World of Peruvian Herbs

some medicinal plants of the Andes and the Amazon

Traditional use:

allergy| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

        
                                             



VILCACORA  
 

LATIN NAME: Uncaria tomentosa Willd

USED PARTS OF THE PLANT: the inner bark, leaves, roots. NOTICE:

the external bark is a waste

CURATIVE PROPERTIES: 

immune-modulating, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, antivirus, antibacterial, anti-flu, antioxidant, probiotic, antihelmitic, antiparasitic, antalgic, antihypertensive,  anti-asthmatic, anti-allergic, cardio-protective – cardiovascular support
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USE IN TRADITIONAL PERUVIAN MEDICINE:

•    Prevention and treatment of cancers, diseases connected to the damaged immune system
•    Blood circulation system
•    Diseases of the digestive system: inflammation, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, gut flora disorders
•    Pancreas diseases, stomach and duodenum ulcers, constipation, bloatedness, piles, parasites
•    Diabetes
•    Cirrhosis
•    Chronic fatigue syndrome
•    Treatment and prevention of viral diseases (the flu),
•    Chronic infection of upper airways, asthma, sinusitis
•    Viral infections such  as Lyme disease, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, HIV
•    Joints inflammation, aching limbs
•    Gonorrhea and dysentery treatment
•    Support of the kidneys metabolism
•    Strong antioxidant


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT AND ITS PRESENCE

Vilcacora is the most popular plant of the Peruvian jungle. It is also known as the “cat’s claw”, and it has gained the interest of scientists from all around the world. It grows in the tropical forests of the Amazon jungle, La Montaña, that is the mountainous region which is not flooded by water in the rain season. It can be found on altitudes up to 800m in the provinces of Chanchamayo, Satipo, Oxapampa, Elbow of Pozuzo, Pichis, Palcazy, and Pachitea.
It is a light-brown creeper, sometimes called liana, that grows up to 15 meters high. At the bottom of every pair of leaves there are some spikes that resemble a claw. That is where the name “cat’s claw” comes from, as thanks to that it clings to other trees and climbs up towards the sun. In time it wraps around some plants with its strong, hard stem. The leaves have a short tail, and the leave itself has goy ovoid shape. The bottom side it is brown and covered with hairs, and the nerves run densely. The small flowers are 1,5-4 cm, and are yellow-orange. They have a shape of a head with a shank that goes above the leave and are super fragile. All around the world it is called Cat’s Claw, and in Peru - Ge Gato. Vilcacora, the tribal name, is used in the Eastern Europe.


MORE INFORMATION

Because of its incredible properties Uncaria Tomentosa ever since the empire of the Incas has been considered a holy plant. There are many Indian legends about its miraculous qualities. In order to support the body – we use mainly the bark. However, only its inner part contains the full range of medical substances. The outer bark is a waste, which, unfortunately, is sometimes sold by insincere companies as the proper inner bark. The combination of alkaloids present in the inner bark make it an extremely versatile and efficient medical plant. No wonder that in recent years no plant has been so desired, talked about, and researched by scientist more than Uncaria Tomentosa. The research has shown that Uncaria hampers the development of cancer cells, and modulates the immune system of the body. It possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-virus, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It has a positive influence on the central nervous system, it supports the blood circulation, lowers the level of cholesterol and has a cleansing effect. Because of the protective influence on the mucosa of the digestive system it helps with the stomach ulcers and has beneficial influence on the peristalsis of intestines and bile ducts.
Some “fans” of this plant, call it “the omni-medicine” because of the full range of its application and influence.
The usage of Vilcacora is really wide. It is used for the following:

•    Indisposition of the digestive system: intestine inflammation, Crohn’s disease, stomach ulcers, inflammation of digestive system, gall bladder, cirrhosis,
     hepatitis, spleen diseases, gut flora disorders (that includes the side effects of using antibiotics), constipation, parasite infection, diabetes- supportive.
•    Degeneration diseases of movement organs, arthritis, muscle ache, rheumatism, rheumarthritis
•    Infections of many kinds: upper airways, sinusitis, asthma, allergies, viral infections (among others: Herpes Zoster i Herpes Simplex, lupus, and other 
     connective tissue diseases
•    Cancers: chemo and radiotherapy – it soothes the side effects and kills the pain
•    Activator of the immune system: diseases connected to the weakened immune system
•    Psoriasis – supportive, acne
•    Lyme disease
•    Blood circulation, heart, veins – normalizing the circulation, including brain circulation, states after brain strokes, hypertension, it reduces the risk of 
      severe attack of the CAD and thrombosis of arterial vessels, also recommended for smokers because it removes the cancerogenic factors, that enter the 
       body 
      with nicotine, with the urine.
•    Organic depression
•    Mycosis, yeast fungus, parasites
•    Prophylaxis of diseases, anti-cancer prophylaxis – protection against the influence of the free radicals
     Externally it is used (in the form of compresses) in cases of skin inflammation and allergic reactions.


USE AND MOST COMMON DOSAGE

3-10g of bark pour over with not more than a liter of water (much of it will evaporate), and cook for 20 minutes since boiling. Drain. Drink tepid 3 times a day 1 hour before or after a meal.

NOTICE
The best bark is the one in pieces, in order not to undergo oxidation, and maintain maximum of its properties. Uncaria T can reduce the blood pressure, thus be careful and control your pressure.

CONTRAINDICATION

Patients that underwent organ transplantation, blood transfusion, ones suffering from hemophilia, pregnant and breastfeeding women.

FUN FACT

There are about 60 species of Uncaria, but only two of them have the medical properties: Uncaria Tomentosa, and Uncaria Guianensis. As far as the content is concerned they do not differ much, but they do when it comes to spikes. Uncaria Guianensis has spikes which are crooked inwards more than ones from Tomentosa.
Vilcacora that grows away from the Peruvian areas of the Amazon, does not show such precious signs of the medical properties as the one that grows in Peru.