What is Cat’s Claw? A Functional Medicine Toronto Fact Sheet
POSTED BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE
Natural therapies, such as plant-based remedies, can support optimal health outcomes. At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, herbal medicine can be added to treatment plans; and depending on your wellness goal, you might be introduced to cat’s claw.
And no, cat’s claw isn’t the name of a band or a new app. Also known as Uncaria tomentosa, it’s a tropical vine that can grow up to 98 feet long, with distinctive curved thorns resembling a cat’s claws. Extracts from its roots, stem, and leaves have traditionally been used to support anti-inflammatory functions, which can contribute to chronic disease prevention.
“Peruvian tribes such as the Ashaninka, Aguarurna, Cashibo, and Shipibo have used the plant for centuries to treat a multitude of ailments,” confirms an AppliedChem article. “Documentation from these cultures have indicated its use as a therapeutic for allergies, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cancer, bacterial and viral infections, and other medicinal uses.”
If you’re seeking functional medicine therapies to target inflammation and/or symptom management, this article may be of interest to you. We explain the potential benefits of cat’s claw and how to determine if this botanical medicine suits your needs.
Understanding Cat’s Claw and Its Potential Health Benefits
A plant-based approach to treatment can foster anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and detoxifying effects. Here are some facts to note about cat’s claw:
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- The herb is ladened with phytochemicals, which are potent plant compounds that have shown to help “… regulate gene transcription, enhance gap junction communication, improve immunity, and provide protection against lung and prostate cancers,” states a Molecules article.
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- Studies imply that cat’s claw may be helpful for handling blood pressure levels; it may also stimulate the body’s removal of excess liquids, as it can act as a diuretic.
- It contains pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids, which are thought to act as immunomodulators, helping to boost the production of white blood cells. This means cat’s claw shows promise in helping to optimize immune function.
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- The herb can scavenge and neutralize free radicals that can cause cellular damage. In turn, it may contribute to alleviating intestinal inflammation, thereby reducing digestive issues.
- Cat’s claw’s anti-inflammatory functions may be helpful for arthritis. Scientists speculate that it may inhibit an inflammatory chemical in the body called TNF-alpha, which can lead to a reduction in swelling. One study looked at adult patients with osteoarthritis knee pain and how freeze-dried cat’s claw supplements impacted them. “Cat’s claw had no deleterious effects on blood or liver function or other significant side-effects compared to placebo. Pain associated with activity, medical and patient assessment scores were all significantly reduced, with benefits occurring within the first week of therapy,” wrote journal authors of an Inflammation Research article.
Should You Try This Herbal Medicine?
Are you intrigued by this plant’s health effects? Then it’s in your favour to discuss herbal supplementation with a healthcare provider prior to trying any new herbs, including cat’s claw. This simple act can potentially help you avoid interactions with non-prescription and/or prescription medications.
Herbal supplements can interact with certain enzymes (i.e. CYP450) when medications and herbs are taken simultaneously. If you’re currently taking prescription medications for health issues, you should know there’s a chance that this herb may interact with:
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- Blood pressure medications
- Anticoagulants
- Anti-platelets
- HIV/AIDS medications
Also, cat’s claw can decelerate blood clotting, which can potentially boost your risks for bleeding during a surgical procedure. If you’re expecting to undergo surgery, please mention this at your functional medicine consultation.
Our functional medicine practitioners are proficient in the use of botanical medicine, and we can help determine if cat’s claw can be added to your treatment plan. Below, we briefly explain our clinic services and how to reach us.
Book Your Functional Medicine Consultation with Us
As a functional integrative medicine practice, we want you to feel comfortable with our clinical care. To do this, we recognize each patient as a unique individual and we take your medical history, genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors into consideration.
Our clinic services are designed to meet a wide variety of health needs, which is why we offer:
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- In-person and virtual consultations to patients.
- Several treatment modalities, including Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine; naturopathic medicine; herbal/botanical medicine; psychotherapy; detoxification therapies; strategies for hormone balancing (i.e. hormone replacement therapy and bio-identical hormone therapy); holistic nutrition, and more.
- An in-house IV Lounge, where nutrient intramuscular shots and functional medicine-based IV therapy in patients are administered. (Note: IV drips and injections are not meant to replace a balanced diet, oral supplements, and exercise; when these treatments are combined with formal health interventions and healthy habits, they can contribute to health improvements.)
All of our personalized integrative medicine services are amended with the functional medicine model, which is a paradigm that aims to treat the source of health concerns. Functional medicine therapies are suitable for managing various health needs, especially those linked to stress management, prediabetes, concentration issues, lack of energy (chronic fatigue), and more. In our previous blog, our functional medicine Toronto clinic explained the relationship between diet and psoriasis.
We provide you with comprehensive care that does not adhere to a one-size-fits-all model. By meeting your health needs on an individual basis, we can revive your wellness towards optimally function. Book your first visit with us today!
Find out if herbal supplementation meets your needs. Reach out to request a meeting with one of our Toronto area functional medicine practitioners – simply click here to begin!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media.
References
Arado, G. M., Amatto, P. G., Marins, M., Rizzi, E. S., França, C., Coppede, S., Carmona, F., & Soares Pereira, A. M. (2024). Anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory activities of Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo studies. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 15, 1378408. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1378408
Blanck, J. J., Huebner, T. M., Rolls, A. M., Cornell, J. S., & Hwang, C. S. (2022). Comprehensive Review of the Components in Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and Their Antibacterial Activity. AppliedChem, 2(1), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.3390/appliedchem2010001
“Cat’s claw” from Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, viewed on March 9, 2025.
“Cat’s Claw”, health information from the NIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, updated November 2024, viewed on March 9, 2025.
Furhad S, Bokhari AA. Herbal Supplements. [Updated 2024 Sep 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536964/
Hardin SR. Cat’s claw: an Amazonian vine decreases inflammation in osteoarthritis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Feb;13(1):25-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2006.10.003. Epub 2006 Dec 13. PMID: 17210508.
Kumar, A., P, N., Kumar, M., Jose, A., Tomer, V., Oz, E., Proestos, C., Zeng, M., Elobeid, T., K, S., & Oz, F. (2023). Major Phytochemicals: Recent Advances in Health Benefits and Extraction Method. Molecules, 28(2), 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020887
Mehta K, Gala J, Bhasale S, Naik S, Modak M, Thakur H, Deo N, Miller MJ. Comparison of glucosamine sulfate and a polyherbal supplement for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN25438351]. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 Oct 31;7:34. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-7-34. PMID: 17974032; PMCID: PMC2131759.
Miller, M. J., Zhang, X., Charbonnet, R. M., Clark, D. A., & Sandoval, M. (1999). The Anti-Inflammatory Actions of the Herbal Medicine, Cat’s Claw, Are Due to a Suppression of NF-κB Activation and Inhibition of Gene Expression. Pediatric Research, 45(7), 114. https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199904020-00676
Piscoya J, Rodriguez Z, Bustamante SA, Okuhama NN, Miller MJ, Sandoval M. Efficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat’s claw in osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species Uncaria guianensis. Inflamm Res. 2001 Sep;50(9):442-8. doi: 10.1007/PL00000268. PMID: 11603848.
Sandoval-Chacón M, Thompson JH, Zhang XJ, Liu X, Mannick EE, Sadowska-Krowicka H, Charbonnet RM, Clark DA, Miller MJ. Antiinflammatory actions of cat’s claw: the role of NF-kappaB. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1998 Dec;12(12):1279-89. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.1998.00424.x. PMID: 9882039.
