I have been taking cat's claw from GNC for 9 months. Today my PCP told me I should be taking "prima una de gato". He said the regular cat's claw may not contain the same ingredients.
Can anyone help with this? I looked for Prima Una de Gato, and it is very expensive.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Regular cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) contains MORE than the TOA-free that is the trade mark name Prima Una de Gato.
Regular cat's claw is about $11.00 an ounce for tincture. The other can be up to four times the price because they extract out the TOA and that is said to cost more for production.
First, no type of cat's claw will cure lyme. It can help - as a support - and both types have some effect, although there is a difference of opinion about the new TOA-free types.
Here's a note I saved to my file about this a while back.
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Many here use Samento or other TOA-free brands. I used that when it first come out - but now - prefer the regular cat's claw. Here is some discussion of that so you have a better understanding of the differences.
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-this fabulous herb.
As for if it is effective, that would depend on what you want it to do for you. It is very calming which, for me, makes it one of the best supportive measures in my book.
I would never rely on it as the only method to address spirochetes, however, and there is no independent medical researce on that. I did that with Samento for year and it was not helpful in that manner. I know of 2 others who were disappointed in Samanto. However, there are others who have had different results and find it very helpful.
Some then move to capsules which can really pack a punch.
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Concerning regular cat's claw, Singleton discusses it; Buhner offers a full presentation.
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This book, by an ILADS member LLMD, holds great information about treatments options and support measures:
. . . Research in Argentina reports that cat's claw is an effective antioxidant; other researchers in 2000 concluded that it is an antioxidant as well as a remarkably potent inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha production.
. . . In addition to the immunostimulant alkaloids, cat's claw contains the alkaloids rhynchophylline, hirsutine, and mitraphylline, which have demonstrated hypotensive and vasodilating properties.
- Full article at link above - with dozens of links to third party research articles.
UNCARIA TOMENTOSA (CAT'S CLAW) - by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine 1994
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This is just be a beginning to the research on cat's claw.
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You also need to find out who makes the tincture for GNC and what principles of harvesting do they use.
Herb Pharm and Rain-Tree are two of the most reputable companies. There are others, of course, but not all have the same level of quality.
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Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
I buy all my herbs through The Allergy Research Group.
With that said I beleive that the prima una de gato is the better of the two, thats what I have heard from doctors.
Like Keebeler had mentioned, it will not cure Lyme, but will help with the process.
Best Wishes!
Posted by nikoru123 (Member # 20278) on :
Thank you for the information.
I've been off of abx for 3 months, and was told to continue with cat's claw and add bromelain.
I saw some posts that people tend to herx when they switch to TOA-free cat's claw.
Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
Nik,
Your doc agrees with mine then.
My LLMD also recommends the TOA Prima Una de Gato, over cats claw from Allergy Research Group at 375mg per capsule. She also sells it right in her office.
I too have been in remission since January, and on Prima Una de Gato (along with other supplements) since October.
So far, sooo good. Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
The Allergy Research Group makes Prima Una de Gato.....
Posted by brf (Member # 8748) on :
Allergy Research Group, Nutricology Prima Una de Gato and the Nutramedix Samento (not imprinted)are all exactly the same product - just different labels.
Vitacost is one of the cheaper places to buy it.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
brf,
Thanks for the clearing that up. Wasn't sure if people new that it was the same thing......
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