What Is Cat's Claw?
Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tometonsa) is a climbing vine native to the Amazon basin. Bark and root have long been used in Peruvian ethnomedicine for inflammatory and viral illnesses. Modern extracts supply oxindole & indole alkaloids, pro‑anthocyanidins, and quinovic‑acid glycosides—compounds with demonstrated antiviral, immunomodulatory, and vascular‑protective activity.
How Cat's Claw May Help for Long COVID
Direct antiviral action – Multiple constituents (e.g., quinovic‑acid glycosides, speciophylline) bind and inhibit SARS‑CoV‑2 components and replication.
Blocks viral entry – Docking studies show proanthocyanidins occupy the spike, potentially preventing cell invasion—including Omicron‑specific sites.
Tames cytokine storm – Alkaloids reduce inflammatory molecules; polyphenols add powerful antioxidant ROS‑scavenging.
Endothelial & antithrombotic support – Extracts inhibit platelet aggregation and protect vascular lining, theoretically countering Long‑COVID microclotting.
What the Research Says
Human trials in Long COVID are still lacking, yet pre‑clinical data support Cat’s Claw as a broad‑spectrum antiviral with immune‑balancing properties. Cell culture work confirms suppression of live SARS‑CoV‑2 replication, while computational and animal studies indicate multi‑target synergy with a longstanding safety record in rheumatic and infectious conditions.
Key studies on Cat's Claw and Long COVID
Theoretical support:
This study used a mild water‑alcohol bark extract to SARS‑CoV‑2‑infected Vero E6 cells. At 25 µg per mL the virus count dropped by ≈ 93 % and the usual cell damage all but disappeared after 48 hours.
In this study, using the published 3‑D structure of the coronavirus replication enzyme, researchers let Cat’s Claw molecules dock into the cutting groove. Three—speciophylline, cadambine and proanthocyanidin B2—stuck especially well, suggesting they could jam the enzyme and stall viral replication.
A separate computer model focused on the first step of infection—the viral spike latching onto our ACE2 receptors. Polyphenols such as proanthocyanidin C1 and quinovic‑acid glycosides were predicted to interfere between spike and ACE2, hinting at an ability to keep the virus from entering cells.
This study re-ran the simulations on the Omicron variant. Proanthocyanidin C1 and a quinovic‑acid derivative still clung tightly to the new spike, out‑performing azithromycin used as a reference.
Final Thoughts and Typical Use
Cat’s Claw offers a multifaceted profile — antiviral, anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant, and endothelial‑protective — that maps closely to the drivers of Long COVID. While rigorous clinical trials are still needed, its decades‑long safety record, ease of access, and mechanistic breadth make Cat’s Claw an attractive adjunct for post‑viral recovery protocols. Typical use includes 350-700 mg standardized extract 2-3 times daily. As always, monitor for herb‑drug interactions and consult a healthcare professional before use.