Cat's Claw (garbato casha, life giving vine of Peru, paraguaya, tambor hausca, una de gato, una de gavilan, uncaria guianensis, uncaria tomentosa)

Suggested dosing of Garbato casha, life giving vine of Peru (cat's claw)

 

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Freeze-dried aqueous extract: 100 mg PO qDay

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Extract free of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids: 60 mg PO TId

 

Suggested uses of Garbato casha, life giving vine of Peru (cat's claw)

Arthritis, birth control, bone pains, cancer (urinary tract), intestinal disorders, kidney cleansing, peptic ulcers, viral infections, wound healing, allergic rhinitis, diverticulitis, Alzheimer's disease, and leaky bowel syndrome, herpes simplex, human immunodeficiency virus, CFs

 

Efficacy

Osteoarthritis: Freeze-dried Uncaria guianensis PO decreases pain related to physical activity. Does not decrease pain at rest or swelling

Rheumatoid arthritis: Uncaria tomoentosa extract PO modestly improves symptoms

Insufficient reliable results for other listed uses

 

Garbato casha, life giving vine of Peru (cat's claw) adverse (side) effects

Dizziness, headache, hypotension, vomiting

 

Warnings

Contraindications

Autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus

 

Cautions

Concurrent antihypertensives, concurrent CYP3A4 substrates, concurrent immunosupressant therapy, hypotension

 

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: avoid use

Lactation: avoid use

 

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

 

Pharmacology of Garbato casha, life giving vine of Peru (cat's claw)

Metabolism: N/A

Excretion: N/A

 

Mechanism of action

Decreases inflammation via inhibition of NF-kappa b & TNFalpha

Enhances immune function via increase in WBCs

Mytraphylline: diuretic effect

Quinovic acid glycosides: antiviral activity (in vitro)