{"id":11419296,"date":"2026-10-20T21:55:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T18:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T21:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T18:56:29","slug":"cats-claw-for-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat&#8217;s Claw for Arthritis: Does It Help OA and RA? 5 Facts"},"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-for-arthritis\/#Does_cats_claw_for_arthritis_really_work\" >Does cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis really work?<\/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-for-arthritis\/#1_Cats_claw_for_arthritis_of_the_knee\" >1. Cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis of the knee<\/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-for-arthritis\/#2_Cats_claw_for_arthritis_of_the_rheumatoid_type\" >2. Cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis of the rheumatoid type<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#3_How_might_cats_claw_for_arthritis_work\" >3. How might cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#4_Label_doses_of_cats_claw_for_arthritis\" >4. Label doses of cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#5_Who_should_avoid_cats_claw_for_arthritis\" >5. Who should avoid cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#Fitting_cats_claw_for_arthritis_into_a_complete_plan\" >Fitting cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis into a complete plan<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#When_to_see_a_doctor\" >When to see a doctor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#Frequently_asked_questions_about_cats_claw_for_arthritis\" >Frequently asked questions about cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#Can_I_take_it_with_glucosamine\" >Can I take it with glucosamine?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#Can_it_replace_painkillers\" >Can it replace painkillers?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-for-arthritis\/#Does_it_help_gout\" >Does it help gout?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/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-for-arthritis\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"top\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_cats_claw_for_arthritis_really_work\"><\/span>Does cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis really work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis look for a natural supplement that eases pain and reduces their reliance on painkillers. One of the best known options is <strong>cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis<\/strong>, made from the bark of the Amazonian vines Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. Here are 5 facts about what the research shows, how it is taken and when to avoid it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Cats_claw_for_arthritis_of_the_knee\"><\/span>1. Cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis of the knee<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a small clinical trial in people with knee osteoarthritis, participants took a U. guianensis extract for 4 weeks and reported less pain on activity than the placebo group, without major side effects. In other trials cat&#8217;s claw was combined with other herbs or supplements, which makes it hard to credit the result to cat&#8217;s claw alone.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line is that the evidence is encouraging but small and short, and it does not allow us to call cat&#8217;s claw a treatment for osteoarthritis. Building muscle strength and managing weight still matter more, and some people also ask about <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/collagen-for-joints\/\">collagen for joints<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Cats_claw_for_arthritis_of_the_rheumatoid_type\"><\/span>2. Cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis of the rheumatoid type<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a small trial of about 40 people with rheumatoid arthritis who stayed on their usual medicines, a U. tomentosa extract was added for several months, and a modest fall in the number of painful joints was seen. Larger trials have not yet confirmed this result.<\/p>\n<p>More importantly, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that needs disease-modifying drugs to protect the joints from damage. Never stop any of these medicines, and only start cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis with the agreement of your rheumatologist, because it may affect the immune system.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_How_might_cats_claw_for_arthritis_work\"><\/span>3. How might cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Compounds in the bark are thought to lower some inflammatory messengers, such as TNF-alpha and prostaglandins, and to act as antioxidants. This mechanism is better established in the lab than in people, so expectations should stay modest.<\/p>\n<p>The expected effect also depends on the extract. The positive osteoarthritis trial used U. guianensis, while the rheumatoid trial used a special U. tomentosa extract. Capsules sold in pharmacies usually contain the bark itself, so you cannot assume they will give exactly the same result as the trial products.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Label_doses_of_cats_claw_for_arthritis\"><\/span>4. Label doses of cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis<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 bottle of <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/now-cats-claw-500-mg-100-veg-capsules\/\">NOW Cat&#8217;s Claw<\/a> lasts about 16 to 25 days depending on how many doses you take, and a bottle of <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/solaray-cats-claw-500-mg-100-vegcaps\/\">Solaray Cat&#8217;s Claw<\/a> lasts about 33 days. It is sensible to judge cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis after 4 to 8 weeks; if the pain has not improved, there is no point in continuing. For its other uses, read <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-benefits\/\">cat&#8217;s claw benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Who_should_avoid_cats_claw_for_arthritis\"><\/span>5. Who should avoid cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Pregnant or breastfeeding women and women trying to conceive.<\/li>\n<li>People with lupus, multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune diseases, unless their doctor agrees.<\/li>\n<li>Organ transplant recipients and anyone taking immunosuppressants.<\/li>\n<li>People on blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs.<\/li>\n<li>People on blood-pressure medicines, since it may lower blood pressure.<\/li>\n<li>Anyone with surgery planned within 2 weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Full details on reactions and interactions are in <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/cats-claw-side-effects\/\">cat&#8217;s claw side effects<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fitting_cats_claw_for_arthritis_into_a_complete_plan\"><\/span>Fitting cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis into a complete plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A supplement alone does not protect a joint; at best it is a helper. A better plan includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Thigh-strengthening exercises guided by a physiotherapist.<\/li>\n<li>Losing excess weight to reduce the load on the knees.<\/li>\n<li>A suitable painkiller chosen by your doctor when needed.<\/li>\n<li>Regular rheumatology follow-up and inflammation blood tests in rheumatoid arthritis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tell your doctor about every supplement you take, because some interact with blood-pressure and blood-thinning medicines that are common in people with arthritis. Older adults can also read <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=\"When_to_see_a_doctor\"><\/span>When to see a doctor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A swollen, red or warm joint.<\/li>\n<li>Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes.<\/li>\n<li>Pain in several joints on both sides of the body.<\/li>\n<li>Dizziness or unusual bruising while taking the supplement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions_about_cats_claw_for_arthritis\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions about cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_take_it_with_glucosamine\"><\/span>Can I take it with glucosamine?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No direct interaction is known, but ask your pharmacist first, especially if you take blood thinners.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_it_replace_painkillers\"><\/span>Can it replace painkillers?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It may reduce the need for them in some people, but do not stop your treatment without medical advice.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_it_help_gout\"><\/span>Does it help gout?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There is not enough evidence, and gout needs specific treatment from your doctor.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cat&#8217;s claw for arthritis is a helper option with small trials showing some easing of knee osteoarthritis pain and modest add-on support in rheumatoid arthritis. It is not a replacement for rheumatology treatment. 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;\">People with rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases should ask their rheumatologist before any herbal supplement. 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 for arthritis: what trials show in knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, label doses for NOW and Solaray, and when to avoid it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":11419292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11419296","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\/11419296","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=11419296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11419292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11419296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11419296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11419296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}