Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a woody vine native to the Amazon and Central American rainforests. Its name is derived from the hook-like thorns that resemble the claws of a cat. Cat’s claw bark and root have been used for centuries by South Americans as a remedy for arthritis and to treat digestive disorders such as gastritis, colitis, and stomach ulcers.
How do you make cat's claw tea?
The indigenous people of Peru boil traditionally boil 20 to 30 grams of the inner bark or root in a liter of water for 30 to 60 minutes.
For home use, you can steep one tablespoon (2 grams) of dried cat's claw powder in one cup of hot water for five to 10 minutes. The flavor of the tea, unsurprisingly, is bitter and woody. Some people like to mix it with rooibos tea, honey, and lemon to make it more palatable.