{"id":11419291,"date":"2026-10-20T21:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T18:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/cats-claw-benefits\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T23:14:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T20:14:52","slug":"cats-claw-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat&#8217;s Claw Benefits: 6 Possible Uses and What the Evidence Says"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#What_is_cats_claw\" >What is cat&#8217;s claw?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#What_is_in_cats_claw_bark\" >What is in cat&#8217;s claw bark?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#6_possible_cats_claw_benefits\" >6 possible cat&#8217;s claw benefits<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#1_Easing_knee_osteoarthritis_pain\" >1. Easing knee osteoarthritis pain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#2_Add-on_support_in_rheumatoid_arthritis\" >2. Add-on support in rheumatoid arthritis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#3_Anti-inflammatory_effects_in_the_lab\" >3. Anti-inflammatory effects in the lab<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#4_Effects_on_the_immune_system\" >4. Effects on the immune system<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#5_Antioxidant_activity\" >5. Antioxidant activity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#6_Digestion\" >6. Digestion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#What_does_NCCIH_say_about_cats_claw_benefits\" >What does NCCIH say about cat&#8217;s claw benefits?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#How_to_get_cats_claw_benefits_safely\" >How to get cat&#8217;s claw benefits safely<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#Who_should_not_take_cats_claw\" >Who should not take cat&#8217;s claw?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#Frequently_asked_questions_about_cats_claw_benefits\" >Frequently asked questions about cat&#8217;s claw benefits<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#How_long_do_cats_claw_benefits_take_to_appear\" >How long do cat&#8217;s claw benefits take to appear?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#Can_it_replace_arthritis_medicines\" >Can it replace arthritis medicines?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#Is_it_suitable_for_children\" >Is it suitable for children?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"top\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_cats_claw\"><\/span>What is cat&#8217;s claw?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cat&#8217;s claw, or &#8220;una de gato&#8221;, is a woody vine from the Amazon rainforest named after the hooked thorns that look like a cat&#8217;s claws. The bark of two species, Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis, has been used in South American folk medicine for centuries. In this article we review the possible <strong>cat&#8217;s claw benefits<\/strong> and separate what has small human trials behind it from what has only been seen in the lab.<\/p>\n<p>Cat&#8217;s claw is a herbal supplement, not a medicine, and the research is still limited. That is why we describe cat&#8217;s claw benefits cautiously here, without any promise of a cure.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_in_cats_claw_bark\"><\/span>What is in cat&#8217;s claw bark?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The bark contains compounds called oxindole alkaloids, plus polyphenol antioxidants and other plant acids. Researchers believe these compounds explain the anti-inflammatory effect seen in experiments, but their concentration varies from one product to another depending on the species and how the bark is prepared, which is one reason why cat&#8217;s claw benefits differ between studies.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_possible_cats_claw_benefits\"><\/span>6 possible cat&#8217;s claw benefits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Easing_knee_osteoarthritis_pain\"><\/span>1. Easing knee osteoarthritis pain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The best-studied of all cat&#8217;s claw benefits in humans concerns knee osteoarthritis. In a small trial lasting about 4 weeks, people taking a U. guianensis extract reported less pain on activity than those on placebo. However, the number of participants was small and the trial was short. We cover this in detail in <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/\">cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Add-on_support_in_rheumatoid_arthritis\"><\/span>2. Add-on support in rheumatoid arthritis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In another small trial in people with rheumatoid arthritis who continued their usual treatment, a U. tomentosa extract was linked to a modest drop in the number of painful joints. The key point is that it was used as an add-on, not a replacement.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Anti-inflammatory_effects_in_the_lab\"><\/span>3. Anti-inflammatory effects in the lab<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cell studies show that cat&#8217;s claw extracts may lower some inflammatory messengers such as TNF-alpha. These results are interesting, but they do not guarantee the same effect inside the human body.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Effects_on_the_immune_system\"><\/span>4. Effects on the immune system<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many people promote cat&#8217;s claw benefits for immunity, and the Solaray label mentions immune system support. Yet most of this evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies, and human data are few and small. For the same reason, cat&#8217;s claw is not suitable for people with autoimmune disease or an organ transplant.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Antioxidant_activity\"><\/span>5. Antioxidant activity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The bark contains antioxidant compounds that may, in theory, help protect cells from oxidative stress, but this is one of the cat&#8217;s claw benefits that has no clear clinical results yet.