Toron

This pantropical genus includes about 60 species of climbing shrubs and lianas that climb by means of a hook-like thorns. A number of species are rich in alkaloids and tannins, and are used locally for medicinal purposes. The most important is Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's claw), from the Amazon rain forest, which has been used by tribes in Peru for over 2000 years. It entered international trade in the 1980s following research that showed significant anti-cancer and immune-stimulant effects. Reports have also shown potential in the treatment of AIDS. Traditionally, cat's claw is used in Peruvian medicine as a contraceptive and abortifacient, and to treat gastric ulcers and tumors, intestinal disorders, rheumatism, inflammations, arthritis, gonorrhea, dysentery, and cancers of the urinary tract. It has a complex chemistry, including oxindole alkaloids, plant sterols, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory glycosides. Uncaria guaianensis is used interchangeably with U. tomentosa. The Asian U. gambir (gambier, pale catechu) lowers blood pressure and protects the liver, and is traditionally used in India as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, sore throat, mouth ulcers, and sores. In common with other species of Uncaria, it contains catechin tannins, which are strongly astringent. Stems and thorns of U. rhyncophylla have been used in Chinese medicine since at least CE500. Known as gou teng, they have sedative and antispasmodic effects, relieving tremors, seizures, convulsions, and headaches.

Cat's Claw is a woody vine originating in the Peruvian rain forest. It gets its name from two curved thorns resembling the claws of a cat that sit at the base of each leaf. In studies, cat's claw has been shown to enhance the ability of immune-system cells to engulf and destroy invading cells and cellular debris. It may also improve the body's ability to repair damaged DNA.

Giant woody liana with downward pointing thorns, 2.5cm (1in) long, and ovate-oblong, pointed leaves, 25cm (10in) long, which have 8-10 pairs of lateral veins. Small yellow-white flowers are produced in spherical clusters toward top of the vine.


