Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
A Peruvian vine traditional for immune support and inflammation. Modest evidence for rheumatoid arthritis and immune modulation; classic Amazon herbal medicine.
Moderate for rheumatoid arthritis (joint pain reduction in small RCTs), immune modulation, and Lyme-disease adjunct protocols (clinically used). Effects: 4–12 weeks.
Make it part of your plan
Reference dose
20–100 mg POA-standardised extract daily, or 250–500 mg raw bark extract 2–3x daily.
Choose a stack first, or enter your own amount here. Reference information is not a personal prescription.
Uncaria tomentosa is a vine of the Amazon rainforest, named for its hooked thorns. Used by Asháninka and other Indigenous communities for centuries as an immune tonic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healer. Modern research supports modest effects in rheumatoid arthritis (joint pain and stiffness reduction), immune modulation, and antiviral activity. Choose pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid (POA) chemotype rather than the TOA (tetracyclic) chemotype — they have opposing effects on the immune system.
- Form
- Standardised cat's claw extract — POA chemotype, TOA-free (Saventaro is the well-studied form).
- Timing
- With food.
- Schedule
- Daily.
- Side effects
- Generally well-tolerated. Mild GI upset, headache, dizziness. Rare allergic reactions.
- Interactions
- Immunosuppressants — opposing. Anticoagulants — mild additive. Antihypertensives — mild additive. CYP3A4 substrates — possible interactions.
- Contraindications
- Active autoimmune disease (relative — immune-stimulating). On immunosuppressants. Pregnancy / breastfeeding (uterine effects). Recent organ transplant.
- Lab markers
- Not standard.
- Food sources
- Not in everyday food.
Pairs with
Curcumin, boswellia, omega-3 (joint / anti-inflammatory stack). Echinacea, andrographis (immune stack).
Where to buy
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