Cat's claw from the virgin forest
Well-being — di ilaria Scaglianti
Forests are still unspoilt places on the Planet, where Nature reigns supreme. But it is in the Amazon rainforest that virgin plants are still to be found.
Cat's claw from the virgin forest
Forests are still unspoilt places on the Planet, where Nature reigns supreme. But it is in the Amazon rainforest that virgin plants are still to be found.
In virgin forests, women and men turn to Nature for healing, because the awareness that human beings are one with it has remained intact.
The use of these plants has by now crossed the boundaries of indigenous peoples and is spreading throughout the world. The benefit that can be derived from this is great: for us, who have access to these precious healing gifts; for local communities, who have the opportunity to have a source of income; and for the forest itself, since its conservation is thereby encouraged. It is important, however, to ensure that the plants have been harvested and cultivated in an ecological and sustainable manner.
One of these "virgin" plants is cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), a climbing plant used for millennia by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. Its name derives from the resemblance of its thorns to a cat's claws. The Ashaninka tribe of central Peru boasts the longest tradition in the use of this important plant: its infusion is a medicine with almost unlimited healing properties, treating above all inflammations of the digestive tract, arthritis and rheumatism; it also provides support in the post-partum period, purifies the kidneys, and cleans and heals deep wounds.
This plant is also the subject of great interest among Western researchers, who are studying its immunostimulant properties and its anticancer (antimutagenic) properties. Cat's claw also possesses a remarkable anti-inflammatory property, which explains the widespread use of this plant in the treatment of intestinal inflammations, arthritis and rheumatism.
The current use of this plant in herbal medicine mirrors the traditional one, now validated by thousands of years of use. Its multiple applications include: immunodeficiency, inflammatory conditions of the digestive system, muscles and joints, viral and bacterial infections, colitis, and urogenital infections. It has also proven effective in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy. The part used is the powdered bark. Cat's claw is now available in a growing number of herbalists' shops.
Anna Poletti