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Cat's claw: Anti-inflammatory?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/6/2007 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
If the current professional opinions on Crohn's are shifting to include the possibility of it being an infection and not an overactive immune system but a deficiency in the immune system, then would an immune booster be helpful ?

Anyone ever try a natural immune system stimulant like cats claw(uncaria tomentosa) which is also supposed to reduce inflammation and cleanse the bowel as a potential alternative to prednisone or other drugs or know of any studies done on it?  I've researched it online a little, but would not want to try it and risk making my condition worse.

Posted 12/6/2007 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
The theory that's going is as follows:

It is a bacterial infection...no one is positive on which is causing it (even though there is a strong following towards MAP).

The normal process of our bodies to fight a bacteria is, the immune system takes the offending bacteria to the terminal ileum to put it into a macrophage and learn how to kill it (deprive it of oxygen, and nutrients). However, whatever bacteria is causing the problem, it is very resilient, it multiplies in the macrophage (which it would normally die). Now, the inflamation is being caused because our immune system is attacking the macrophages...which is part of our body...i.e. it comes across as an immune system disorder to the "specialists" when in fact it's just a bacterial infection...I've tried numerous herbal remedies, nothing has been 100% effective yet.

The ones that were the most beneficial were the new roots herbal purge parasitis kit, and the primadopholus optima probiotics.
Posted 12/8/2007 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Seems like you've tried quite a few herbs Lancelot. Too bad none have been completely effective for you, yet it is nice to hear that some helped.

The reason I brought up cat's claw in particular is that I have visited a few web sites that mention it in particular in regards to Crohn's and rheumatoid arthritis which some seems to be associated with Crohn's. Of interest to some of you may be:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cats-claw-000229.htm -University of Maryland Medical School site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncaria_tomentosa

Of course there are a million other sites and I've only visited a few dozen. Many are there just to sell you something. Also of note is that it is not reccomended to be taken by anyone who is taking an immunosuppressive like Imuran because it is an immune system stimulant. I just wondered if this was something anyone had any experience with either directly or indirectly. Seems like an effective herb used for centuries by Central/South American natives.
Posted 12/8/2007 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
clavman, I feel like cat's claw has been discussed a bit here in the past. hopefully someone will come along who has used it. sounds interesting... it has been discussed quite a bit on the lyme disease forum here.

lancelot, may I ask why you tried the parasite kits? was this for Crohn's or truly for parasites?
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