PREVENTION & HEALING : Supplements

Main Actions (in order): immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic (cellular protector), anti cancerous, anti ulcerous

Main Uses:
• as an immune stimulant and an adjunctive therapy for cancer (to reduce side effects of chemotherapy and protect cells)

• as a bowel cleanser and anti-inflammatory for Crohn's, colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other bowel problems

• as an anti-inflammatory for arthritis (all kinds) and muscle pains/strains/injuries

• as a general daily tonic (to tone, balance, and strengthen all body functions)

• for stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis and as an ulcer preventative/ stomach and bowel protector)

Properties/Actions Documented by Research: anti-inflammatory, anti ulcerous, anti cancerous, antidepressant, anti leukemic, antimutagenic (cellular protector), antioxidant, anti tumorous, antiviral, contraceptive, immune stimulant

Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use: analgesic (pain-reliever), anticoagulant (blood thinner), antidysenteric, blood cleanser, detoxifier, diuretic, gastrotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the gastric system), hypocholesterolemic (lowers cholesterol), tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions), wound healer

Cautions: Do not use before or after an organ or bone marrow transplant since it boosts immune function. May also have a mild blood thinning effect.
Cat's claw (U. tomentosa) 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 30 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 (or uña 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 uña de gato varieties have toxic properties.

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, Asháninka, Cashibo, Conibo, and Shipibo tribes of Peru for at least 2,000 years. The Asháninka 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 Asháninka 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."

INGREDIENTS:

Each capsule contains 500 mg of pure 100% cat's claw inner vine bark (Uncaria tomentosa). No binders, fillers or other additives are used.

Information shared by Raintree Nutrition

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