Cat's Claw Bark (Uncaria tomentosa)

The traditional application of cats claw has been to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The herb is also used for stomach ulcers, gastritis, eczema, "break-bone fever," and liver diseases. Recent clinical studies find that the herb is useful for relieving knee pain.

Since the 1980s, the most common use for cats claw is in modern herbal medicine is an immune stimulant. The oxindole alkaloids in cats claw strengthen the immune system and also improve circulation by lowering blood pressure. The master rain forest herbalist Leslie Taylor has used cats claw tinctures and teas to treat cancer and HIV with remarkable success.