The mysteries of the Amazon and cold science met face-to-face when a legendary herb gave promise in the battle against cancer. Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is so useful it has the unpleasant honor of being closely studied by the pharmaceutical industry. Chemists will be looking for a way to synthetically create similar chemicals to those found in this Amazonian herb. When found, these synthetics can be patented and made into prescribed drugs. So far, Cat's Claw hasn't been made in a lab so we still have it in health food stores.

Cat's Claw has other names such as Una de Gato, Garabato and Amarillo. Science knows it is made up of natural chemicals such as beta sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Many of the compounds have known anti-cancer benefits - these are the ones which have been studied. Scientists recently published very good work proving benefits from this herb. The shaman of the Amazonian jungle have known this for hundreds, maybe thousands of years.

The modern herbalist knows it is an anti-inflammatory; reduces the negatives from radiation therapy and chemotherapy as a powerful antioxidant; and has a long history of use in stopping the growth and proliferation of tumors. It also increases circulation, inhibits blood clots, reduces cholesterol, and can lower high blood pressure.

Traditional use also includes bowel cleansing, and treatment of Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, leaky bowel, colitis, ulcers, irritable bowel and parasites. There are also anti-fungal properties which alleviate systemic candida. The immune system boosting properties are legendary.

Tincture seems to be the easiest method of taking this herb, though capsules are available. Most of the ailments Cat's Claw attends to are very serious. Using this remedy along with conventional treatment should be just fine. Adding another supplement, IP-6, should make it work even better.

How did the "uneducated" shaman know to choose this herb out of the hundreds of thousands in the Amazon when science is just now affirming what has been known for a long time? Something else is certainly at work in gaining the biomedical knowledge which the shaman had. Mystery, isn't it great?