Medicinal Plant: CAT`S CLAW
Author: Cesar Barriga
Forestry Engineer
University Professor
Lima - PERU
Botanical name: Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC.
Uncaria guianensis (Abbl) Gmel.
A brief history about this plant:
The ethnic groups from the central Peruvian jungle have been using this plant for hundreds of years.
Many colonists (Germans, Italians, Austrians, etc) also used it to solve their health necessities.
During the mid 70’s important phytochemical researches started in Austria, Germany and Italy and by the mid 80's they were started in Peru.
It became a very important plant because its effects were tested in the treatment of illnesses such as cancer, arthritis, rheumatism, etc., and because of its great capability to strengthen the immunological system and its probable capability to cure AIDS.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The most investigated of them both (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis) is the Uncaria tomentosa but due to initial research results on U. guianensis and its traditional use by ethnic groups, it seems that both have the same components.
The principal components are several quinovic acid glucosides (there are 8 identified untill now) as well as triterpines and polioxinels.
Other components that are present in CAT`S CLAW are a range of hydrosindolc alkaloids. The ones that are identified untill now are: RINCOFILINE, ISORONCOFILINE, MITRAFILINE, UNCARINE F, HIRSUTIN, ISOMITRAFILINE, PTEROPODINE, SPECIOFILINE, ISOPRODINE, and Polyphones Flavonics EPICATECINE and 4 PROCYANIDINES.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
-Stimulates the immunological system.
-Anti-cancerous.
-Anti-inflammatory.
-Increases phagocytosis.
-Inhibitor of cellule mitosis.
PRESENTATION
- Bark.
- Bark fibers.
- Bark powder (packs of 100 and 250 grams).
- Micro pulverized bark capsules.
- Extracts
- Cream
- Solution
- Macerates/Liquor
- Capsules
PRINCIPAL INDICATIONS
-Allergies
-Arthritis
-Asthma
-Prostatitis
-Rheumatism
-Tumors
-Ulcers
-Initial stages of AIDS.
POSOLOGY
Boil 20 grams of bark in 1 liter of water for 20 minutes (water becomes red). The same bark can be boiled up to 3 times. Take this infusion along all day as a beverage, if it tastes bitter to the patient just dilute it with water or with fruit juices (orange or lemon).
Do not add sugar.
Everybody must follow these indications as precaution during three months and then stop for three weeks.
In extreme case of illness it is not necessary to stop during 3 weeks.
In high doses this can be a contraceptive.
It is not recommended to pregnant women. For people with high blood pressure take this in lower doses.
EXPERIENCE FROM ITS USE
Many people had very good results after treatment against ulcers, arthritis, rheumatism, prostatitis, Recklinghausen, tumors, cancer, etc.
Dr.Iaccarino, in Italy (a Medical Dr.), tried Cat’s claw on a patient from Palermo who was suffering from the Syndrome of the Fine Connective Tissue Complex, and he observed progressive decrease of pains and a greater freedom of movement which allowed his patient to walk again. Examinations revealed a strong decrease of the immune complexes.
Dr. Inchaustegui, from the hospital of the Peruvian Social Security Institute in Iquitos (a city in the jungle of Peru) has applied Cat’s claw on his patients who had advanced degrees of AIDS. These are his conclusions:
-Patients infected for several years and that had chronic symptoms improved their health not having more opportunistic diseases.
-The results of HIV reactions have shown oscillations which indicates that it has a positive on the AIDS virus.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arellano, J. Pedro. El Libro Verde. Guía de Recursos Terapeuticos .Ministerio de Salud
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tradiconal. 1992.
Aquino R.;De Feo V.; Plant Metabolites. New Compounds and De Simone F.; Pizza C.; Anti-inflammatory Activity of Uncaria Cirino G. tomentosa.
Journal Natural Products. 1991; 54 (2) : 453-459.
Arroyo J., Jurope H. Avances en la Evaluación Farmacologica
Callo N. y Lock O. de los Extractos de Uncaria
guianenesis.
Resumenes del III Congreso Italo- Peruano de Etnomedicina Andina.
Lima Octubre 1993.
Barriga Ruiz C. Productos Forestales Diferentes a la
Madera. En Memorias de Reunión de Expertos FAO-CHILE 1995. 200 p.
Barriga R. R. Plantas Utiles de la Amazonia Peruana.
Concejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología - Concytec Lima 1994. 280 p.
Estrella Eduardo Plantas Medicinales Amazonicas.
Realidad y Perspectivas.
Tratado de Cooperación Amazonica. Quito 1995. 190 p.
Hirsch K. M.; Daños Selectivos en Células
Sschweiger M. Transformadas por Extractos de Uncaria.
Instituto de Bioquimica Universidad de
Innsbruck. Austria.
Huber C. La Influencia de los Extractos de
Uncaria en Algunas Funciones Linfocíticas, en la Fagocitosis de Granulocitos y en Crecimiento In Vitro de Tumores Hemopoyéticos Humanos.
Deparatmento de Inmunología Clínica de la Clinica Universitaria de Innsbruck. Austria. Tesis 1985.
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tomentosa.
Resumenes del III Congreso Internacional de Medicinas Tradiconales. Area Farmacognosia.
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Inchaustegui G. R. Estudio Preliminar sobre CRAS y SIDA
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Años 1989-1994.
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Universidad de Innsbruck and Munich.
Obregon Vilches Lidia Uña de Gato. Genero Uncaria. Estudios Botánicos, Químicos y Farmacologicos de Uncaria tomentosa y Uncaria guianensis.
Instituto de Fitoterapia Americano.
Lima 1994. 162 p.
Peluso, G.; et al Effeto Antiproliferativo su Cellule
Tumoreale di Estratti e Metaboliti da Uncaria tomentosa. Studi In Vitro Sulla Loro Azione su DNA Polimerasi.
Actas II Congreso Italo- Peruano de Etnomedicina Andina. 27 -30 Octruibre 1993.
Peralta T. Mirian; Efecto Antiinflamatorio de Extracto Zambarno F. Hernán Glicosidico de Uncaria tomentosa. Tesis. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquínioca. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. 1992.
Schmitt L. W. Tratamientos Antitumoral con Plantas Medicinales.
Resumenes del III Congreso Internacional de Medicinas Tradicionales. Area Farmacognosia.
Lima Junio 1988.
Wagner H.; Krutzkamp B Die Alkaloide von Uncaria tomentosa
und ihre Phagozytose Steigernde Wirkung. Planta Médica 1985: 419-423.
Lima, Octubre 1995.
Personal Address:
Av. Julio Bayletti 312 Lima 41 PERU South America
Tlf. (51)-1-3460965
Fax (51)-1-3460965
E.mail: info@pebani.com.pe
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