Natural Products

Cat’s Claw

Cat's Claw, uña de gato

General Information

Cat’s claw is a woody vine that can be found in the Amazon rainforest as well other areas of South and Central America. The plant gets its name from the claw-like thorns growing out of its stem. The plant is believed to help boost the body’s immune system and to have anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for centuries in South America in traditional remedies.

Common Name(s)

Cat’s Claw, uña de gato

Scientific Name(s)

Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis

What is this product used for?

Cat’s claw has been used for different purposes, including:

colitis
osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
diverticulitis
peptic ulcer
gastritis
Alzheimer’s disease
hemorrhoids
herpes zoster
herpes simplex
HIV
HPV
asthma
psoriasis

Your health care provider may have recommended this product for other conditions. Contact a health care provider if you have questions.

What else should I be aware of?

There is currently no reliable evidence available for the effectiveness of cat’s claw for any of its uses. More rigorous studies are needed.

Cat’s claw appear to be well-tolerated when taken by mouth for short term use. There are some reports of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Cat’s claw can slow blood clotting. When it is taken with other medications that can affect your body’s ability to clot blood, cat’s claw can increase the chance of bleeding.

There may be an interaction between cat’s claw and the following medications:

blood-pressure-lowering medications (e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, metoprolol, ramipril, valsartan, amlodipine)
blood thinning medications (e.g., warfarin, clopidogrel, ASA)
immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporine, azathioprine, prednisone)
HIV medications (e.g., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
medications that are affected by certain liver enzymes (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, triazolam)

People who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should avoid using cat’s claw because of its past use as a contraceptive. Those who are breast-feeding should also avoid using cat’s claw.

Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, speak to your physician, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Tell your health care provider about any natural health products you may be taking.