Cat's Claw - Odd Name, Big Alternative Medicine Potential

Cat's claw is a traditional medicine used by South Americans to treat a variety of ailments. As society starts looking for more natural ways to treat illnesses and low-level, underlying conditions, there has been a greater exploration of the benefits of different plants and herbs taken close to their natural form. Cat's claw is one alternative medicine that has come under investigation in recent years -- we look at what it can do for your health.

Plant species

Be aware that if you are in the Southwestern United States, the plant you know as cat's claw is probably not the same one that alternative medicine has been so interested in. The American cat's claw is acacia greggii; the plant used in alternative health products is uncaria tomentosa. You should always use FDA checked and approved products rather than eating plants from the wild, or from your backyard.

(Uncaria tomentosa)

What alternative medicine uses does cat's claw have?

South Americans have been using cat's claw for centuries as both a preventive and curative alternative medicine. It is said to support the immune system and promote good kidney health. It is also used as a contraceptive and can induce spontaneous abortion (miscarriages). It is currently being investigated for potential in treating Alzheimer's disease, viral infections, arthritis and cancer.

Be aware that…

• If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, you should not take cat's claw.
• The studies looking at whether cat's claw can help human conditions have been limited
• However, there are few counter indications and side effects for cat's claw as an alternative medicine. Immune system conditions and pregnancy are the only two mentioned by the NCCAM, but always check with your doctor!

Who can use cat's claw as an alternative medicine?

People with inflammatory diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis), oxidative diseases (like cancer) and microbial conditions, like digestive ailments, could benefit from taking cat's claw. Other conditions that this alternative medicine shows promise for include:

• Crohn's disease
• Gastric ulcers
• Tumos
• Parasites
• Gastritis
• Diverticulitis
• Leaky bowel syndrome

Good Foods, Good Moods - Drug Free Treatment of Depression

It's no mystery to many of us why disease is increasing, and why along with an increase in life expectancy there is an increasing number of problems that medicine can’t solve. The key lies in our enormous change in diet away from fresh, healthy foods and towards processed and packaged foods, robbed of all their nutrients. Depression is one such disease that doctors can find hard to treat, and increasingly people are looking for drug free treatment of depression solutions. Today we are looking at the relationship between having good foods and a good mood. We are also looking at how alternative health products can help when your diet doesn't.

Eat a fresh, healthy, balanced diet

Everyone has their own ways of incorporating fresh, healthy foods into their diet, so we won’t repeat them all here! Suffice it to say that when you eat lean red meat and organic chicken, plenty of fresh fish and loads of fruit and vegetables, as well as wild grain like rice and millet, your body gets the compounds, amino acids, vitamins and minerals it needs for drug-free treatment of depression.

Exercise

Our bodies are designed to exercise -- evolution hasn’t yet taken into account the rapid change to a mostly sedentary society where people don't need to grow or hunt their own food to survive, or even to do physical work. Sitting at a computer to earn the money we need to feed ourselves and maintain a car to drive to the grocery store is all the activity we need to stay alive.

This isn't what is natural to our bodies, and the effects of not having enough exercise manifest in a huge number of ways … including in depression and many of the other diseases that are products of Western society. Drug free treatment of depression has to have exercise as a cornerstone.

Alternative health products to get you started

If you are feeling too low to get up and go out the door, and just can’t give up that bag of Twinkies because they are the only thing that makes you feel life is worth living (I'm not being facetious -- I've been there and understand), then there are products that can help you get the motivation to help yourself. Look for alternative health products that offer glandular support, like time-release melatonin, thyrosine complex for thyroid support, and iso-cortisol for adrenal support.