Cat’s claw offers immune supporting properties.* Cat’s claw has been found to support healthy levels of white blood cells, including B and T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and granulocytes.*
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ABOUT BILL RAWLS, M.D.
Dr. Rawls is a licensed medical doctor in North Carolina and a leading expert in integrative health. He has extensive training in alternative therapies, and is the Medical Director of Vital Plan, a holistic health and herbal supplement company in Raleigh, NC.
Cat’s claw
By Vital Plan
Medical Director of Vital Plan
Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) has been used for thousands of years by indigenous people of the Amazon for supporting a healthy immune system. Not surprisingly, the name comes from the shape of the thorns on the woody vine from which the herbal supplement comes. The herb is derived from the inner bark of the vine.
- Supports the immune system
- Promotes cognitive health
- Promotes a healthy intestinal tract
- Potent antioxidant properties
- Dilates blood vessels and promotes normal blood pressure
Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) has been used for thousands of years by indigenous people of the Amazon for supporting a healthy immune system. Not surprisingly, the name comes from the claw-like shape of the thorns on the plant’s woody vine; the herb is derived from the inner bark of the vine.
Cat’s claw offers a range of immune-supporting properties. It has been found to support healthy levels of white blood cells, including B and T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and granulocytes.*
Also used in traditional medicine for improving memory and reducing brain fog, cat’s claw is now exhibiting promising cognitive benefits in modern research. For example, in one six-week study of healthy adults aged 18 to 35, those who took a supplement containing cat’s claw bark powder saw significant improvements in short-term memory and executive functions compared to the control group.*
Another exciting recent study found that cat’s claw reduced brain plaques and tangles — commonly associated with memory problems and cognitive decline, especially in Alzheimer’s disease — through specialized anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.*
Finally, cat’s claw contains compounds called alkaloids that were shown to increase the neurologic growth factor BDNF and moderate other neurological changes associated with stroke in a third study.*
Side effects: Occasional stomach upset can occur, but it’s generally very well tolerated. Cat’s claw requires activation by stomach acid to be effective, and so should be taken with food. Acid-blocking drugs can prevent the activation of cat’s claw. Taking apple cider vinegar with the herb may enhance activation.
Ingredients similar to cat’s claw:
Cordyceps, japanese knotweed, andrographis, bacopa, ashwagandha, ginkgo, and lion’s mane.
References
1. Solomon TM, et al. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group, efficacy study of alpha BRAIN® administered orally.” Human Psychopharmacology. 2016 Mar;31(2):135-43. doi: 10.1002/hup.2520.
2. Snow AD, et al. “The Amazon rain forest plant Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) and its specific proanthocyanidin constituents are potent inhibitors and reducers of both brain plaques and tangles.” Scientific Reports. 2019 Feb 6;9(1):561. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38645-0.
3. Huang H, et al. “Neuroprotective effects of rhynchophylline against ischemic brain injury via regulation of the Akt/mTOR and TLRs signaling pathways.” Molecules. 2014 Jul 30;19(8):11196-210. doi: 10.3390/molecules190811196.
About the Medical Director
Dr. Rawls is a licensed medical doctor in North Carolina and a leading expert in integrative health. He has extensive training in alternative therapies, and is the Medical Director of Vital Plan, a holistic health and herbal supplement company in Raleigh, NC.
