Introduction:

Cat’s claw is a plant. Two species of cat’s claw, Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis, are of primary interest for use as medicine.

Cat’s claw is most commonly used for improving symptoms of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  It is also used for various digestive system disorders including swelling and pain of the large intestine, inflammation of the lower bowel (colitis), and inflammation of the lining of the stomach, stomach ulcers, hemorrhoids, and leaky bowel syndrome.

Uses of Cat’s claw:

Cat’s claw contains chemicals that might stimulate the immune system, kill cancer cells, and fight viruses.

Reducing pain from a kind of arthritis called osteoarthritis.

Taking a specific freeze-dried cat’s claw extract (Uncaria guianensis) by mouth appears to relieve knee pain related to physical activity within one week of treatment, but it does not decrease pain at rest or decrease knee swelling.

Improving symptoms of a kind of arthritis called rheumatoid arthritis (RA):

Taking a specific cat’s claw extract  that contains chemicals called pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids but is free of other chemicals called tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids appears to improve symptoms of RA.

May also be effective for other conditions such as:        

• Human papilloma virus (HPV). .
• Cancer. Early research suggests that 100 mg of cat’s claw extract taken three times daily for at least 8 weeks may help reduce tiredness and improve quality of life in people with terminal solid tumors.
• Arthritis.
• Asthma.
• Birth control.
• Bone pains.
• Chicken pox.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
• Glioblastoma.
• Gonorrhea.
• Hay fever.
• Hemorrhoids.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Inflammation of the digestive tract including colitis and diverticulitis.
• Leaky bowel syndrome.
• Mouth or genital herpes.
• Parasites.
• Shingles.
• Stomach or intestinal ulcers.
• Wounds.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate cat’s claw for these uses.

Side Effects of Cat’s claw:

Cat’s claw is possibly safe for most people, when taken by mouth short-term. However, it can cause headache, dizziness, and vomiting in some people.

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is some concern that cat’s claw is possibly unsafe during pregnancy when taken by mouth. Not enough is known about the safety of cat’s claw during breast-feeding. Avoid using cat’s claw if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), or other similar conditions::

Cat’s claw might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using cat’s claw without consulting with your healthcare provider.

Bleeding disorders:

Cat’s claw might slow blood clotting. There is concern that cat’s claw might increase the risk of bruising or bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Low blood pressure:

Low blood pressure: There is some evidence that cat’s claw might lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is already too low, this might be a problem.

Leukemia:

Cat’s claw might worsen this condition. Don’t use it if you have leukemia.

Surgery:

There is a concern that cat’s claw might make blood pressure control difficult during surgery. Stop taking cat’s claw at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Conclusion:

Today, cat’s claw is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of health conditions, including viral infections. Cat’s claw is being studied for a number of other possible uses, including HIV, Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), endometriosis, kidney problems, bladder cancer, and Alzheimer disease. More research is needed before scientists can say whether it is effective.