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Digestion\"><\/span>6. Digestion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cat&#8217;s claw has been used traditionally for digestive complaints, and the Solaray label mentions digestion, but the scientific evidence for this among the cat&#8217;s claw benefits is very weak.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_NCCIH_say_about_cats_claw_benefits\"><\/span>What does NCCIH say about cat&#8217;s claw benefits?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that there is not enough evidence to support cat&#8217;s claw for other health conditions, such as preventing infections, cancer or Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. Treat any claim beyond the uses above with real caution.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_cats_claw_benefits_safely\"><\/span>How to get cat&#8217;s claw benefits safely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border: 1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background: #f3f4f6;\">\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">Product<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">Content<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">Label directions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/now-cats-claw-500-mg-100-veg-capsules\/\">NOW Cat&#8217;s Claw 500 mg<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">500 mg cat&#8217;s claw bark per capsule, 100 veg capsules<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">2 capsules 2 to 3 times daily, preferably with food; adults only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/solaray-cats-claw-500-mg-100-vegcaps\/\">Solaray Cat&#8217;s Claw 500 mg<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">500 mg cat&#8217;s claw bark per capsule, 100 VegCaps<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding: 8px;\">1 VegCap three times daily with a meal or glass of water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/now-cats-claw-500-mg-100-veg-capsules\/\">NOW Cat&#8217;s Claw<\/a> provides 500 mg per capsule; the label directions are 2 capsules 2 to 3 times daily, preferably with food, and it is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/solaray-cats-claw-500-mg-100-vegcaps\/\">Solaray Cat&#8217;s Claw<\/a> is taken as 1 capsule three times daily with a meal, and it is not for use during pregnancy or when trying to conceive.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Speak to your doctor first if you take any regular medicine.<\/li>\n<li>Do not exceed the dose on the label.<\/li>\n<li>Stop it at least 2 weeks before any planned surgery.<\/li>\n<li>Watch for any new symptoms during the first weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_should_not_take_cats_claw\"><\/span>Who should not take cat&#8217;s claw?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is not suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive, nor for people with autoimmune diseases, an organ transplant or immunosuppressant treatment. Extra care is needed with blood thinners and blood-pressure medicines. We explain this fully in <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-side-effects\/\">cat&#8217;s claw side effects<\/a>. For other ways to support ageing joints, see <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/joint-pain-relief-for-seniors\/\">joint pain relief for seniors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions_about_cats_claw_benefits\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions about cat&#8217;s claw benefits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_do_cats_claw_benefits_take_to_appear\"><\/span>How long do cat&#8217;s claw benefits take to appear?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Joint trials measured results after about 4 weeks or longer. If you notice no improvement after 2 months, there is little reason to continue.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_it_replace_arthritis_medicines\"><\/span>Can it replace arthritis medicines?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. It is not a substitute for treatment prescribed by your rheumatologist.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_suitable_for_children\"><\/span>Is it suitable for children?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. Both products are intended for adults only.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The best-supported cat&#8217;s claw benefits are a modest easing of knee osteoarthritis pain and add-on support in rheumatoid arthritis, both from small trials, while the immune claims rest mostly on lab work. Use it carefully and after talking to your doctor. You can find <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/now-cats-claw-500-mg-100-veg-capsules\/\">NOW Cat&#8217;s Claw<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/solaray-cats-claw-500-mg-100-vegcaps\/\">Solaray Cat&#8217;s Claw<\/a> at No Style Like pharmacy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.95em; color: #555; margin-top: 18px;\">This article was reviewed by the No Style Like pharmacy content team. It is for general awareness only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.95em; color: #555;\">Do not use cat&#8217;s claw during pregnancy, breastfeeding or with autoimmune disease without medical advice. For more information see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/cats-claw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">the NCCIH cat&#8217;s claw page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cat&#8217;s claw benefits, separated from the hype: joints, inflammation and immunity, who should avoid it, and label doses for NOW and Solaray 500 mg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":11419287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11419291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dietary-supplements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/86"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11419291"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11419427,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419291\/revisions\/11419427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11419287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11419291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11419291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11419291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}