Una de gato is a very revered plant medicine from the jungle. It is the Jaguar, the cheetah, the panther all in one, she is the Queen of all cats. It is one fo the most amazing and powerful plants on this planet. Una de gato is known as its beneficial effects upon the whole body and spirit, it is powerfully cleansing, healing, tonifying and strengthening.

“The opener of the way”, a name given to the plant by Dr. Brent W Davis, for its ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract. Further, this perspective is also connected to the plant’s reputation as “bodyguard”. Cat’s Claw “opens the way” because it strengthens the immune system so well, protects to such a degree, it seems nothing harmful gets near you.

Related to Cat’s Claw’s ability to cleanse the intestines — the gut; “where all disease begins” — it’s immunity boosting capabilities are linked to its powerful anti-inflammatory actions. Again, and from another perspective — that of Chinese herbalism — we see Uña de Gato acting on “the precursor of all disease”; inflammation.

The classical signs of acute inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Cat’s Claw is excellent at eliminating these things, opening blockages and promoting flow, form and function. It is well regarded traditionally and clinically for treating inflammatory conditions like arthritis, bursitis and rheumatism.

Uncaria tomentosa is extremely well documented, and has in a sense reinforced its own immunity with the benefits of nearly half a century of ongoing scientific research published in peer-reviewed journals. Early encounters between Klaus Keplinger, (a pioneer in the study and promotion of cat’s claw) and an Asháninkan shaman in 1959, led to the revealing and unravelling of novel oxindole alkaloids, in the early 1970s. In 2011 researchers described oxindoles as “Legendary magic bullets in Bio-medicinal Chemistry”.

Oxindoles exhibit an extensive range of biological effects which include the antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiproliferative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive and the anticonvulsant activities.

“Two chemotypes were identified for Peruvian U. tomentosa; a tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid type and a pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid type (Laus et al., 1997). Researchers have noted that the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid type is named savéntaro (powerful plant) by shamans of the Asháninka tribe of Peru (Keplinger et al., 1999).”“The highest order of Asháninka shaman priests use the root bark of U. tomentosa-PC, known to them as savéntaro or powerful plant, to remove the main cause of disease in the Ashaninka’s medico-religious system of healing; a disturbance between the spirit and the body, or an “anxiety.”Accordingly, U. Tomentosa-PC is used by Asháninka shamans in the treatment of psychological disorders, and is regarded as being inhabited by “good spirits”. It is placed among plants they use for religious purposes which include Banisteriopsis caapi and Erythroxylum coca. The “good spirits” of the vine are said to remove the anxiety state interfering with sprit-body communication, thereby restoring health.”

Cats claw has been linked to arthritis, inflammation, stomach ulcers, cancer, tumors, fevers, HIV, Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), endometriosis, kidney problems, bladder cancer, and Alzheimer disease.

Cat’s Claw is not psychoactive, it simply makes one feel good, clear, sturdy, and at ease.

Do not use if trying to get pregnant, it is also an excellent form of birth control.