Common Name: Cat's Claw

General Information

Cat's claw is a vigorous, evergreen, spiny climbing shrub scrambling into other plants and attaching itself by means of its stout, recurved spines[]. The stems can be up to 30 metres long and 8 - 25cm in diameter near the base[].
Cat’s claw is a popular medicinal herb, mainly gathered from the wild or semi-cultivated, and traded in many countries[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean - Trinidad; Central America - Panama to Guatemala.

Habitat

Typical of primary forest, but also found in disturbed forest and rarely in secondary forest[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly low elevations in the tropics, where it can usually be found at elevations up to 300 metres.
Grows best in dappled shade[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.2 - 7.7[].
In some parts of the Atlantic coast of Central America the plant is reported to become a troublesome weed in banana plantations[].
The stems are only large enough to harvest when they are 8 years or more old. Generally, it is recommended that the vine is cut at 20 - 100cm above the ground and left to regenerate[].

Edible Uses

The stems are a source of a potable sap that is used to quench thirst and as a restorative drink[, ]. A watery, astringent taste[].

Medicinal

Cat's claw has a long history of traditional use, being employed in the treatment of a range of conditions including inflammations (especially rheumatism), arthritis, urinary tract infections and gastric ulcers. It has also been used as a blood purifier; to cleanse the kidneys; to recover from childbirth or treat menstrual irregularities; as a treatment for asthma[].
Applied externally, it is used as a wash for wounds in order to promote healing, to cleanse the skin of impurities etc[].
The plant is widely used in modern herbal medicine, where it is primarily valued for its stimulatory effect upon the immune system[]. The part most commonly used is the stem bark[].
Cat's claw has many modern applications, which is a common trait of herbs with immune stimulatory activity, and includes: disease prevention, cancer, recovery from chemotherapy side effects, recovery from childbirth, urinary tract infections, wounds, fevers, haemorrhages, and weakness. Applications for cat’s claw which have had some clinical research include viral infections, pain and symptoms of Herpes infections, and for inflammatory conditions, such as Rheumatoid arthritis[].
Research has shown that the plant is anti-inflammatory, immune system stimulant, cytoprotective and antioxidant[].

The whole plant is used in a gargle to remedy mouth ulcers[].

Other Uses

The stems are used in making furniture[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and needs to be sown as soon as it is ripe[].
Stem cuttings about 20cm long[]. If the soil of the forest is moist enough, the cuttings are said to be easy to reproduce by directly inserting them into the forest floor. If the conditions are right, the roots develop soon after transplanting[].

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