Cat's claw...reminds me of my Siamese cat who is sleeping beside me.
I have posted recently, I have had LD for over twenty years and have been treated agressively for 17 years w/IV abx and oral. Although I have had periods of wellness,now more sick than ever. See a famous specialist.
I asked someone here in SF recently who claims she was cured from LD and she said she saw a chiropractor here who gave her Cat's claw.
What's the deal? How could you actually get cured from a bacterial infection w/a herb? Should I try it?
Appreciate any advice/input. Thanks!
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
It's a good adjunct therapy, either with other herbs or with your abx. I really don't think it's a stand-alone therapy. It is well-known for treating Lyme. It is also called samento.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- No single one herb is likely to "cure" LD. There is, as of yet, no cure for lyme. Still, some do see nice remissions and effects can vary. Usually, a combination approach is best and it is best to work with a LL ND if you take an herbal path.
You also never want to just start anything from hearsay. Each herb is complex in nature and requires study before use, just as you'd do when studying whether or not to take a new Rx.
Samento is TOA-free cat's claw.
Regular cat's claw is best for those with neurological issues as the TOA is what helps with that.
I wasted a year of my life on the promise of Samento (as have others). Yet, there are some who have experienced some very good progress with it.
If you do get Samento, start with just ONE drop in about 1/2 cup of water. Really. Just ONE drop a day for about a week. Then, TWO drops a day for another week and see how you do before ramping up.
MANY past threads here on both of those. You can search here:
Also search PubMed and Google. Be sure read 3rd party research, not just from manufacturers. -
[ 06-21-2010, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- From my file notes, to give you a head start: ----------------
Cat's Claw's official name is Uncaria tomentosa
Samento and Una de Gato are the same - both are TOA-free Cat's Claw but, technically, no longer Cat's Claw.
TOA-formulas cost usually two to five times that of regular cat's claw and are not as calming in nature as the original whole herb.
Although different, both regular cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and the TOA types are used for lyme patients. The Cowden protocol advises the TOA-free type.
If one is taking TOA-free cat's claw, do not assume that any of the properties of regular cat's claw will be obtained with the TOA-free type and visa versa.
While some properties may still remain, when one thing is changed, it can change the effects. So, just be sure of the differences.
I prefer the regular cat's claw as it is better for those with neuro-lyme since the TOA's are the part that help relieve the neuro symptoms. The TOA-free does not have the calming effect that I get from regular cat's claw. (Buhner explains this more in his book).
However, since it is becoming rare, we have to ask ourselves if something else will work better so as to protect the environment and people where this is grown. See the last entry below by Dharmananda.
Una de Gato - 7 abstracts (but these refer to Cat's claw with TOA, not the TOA-free)
Your search for ``Cat's Claw, TOA-free'' retrieved no results.
``cat's claw, POA'': No items found.
=====================
I begged the company that first issued Samento for 3rd party research when that came out. I spoke with the authors and they said they'd send it. With repeated requests, it was never sent.
I have tried, repeatedly over the years, to find 3rd party authors for TOA-free Cat's Claw. I can't find it. Everything I've found is from the companies that manufacturer it.
Buhner (below) reports the same experience trying to locate 3rd party research for TOA-free Cat's Claw and he could find none either. The manufacturers also promised to send him that but never did. That raises questions.
The best research on traditional Cat's Claw, specifically written for lyme patients, is in this book (pages 80-104). The TOA-free version is not recommended by this author. His thoughts on that here:
The question that arises is this: is it worthwhile collecting a species that has a limited growing range for which the root bark may be the key ingredient, and which is quite expensive, rather than using readily available plants that are less expensive and are already cultivated and which have far more supporting research for the intended application? -
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
The Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D article was interesting. Very worth reading.
I didn't find much of an effect from it either way. It did seem slightly calming to me. I tried the Samento from Nutrimedix which is supposed to have the TAO removed. This is the part of the plant that Buhner attributes to the effect on the nerves... Who knows?
Some people say it's very strong & they get herxes from it. Is it the placebo effect or does it really help? I don't know.
The more I study these things - the more I want to try the actual herbs, not the tinctures or extracts. We really don't know what is in the extracts & tinctures - even the powdered herbs.
Posted by mattnapa (Member # 26414) on :
In the aticle by Leslie Taylor, can anyone say what the second proprietary Cat's Claw formula is? The water soluble one.
Posted by Brandimc (Member # 22017) on :
I took Cats Claw that a natural doctor gave me. He started me with 2 full droppers, 3X a day. I herxed so bad (didn't know what a herx was at the time), I had seizures, sever tremors and twitches, anxiety out the wazoo, nerve pain, and about 40 other symptoms. I literally was trapped in a body that felt like it was being tortured and electrocuted at the same time.I even tried to end my own life.
I tell you this, just to warn you that Keebler is right, start slowly. Some people don't herx, but it can be very powerful.
Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :
When I could take cat's claw (I had to stop because something was causing GI problems) it was a wonderful anti-inflammatory. While I was taking it it was the first time in MONTHS I woke up without swollen fingers and I'm on a prescription anti-inflammatory.
I don't think I herxed, if I did it was small enough that I thought it was a normal ache and pain (well normal for me anymore...).
Buhner suggest taking 1 a day for a week then going up from there. He suggests staying at a dose for a week. It can cause GI upset. As well as horrible herxes in some like previous posters said.
You can go to that plantthrive site keebler posted and there is a ton on info on it, and the brand that Bunher recommends.