Cat’s Claw

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a dicot plant of the Ranunculaceae (Rubiaceae)family and Uncaria genus, native to the Central Amazon Zone of South America Peru, especially San Martín, Junin, Pasco, Madre de Dios . Cat’s claw is a woody vine plant, the thickness of the trunk is about 10 cm in diameter. The leaves are evergreen and shiny, they are ovals with sharp ends. It is called Uña de Gato (Spanish), cat's claw in English (cat's claw), because it has two thick thorns like cat's nails on the base of the leaves. Known as the Amazon miracle of the herbal medicine, cat’s claw is a medicinal climbing plant native from the Peruvian virgin rainforest. Used in America and Europa as complementary treatment for diseases like cancer or HIV, as well as other diseases that affect the immune system, in its natural shape, extract or pills, this plant is part of the natural pharmacology, where the Amazon tribes worship it as a doctor without uniform. Its production and commercialization offer the indigenous communities economic benefits and prevents deforestation.