Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Informational leaflet on cat's claw, the part studied and the limits of knowledge.
Also known as: uña de gato
The dossier concerns Uncaria tomentosa; do not generalize to all Uncaria species.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
What the assessment concludes
EMA has not adopted a European monograph for this plant part. The existence of an assessment dossier is not proof of clinical efficacy.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- This entry does not allow safe use to be determined; avoid self-medication.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions are insufficiently documented in this profile; professional review is necessary.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- Risks are insufficiently characterized here; absence of a monograph does not mean safety.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
No use advised during pregnancy or breastfeeding on the basis of this profile.
Children & adolescents
No pediatric use recommended in this profile.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Available evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
Cat's claw refers to several Uncaria species; this entry concerns U. tomentosa. Advertising often mentions joints or immune defences, but the NCCIH identifies no indication supported by conclusive human evidence. The distinction between possible biological activity and useful benefit is particularly important: altering immunity does not mean strengthening it desirably in every situation.
Joints: benefit still uncertain
Human research remains too sparse or too weak to establish a treatment for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the referenceImmunity: safety implications
Possible stimulation of the immune system justifies caution in the presence of an autoimmune disease; it does not constitute a demonstrated therapeutic indication.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
The botanical name must be checked: neither devil's claw nor cat's foot is the same plant. Before surgery or when taking medication, possible effects on coagulation warrant checking.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
What human trials allow us to conclude
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
- Type of research
- Public NCCIH summary of clinical evidence.
- Preparation concerned
- Cat’s claw preparations; U. tomentosa is common in marketed products.
- Observed results
- Research has explored several conditions, but very few trials are of high quality.
- Limitations to consider
- Small samples and insufficiently rigorous methods prevent a definitive conclusion; the results do not prove a benefit for all species or all extracts.
What can we take from this?
Interactions with anticoagulants, antiplatelets or blood pressure treatments are based in particular on theoretical reasons, not on a well-measured clinical frequency. Topical safety, pregnancy and breastfeeding remain insufficiently documented. No detailed chemical profile is inferred from the official summary alone that was consulted.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Uncariae tomentosae cortex: dossier and documentsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- NCCIH — Cat’s Claw: Usefulness and SafetyAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Alfredo Gutierrez Dipaz · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.