Originally found in Peru, the medicinal use of cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) has been said to date back to the Inca civilization, possibly as far back as 2,000 years. Cat's claw may reduce inflammation, and this has led to research of cat's claw for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Early research suggests that cat's claw may reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis. Further research is needed to confirm these results. Copyright 2007 Natural Standard, Inc. |