely
exciting prospect for advocates of herbal remedies. But
there is an important caveat in that most of the research
so far has been conducted in the laboratory rather than on
live human subjects. Against that, however, must be set
the many centuries of use of the herb amongst older
civilisations.
Orthodox medicine, moreover, is always keen to stress,
quite correctly, that the mere fact that a remedy is
described as "natural" or "herbal" does not mean it is
necessarily free of potential side effects. Herbal
remedies, after all, often provide the raw materials for
the manufacture of conventional drugs, and are highly
active biochemical compounds in their own right. They
could not be of any benefit if they were not.
But in the case of cat's claw the only contraindications
for its use appear to for pregnant women and those
suffering from disorders of the immune system. For all
others, the herb appears to be completely safe, although
very rare cases of minor gastric upsets and headaches have
been reported.
The inner bark of the plant is the source of cat's claw's
active alkaloid compounds, but the bark itself is
indigestible and poorly absorbed, if at all, by the human
digestive system. Fortunately, however, cat's claw is now
readily available in the form of easily absorbed teas,
tinctures and capsules, but it's probably best to start
with low doses to ensure freedom from any possible side
effects. And as recommended therapeutic doses vary
between 750 and 3,000 mg per day, it's always worth talking
things over with your physician or a reputable herbal
practitioner before beginning any program of
supplementation. But the potential benefits of cat's claw
appear so promising that this is not a herb you should
ignore.
----------------------------------------------------
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in
direct marketing and with a particular interest in health
products.
Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/In
formation.htm
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