Cat’s Claw Bark | Gou Teng

Cat’s Claw Bark can be described as an alternative, a remedy that helps the body to regulate its functions and restoring proper balance rather than affecting bodily systems with some kind of shock effect. Native people describe it as a gate opener, referring to its properties of clearing obstructions of the gastrointestinal system. It can therefore be used as a supportive medicine in many chronic conditions, as well as a supportive cancer remedy that helps to alleviate negative side-effects of chemotherapy while supporting the healing process with its own anti-tumor and immune system enhancing properties. The plant seems particularly useful in the treatment of chronic problems of the digestive system and has helped where other herbs have failed to break patterns of digestive disorders, especially if these involve cramps and convulsions, as the plant has a relaxant effect on the smooth muscles of the digestive tract. Cat’s Claw has proved useful as an antioxidant, preventing cell damage from scavenging free radicals and showed antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. While it does not appear to reduce the swelling of arthritic joints, it does reduce their painfulness. Today it is employed in a wide range of chronic conditions, including stomach ulcers, Crohn’s disease and other intestinal and bowel disorders, genital herpes, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer and HIV. He found 4 oxindole alkaloids that Cat’s Claw enhanced the immune system by extending the half-life of the lymphocytes, the white blood cells responsible for fighting infection, rather than having a direct effect on their proliferation. They also seemed to enhance their actual ability to fight disease causing organisms.

Put Cat’s Claw in a Mojo Bags or Spell Sachets to draw money and abundance. It can also be added to an incense blend to burn when journeying or to aid in Lucid Dreaming. Its name comes from the plant’s hooked thorns, which resemble the claws of a cat.