Testimonials

I am 78 years old. I tripped and fell face down. I caught myself with my arm, cracked my ribs, and injured my shoulder.

I used Caridwen for inflammation. What relief! The Caridwen took care of the inflammation so my shoulder healed much quicker.

Thank you Dee!

~ Beth Sherlock ~

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"For the last 6 weeks or so, I have been using Dianna's Iduna salve. In the last few weeks I have actually gotten more than one complement on how I look. The reason? My skin on my face is ever so much tighter and younger looking, well, rejuvenated. The crater between my yes, on the bridge of my nose is slowly erasing. The creases around my mouth and nose are not as severe, and incredibly, my turkey neck is almost gone! I highly recommend this stuff. Smells so exotic. You rule Dianna!"

~ Kati Breeding ~

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Cat's Claw claw

Named after its hook-like horns, cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest and other places in South and Central America. The bark and root have been used by South Americans for centuries to treat health problems including Arthritis, Stomach Ulcers, Inflammation, Dysentery, and Fevers. It was also used as a form of birth control.

Test tube studies indicate that cat's claw may stimulate the Immune system, help relax the smooth Muscles (such as the Intestines), dilate Blood vessels (helping lower Blood Pressure), and act as a Diuretic (helping the body get rid of excess water).

Cat's claw also has Antioxidant properties, helping the body get rid of particles known as free radicals that damage cells. Scientists believe free radicals to contribute to health problems, including Heart disease and Cancer. Antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

Some early studies suggest cat's claw may kill Tumor and Cancer cells in test tubes.

OsteoArthritis: Not many scientific studies have looked at the safety and effectiveness of cat's claw, but it has been used traditionally to treat osteoArthritis (OA). One study found that it may help relieve Pain from knee OA without any significant side effects.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Cat's claw has been suggested as a treatment for rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) because it may help reduce nflammation. One small study of people who were already taking sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine to treat RA found that those who also took cat's claw had fewer Painful, swollen joints than those who took a placebo (dummy pill). But although cat's claw may help reduce Inflammation, there is no evidence to show that it stops joint damage from getting worse. For that reason, RA should be treated with conventional medications, which can stop joint damage.

Further research: Cat's claw is being studied for a number of other possible uses, including HIV, Crohn's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE or Lupus), endometriosis, Kidney problems, and Alzheimer's disease. More research is needed before scientists can say whether it is effective.

Plant Description: Cat's claw is a thorny vine that can climb as high as 100 feet. It grows mostly in the Amazon rainforest, as well as tropical areas in South and Central America. Much of the cat's claw sold in the United States was grown in Peru.

Cat's claw got its name from the curved, claw-like thorns that grow on its stem. The root and bark of cat's claw are the parts used for medicine.

Cat's claw contains many types of chemicals that help reduce Inflammation, such as tannins and sterols, and fight Viruses, such as quinovic Acid glycosides.

Cat's claw preparations are made from the root and bark of the cat's claw vine. How effective the root and bark are can depend on what time of year the plant was harvested.

Available Forms: The bark of the cat's claw vine can be crushed and used to make tea. Standardized root and bark extracts (containing 3% alkaloids and 15% phenols) are also available in either liquid or capsule forms.

How to Take It: Pediatric. No one has studied cat's claw in children, so no one knows whether it is safe. Do not give a child cat's claw except under your doctor's supervision.

Adult: Tea: 1 to 10 g (1,000 mg) root bark in 8 ounces water; boil 10 to 15 minutes, cool, and strain. Drink 1 cup, 3 times daily.
Capsules: 100 mg per day for osteoArthritis; 250 to 350 mg per day for Immune support

Precautions: The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care practitioner.

Cat's claw appears to have few side effects. However, there have not been enough scientific studies of cat's claw to determine its safety. Some people have reported Dizziness, Nausea, and Diarrhea when taking cat's claw. The Diarrhea or loose stools tend to be mild and go away with continued use of the herb.

Pregnant or nursing women should not take cat's claw, because it may cause miscarriage.

People with AutoImmune diseases, Skin grafts, Tuberculosis, or those receiving organ transplants should not use cat's claw unless specifically directed by their physician because of its possible effects on the Immune system.

People with leukemia or low Blood Pressure should not take cat's claw.

People with Kidney or Liver disease should not use cat's claw without first aSking their doctor.

Possible Interactions: If you are currently taking any of the following medications, you should not use cat's claw without first talking to your health care provider. Medications that suppress the Immune system -- In theory, because cat's claw may stimulate the Immune system, it should not be used with medications that suppress the Immune system. Those include cyclosporine or other medications prescribed following an organ transplant or to treat an AutoImmune disease.

Blood-thinning medications -- Cat's claw may increase the risk of Bleeding, especially if you also take blood-thinners such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or clopidogrel (Plavix).

Diuretics (water pills) -- Cat's claw may act as a Diuretic, helping the body get rid of excess fluid. If you also take Diuretics, which do the same thing, you could be at risk of developing an electrolyte imbalance.

Blood Pressure medication -- Cat's claw may lower Blood Pressure. If you take medication for high Blood Pressure, taking cat's claw may cause your Blood Pressure to be too low.

Other medications -- Cat's claw may interfere with some medications that are processed by the Liver. If you take any medications, check with your doctor before taking cat's claw.

Source: Cat's claw | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/cats-claw#ixzz3itHrGc4J
University of Maryland Medical Center
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