Cat's claw
Uncaria tomentosa
Herbs & Roots. Latin American & Amazon and Modern nutrition.
Also called Uña de gato, Vilcacora
Spanish: Uña de gato
May affect immune activityCat's claw is a woody vine from the Amazon whose inner bark and root are brewed or capsuled and sold for joint pain and immune support.
Did you know? Cat's claw gets its name from the hooked thorns that grip the vine as it climbs.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Joint pain & arthritis. Two small placebo-controlled trials, one in rheumatoid arthritis and one in knee osteoarthritis, found some benefit. The trials were small and short, and one used a related species.Early proof
- Colds, flu & immunity. Lab studies show immune-active effects. Human proof of better immune defense is limited.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Amazon peoples in Peru used cat's claw for arthritis and wounds. Modern use is mostly as a supplement for joints and immunity.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Anti-inflammatory, Immune balancer, Antioxidant. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Taken as capsules or tea. The joint trials used a set daily dose of extract for several months, so standardized extracts are a better choice than loose bark.
Tea, capsule and tincture.
Where to get it
Grows wild in the Amazon basin and parts of Central and South America. Sold as bark, powder, tea, and capsules, and products vary in species and strength.
Be careful
Cat's claw can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Long-term safety is not well known. It may affect immune activity, so ask a doctor before using it with immune-suppressing drugs, and avoid it in pregnancy.
Avoid if: pregnancy; autoimmune disease; organ transplant.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both Amazon barks are used for similar immune and inflammation claims.
- Use cautionImmune-suppressing medicine (transplant drugs, some arthritis drugs)
Cat's claw may stimulate immune activity, so it could work against immune-suppressing drugs. This risk is based on lab work and theory.
The honest take
Cat's claw has a little proof for joint pain, from small trials. Most other claims, such as cancer or strong immune boosting, come from lab work. Trials used one species or a mix, so buy products that name the species.