UNCARIA TORMENTOSA
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) is an imposing plant. It is found in the Amazon rainforest and looks like a huge woody vine that can reach up to 30 metres in height. Its name derives from the characteristic of its leaves, which are equipped with a few hook-like protuberances (the Latin word Uncus, means “a hook”). These protruberances hook onto other plants as they strive to gain light – which only penetrates very dimly through the dense vegetation of the Amazon forest. The Uncaria has yellow flowers, the calyx and corolla resembling the shape of a funnel. This plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, and its root and bark are used for their well-known immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimutagenic properties. The mechanism that makes this function possible stems from Uncaria’s ability to act on human endothelial cells into which are delivered pentacyclic alkaloids that promote the regulation and proliferation of B and T lymphocytes, which control the body’s immune response.
Uncaria is used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, immune deficiencies (studies have found an increased antibody response in HIV) and has been used in cancer, in addition to chemotherapy, due to its ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. It is effective in cases of viral infections, even chronic ones (e.g. herpes), and therefore in viral-based colds, which manifest themselves as colds, coughs and fevers, as well as in autoimmune diseases.
In Central America, where it is common in the tropical forests of the Andes, the local people call it “cat’s claw” (uña de gato) because its protuberances resemble fingernails; since ancient times, leaves and infusions have been used to prepare herbal bark teas to fight infections and prevent them when they occur in the population. Healers in Peru and Brazil use it to close wounds, heal sores, alleviate intestinal and stomach pain and reduce the damage of degenerative diseases.
Used in: Pinelli Immuno Project™