La description
is a large, woody vine
that derives its name from hook-like thorns that grow along the
vine and resemble the claws of a cat. Two closely related species
of Uncaria are used almost interchangeably in the
rainforests: U. tomentosa and U.
guianensis. Both species can reach over *0 m high into the
canopy. U. tomentosa has small, yellowish-white flowers,
whereas U. guianensis has reddish-orange flowers
and thorns that are more curved. Cat's claw is indigenous to the
Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of South and Central
America, including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad,
Venezuela, Suriname, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and
Panama.
There are other species
of plants with a common name of cat's claw (orua de gato)
in Mexico and Latin America; however, they are entirely different
plants, not belonging to the Uncaria genus, or
even the Rubiaceae family. Several of the Mexican ua de gato
varieties have toxic properties.
TRIBAL AND HERBAL
MEDICINE USES
Both South
American Uncaria species are used by the
indigenous peoples of the Amazon rainforest in very similar ways
and have long histories of use. Cat's claw (U. tomentosa)
has been used medicinally by the Aguaruna, Ashninka, Cashibo,
Conibo, and Shipibo tribes of Peru for at least 2,**0 years. The
Ashninka Indian tribe in central Peru has the longest recorded
history of use of the plant. They are also the largest commercial
source of cat's claw from Peru today. The Ashninka use cat's claw
to treat asthma, inflammations of the urinary tract, arthritis,
rheumatism, and bone pain; to recover from childbirth; as a kidney
cleanser; to cure deep wounds; to control inflammation and gastric
ulcers; and for cancer. Indigenous tribes in Piura use cat's claw
to treat tumors, inflammations, rheumatism, and gastric ulcers.
Other Peruvian indigenous tribes use cat's claw to treat diabetes,
urinary tract cancer in women, hemorrhages, menstrual irregularity,
cirrhosis, fevers, abscesses, gastritis, rheumatism, tumors, and
inflammations as well as for internal cleansing and to "normalize
the body." Reportedly, cat's claw has also been used as a
contraceptive by several different tribes of Peru (but only in very
large dosages). Dr. Fernando Cabieses, M.D., a noted authority on
Peruvian medicinal plants, explains that the Ashninka boil 5 to 6
kg (about *2 pounds) of the root in water until it is reduced to
little more than 1 cup. This decoction is then taken 1 cup daily
during the period of menstruation for three consecutive months;
this supposedly causes sterility for three to four
years.
Cat's claw has been used
in Peru and Europe since the early ***0s as an adjunctive treatment
for cancer and AIDS as well as for other diseases that target the
immune system. In herbal medicine today, cat's claw is employed
around the world for many different conditions, including immune
disorders, gastritis, ulcers, cancer, arthritis, rheumatism,
rheumatic disorders, neuralgias, chronic inflammation of all kinds,
and such viral diseases as herpes zoster (shingles). Dr. Brent
Davis, D.C. has written several articles on cat's claw and refers
to it as the "opener of the way" for its ability to cleanse the
entire intestinal tract and its effectiveness in treating stomach
and bowel disorders (such as Crohn's disease, leaky bowel syndrome,
ulcers, gastritis, diverticulitis, and other inflammatory
conditions of the bowel, stomach, and intestines). Dr. Julian
Whitaker, M.D. reports using cat's claw for its immune-stimulating
effects, for cancer, to help prevent strokes and heart attacks, to
reduce blood clots, and for diverticulitis and irritable bowel
syndrome.
PLANT
CHEMICALS
Cat's claw has several
groups of plant chemicals that account for much of the plant's
actions and uses. First and most studied is a group of oxidole
alkaloids that has been documented with immune-stimulant and
antileukemic properties. Another group of chemicals called quinovic
acid glycosides have documented anti-inflammatory and antiviral
actions. Antioxidant chemicals (tannins, catechins and
procyanidins) as well as plant sterols (beta-sitosterol,
stigmasterol, and campesterol) account for the plant's
anti-inflammatory properties. A class of compounds known as
carboxyl alkyl esters found in cat's claw has been documented with
immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, and
cell-repairing properties.
Cat's claw contains
ajmalicine, akuammigine, campesterol, catechin, carboxyl alkyl
esters, chlorogenic acid, cinchonain, corynantheine, corynoxeine,
daucosterol, epicatechin, harman, hirsuteine, hirsutine,
iso-pteropodine, loganic acid, lyaloside, mitraphylline, oleanolic
acid, palmitoleic acid, procyanidins, pteropodine, quinovic acid
glycosides, rhynchophylline, rutin, sitosterols, speciophylline,
stigmasterol, strictosidines, uncarine A thru F, and vaccenic
acid.
Â
| Pays: |
Peru |
| N ° de modèle: |
Uncaria tomentosa - Cat's claw
|
| Prix FOB: |
25 ~ 30 / Kilogram ( Negotiable ) (Negotiable)
Obtenir le dernier prix
|
| Localité: |
Peru |
| Prix de commande minimale: |
25 per Kilogram |
| Commande minimale: |
1 Kilogram |
| Packaging Detail: |
international packaging |
| Heure de livraison: |
30 days |
| Capacité de Fournir: |
1000 Kilogram per Year |
| Payment Type: |
Western Union, D/P, D/A, L/C, T/T |
| Groupe de produits : |
Herbs
|
