cat's claw
What is the most important information I should know about cat's claw?
 |
Not all uses for cat's claw have been approved by the FDA. Cat's claw should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor. |
Cat's claw is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Use cat's claw as directed on the label, or as your healthcare provider has prescribed. Do not use this product in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
What is cat's claw?
Cat's claw is also known as Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis, life-giving vine of Peru, samento, and una de gato.
Cat's claw has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to treat infections, stomach or intestinal disorders, cancer, arthritis, asthma, hay fever, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Cat's claw has also been used to support the immune system and promote kidney health, and as a contraceptive.
|
Not all uses for cat's claw have been approved by the FDA. Cat's claw should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor. |
Cat's claw is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Cat's claw may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cat's claw?
|
You should not use this product if you are allergic to cat's claw. |
Ask a doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:
- a weak immune system;
- leukemia; or
- an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and others.
 |
Do not use cat's claw if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. |
 |
It is not known whether cat's claw passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without telling your healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.
How should I take cat's claw?
When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.
If you choose to take cat's claw, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Cat's claw may be available in tablet, capsule, liquid, tincture, extract, or tea formulations. Do not use different formulations of cat's claw at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of cat's claw.
 |
Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, liquids, teas, and others) of cat's claw at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of cat's claw. |
|
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using cat's claw. Cat's claw can interfere with your blood pressure during or after surgery. |
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I overdose?
|
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. |
What are the possible side effects of cat's claw?
|
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
Less serious side effects may include:
- dizziness;
- headaches; or
- vomiting.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2012 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.04. Revision date: 12/31/2010.
Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.