Common Name:
Toron
Other Names:
Cat's Claw, Gabato, Uña de gato
Botanical Name:
Uncaria tomentosa
Genus:
Uncaria
Family:
Rubiaceae
Native Location:
C and S America
Cultivation:
Rich, moist, well-drained soil in shade and high humidity.
Propagation:
By seed sown when ripe; by semi-ripe cuttings of stem sections, 20cm (8in) long, in summer.
Harvest:
Bark and roots are collected in summer (dry season) from April to September from wines in white the inner bark is 4-5cm (1½in-2in) thick; roots are partially harvested; stems are cut about 20cm (8in) above ground to allow regeneration.
Height:
20-30m (65-100ft)
Width:
Indefinite
Hardiness:
Z10-11
Parts Used:
Bark, roots, leaves.
Properties:
A diuretic, depurative herb that has anti-inflammator, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral, as well as anti-cancer effects. It lowers blood pressure and stimulates the immune system.
Warning:
May cause diarrhea during the first 10 days of use.
Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation and for children three years old or younger.
Interacts with a number of drugs and therapeutic regimes.
For use by qualified practitioners only.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, chronic conditions of the digestive tract, chronic inflammatory disorders, viral diseases, allergic conditions, arthritic and rheumatic disorders, and as part of anti-cancer and anti-AIDS therapies.
To treat rheumatism, diarrhea, wounds, asthma, and menstrual irregularity; as a contraceptive.
Typical Dose:
A typical dose of cat's claw may range from 250 to 5,000 mg in capsule form.
Drug Interactions:
Taking cat's claw with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising:
Abciximab, (ReoPro) Alteplase, (Activase, Cathflo Activase) Antithrombin III, (Thrombate III) Argatroban, (Argatroban) Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin) Aspirin and Dipyridamole, (Aggrenox)
Bivalirudin, (Angiomax) Choline Magnesium Trysalicylate, (Trilisate) Clopidogrel, (Plavix) Dalteparin, (Fragmin) Danaparoid, (Orgaran) Diclofenac, (Cataflam, Voltaren)
Diflusinal, (Apo-Diflusinal, Dolobid) Dipyridamole, (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine) Drotrecogin Alfa, (Xigris) Eptifibatide, (Integrillin) Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol) Fenoprofen, (Nalfon)
Flurbiprofen, (Ansaid, Ocufen) Fondaparinux, (Arixtra) Heparin, (Hepalean, Hep-Lock) Hydrocodone and Aspirin, (Damason-P) Hydrocodone and Ibuprofen, (Vicoprofen) Ibritumomab, (Zevalin)
Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin) Indobufen, (Ibustrin) Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin) Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol) Lepirudin, (Refludan) Nabumetone, (Apo-Nabumetone, Relefan)
Nadroparin, (Fraxiparine) Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn) Oxaprozin, (Apo-Oxaprozin, Daypro) Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox) Reteplase, (Retevase) Salsalate, (Amgesic, Salflex)
Streptokinase, (Streptase) Sulindac, (Clinoril, Nu-Sundac) Tenecteplase, (TNKase) Tiaprofenic Acid, (Dom-Tiaprofenic, Surgam) Ticlopidine, (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid) Tinzaparin, (Innohep)
Tirofiban, (Aggrastat) Tolmetin, (Tolectin)
Urokinase, (Abbokinase)
Valdecoxib, (Bextra) Warfarin, (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Taking cat's claw with these drugs may increase the drug's effects on the pain and feeling of suffocation characteristics of angina:
Bepridil, (Vascor) Diltiazem, (Cardizem, Tiazac) Nifedipine, (Adalat CC, Procardia) Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR)
Taing cat's claw with these drugs may increase the risk of hypotension (excessively low blood pressure):
Acebutolol, (Novo-Acebutolol, Sectral) Amlodipine, (Norvasc) Atenolol, (Apo-Atenolol, Tenormin) Benazepril, (Lotensin)
Betaxolol, (Betoptic S, Kerlone) Bisoprolol, (Monocor, Zebeta) Bumetanide, (Bumex, Burinex) Candesartan, (Atacand)
Captopril, (Capoten, Novo-Captopril) Carteolol, (Cartrol, Ocupress) Carvedilol, (Coreg) Chlorthiazide, (Diuril)
Chlorthalidone, (Apo-Chlorthalidone, Thalitone) Clonidine, (Catapres, Duraclon) Diazoxide, (Hyperstat, Proglycem) Diltiazem, (Cardizem, Tiazac)
Doxazosin, (Alti-Doxazosin, Cardura) Enalapril, (Vasotec) Eplerenone, (Inspra) Eprosartan, (Teveten)
Esmolol, (Brevibloc) Felodipine, (Plendil, Renedil) Fenoldopam, (Corlopam) Fosinopril, (Monopril)
Furosemide, (Apo-Furosemide, Lasix) Guanabenz, (Wytensin) Guanadrel, (Hylorel) Guanfacine, (Tenex)
Hydralazine, (Apresoline, Novo-Hylazin) Hydrochlorothiazide, (Apo-Hydro, Microzide) Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene, (Dyazide, Maxzide) Indapamide, (Lozol, Nu-Indapamide)
Irbesartan, (Avapro) Isradipine, (DynaCirc) Labetalol, (Normodyne, Trandate) Lisinopril, (Prinivil, Zestril)
Losartan, (Cozaar) Mecamylamine, (Inversine) Mefruside, (Baycaron) Methyclothiazide, (Aquatensen, Enduron)
Methyldopa, (Apo-Methyldopa, Nu-Medopa) Metolazone, (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn) Metoprolol, (Betaloc, Lopressor) Minoxidil, (Loniten, Rogaine)
Moexipril, (Univasc) Nadolol, (Apo-Nadol, Corgard) Nicardipine, (Cardene) Nifedipine, (Adalat CC, Procardia)
Nisoldipine, (Sular) Nitroglycerine, (Minitran, Nitro-Dur) Nitroprusside, (Nipride, Nitropress) Olmesartan, (Benicar)
Oxeprenolol, (Slow-Trasicor, Trasicor) Perindopril Erbumine, (Aceon, Coversyl) Phenoxybenzamine, (Dibenzyline) Phentolamine, (Regitine, Rogitine)
Pindolol, (Apo-Pindol, Novo-Pindol) Polythiazide, (Renese) Prazosin, (Minipress, Nu-Prazo) Propranolol, (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
Quinapril, (Accupril) Ramipril, (Altace) Reserpine, (Reserpine) Spironolactone, (Aldactone, Novo-Spiroton)
Telmisartan, (Micardis) Terazosin, (Alti-Terazosin, Hytrin) Timolol, (Betimol, Timoptic) Torsemide, (Demadex)
Trandolapril, (Mavik) Triamterene, (Dyrenium) Trichlormethiazide, (Metatensin, Naqua) Valsartan, (Diovan)
Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR)
Taking cat's claw with these drugs may interfere with the immunosuppresant action of the drug:
Antithymocyte Globulin, Equine, (Atgam) Antithymocyte Globulin, Rabbit, (Thymoglobulin) Azathioprine, (Imuran)
Basiliximab, (Simulect) Betamethasone, (Betatrex, Maxivate) Cyclosporine, (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Daclizumab, (Zenapax) Dexamethasone, (Decadron, Dexasone) Efalizumab, (Raptiva)
Hydrocortisone, (Cetacort, Locoid) Methotrexate, (Rheumatrex, Trexall) Methylprednisolone, (Depo-Medrol, Medrol)
Muromonab-CD3, (Orthoclone OKT 3) Mycophenolate, (CellCept) Pimecrolimus, (Elidel)
Prednisolone, (Inflamase Forte, Pred Forte) Prednisone, (Apo-Prednisone, Deltasone) Sirolimus, (Rapamune)
Tacrolimus, (Prograf, Protopic) Thalidomide, (Thalomid) Triamcinolone, (Aristocort, Trinasal)
Possible Side Effects:
Cat's claw's side effects include decreased serum estradiol and progesterone levels with long-term use.
Disease Interactions:
May worsen autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or multiple sclerosis.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pp 397-398
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD. Copyright ©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. pp.129-132