South American Indians used the bark of the Peruvian tropical vines to treat a variety of diseases, applying it both internally and externally. The study of medicinal properties of the first vines were engaged only in the seventies of the last century, and today it is already used in the manufacture of dietary supplements.

What is and how to "work" BAD Cats Claw

Biologically active food supplement Cat's Claw (or Cat's root) - it is an extract powder of natural bark of the Peruvian tropical liana Uncaria tomentosa which includes a variety of biologically active substances in doses well below the therapeutic alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, polysaccharides, organic acids , tannins, triterpenes, catechins.

In exchange used at recommended doses Cat root strengthens the immune system, normalizes metabolism, hormones and rolling properties of the blood (anti-thrombotic properties), slightly reduces inflammation (if any), relieves spasms of smooth muscles of internal organs and blood vessels, has a mild choleretic action It neutralizes free radicals, which are formed during metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things   and cause premature aging.

Immunostimulant effect is produced alkaloid contained in the plant, they stimulate cell-mediated immunity mainly - Activity special blood cells (phagocytes) which capture and dissolved inside pathogens. This feature allows you to recommend the use of Cat's root in the diet of cancer patients who have problems with immunity, after special treatment, but only in consultation with the oncologist.

The alkaloids contained in the cat root, prevents thrombosis, and tannins have, on the contrary, a hemostatic effect. Therefore, patients with varicose veins Varicose veins - the operation is inevitable?   thrombophlebitis, and should not treat it with caution Badu.

Easy hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), and diuretic effect will be useful for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, and the ability to shoot spasms of smooth muscles and stimulate locomotor activity of biliary tract - people with cholecystitis, cholangitis.

Feature Cat root is that all active ingredients therein act synchronously, amplifying the effect of each other.

Who should use nutritional supplements Cat root

Biologically active food supplement Cat root is recommended (after consultation with the doctor, and in any case not in lieu of the prescribed treatment) with the following diseases and conditions:

• with a decrease in immunity: frequent colds, abrasions, pustular rash, chronic inflammatory diseases with frequent exacerbations, fungal and viral (for example, herpes infections) disease, cancer patients after treatment, which decreased immunity in the diet of patients with immunodeficiencies of different backgrounds;
• allergic diseases, including allergies to the body's own tissues (autoimmune diseases) - as an immunomodulator - a means of normalizing immune processes;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including diseases of the stomach and intestines, accompanied by spastic pain;
• in diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts - as an antispasmodic and cholagogue;
• in diseases of the cardiovascular system, as a mild hypotensive and diuretic;
• chronic intoxications (smoking, alcohol abuse, and so on) - as a normalizing metabolism and fortifying agent;
• chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue - if life is not a pleasant experience , Irritable weakness (asthenia), occurred after an illness - as a fortifying agent;
• chronic inflammatory diseases - as the anti-inflammatory agent;
• in the menstrual cycle and premenstrual syndrome - like normalizing hormones (without a doctor not to take - reduces the amount of blood the female sex hormones estrogen);
• joint diseases - both anti-inflammatory and normalize metabolic processes means;
• healthy people as a tonic.

Contraindications, overdose and possible side effects when taking root the Cat

Feline root is available in tablets and capsules, it is taken in accordance with the instructions supplied by the manufacturer for a period of two to four weeks. Wash down with water is better.

Cat's root is not recommended for pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding their children, people with individual intolerance to this Badu and after organ transplants Organ transplantation: Past and Present .

No side effects or overdoses in the use of Cat's root has been identified (other than allergic reactions that are possible with the use of any substance). But do not forget that dietary supplements are not standard clinical trials in humans, so when using the Cat of the root in higher than recommended doses, its effect is difficult to predict.

Biologically active food supplements are part of our life and begin to occupy a certain place in it. It's very good, because with the right attitude towards them dietary supplements can bring a lot of benefits. That's just not worth it to replace their medication they are intended to correct nutrition.

Galina Romanenko

  Medicinal properties of the hawthorn were known in ancient times, tincture and decoction prepared from hawthorn treated with nerve and heart disorders, colds, relieves fatigue. Since then, it took many centuries, but today the hawthorn is used as a drug. In Russia, grow several species of hawthorn, the most common of them - Crataegus laevigata (scratchy) and Crataegus sanguinea.

Common Hawthorn is a shrub or small tree height of about 10 m with a smooth gray bark. Young shoots dark red, with spines. The leaves on the branches are bare, up to 5 cm long, dark green on top, below - lighter, on pubescent petioles. Flowers - white or pink, with five petals, are collected in inflorescence. The fruit - a red-brown color, with a diameter of 1 cm, juicy, with two or three seeds, are spherical. Hawthorn common in nature grows in the European part of our country. Occurs on edges of forests, grows slowly, is not afraid of drought and frost.

Hawthorn blood-red or Siberian has a lower height (up to 4 m), branches purplish-brown with shoots, usually carrying a few thick, straight spines up to 5 cm. The leaves are shiny on both sides, short-staple fruit with three or four seeds, powdery pulp. Crataegus sanguinea grows in the European part of the country, in Siberia, Baikal, in Central Asia. It occurs in forest and steppe zones, edges of woods, along the banks of rivers.

Both types of hawthorn blossom in May and June. The fruits ripen in September-October.

The chemical composition of hawthorn and its effect on the human body

In the fruit, leaves, shoots, seeds, and flowers of hawthorn contains many biologically active substances that are involved in the regulation of metabolic processes in the human body. The shoots and fruits contain sugar, choline, acetylcholine, essential oils, vitamins B, C, carotene, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and bitter substances, essential fatty organic acids. It was also established presence in Hawthorn triterpene acids (oleanovoy, ursolic, krategovoy), increases blood circulation in the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle and brain, and increase the sensitivity of the cardiac muscle to the action of cardiac glycosides (medicines that are used in heart failure, they make the heart muscles contract harder and rarer).

Hawthorn has a stimulating effect on the heart muscle, reduces the feeling of heaviness and compression of the heart, lowers blood pressure, reduces pain, improves cerebral blood flow and circulation in the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle, reduces the excitability of the central nervous system, relieve mental and physical fatigue, improves performance.

The use of hawthorn

Drugs derived from hawthorn used in functional (without change the structure of the body), cardiac disorders, seizures, pain in the heart palpitation, vegetative-vascular dystonia, nervous exhaustion, insomnia, cerebrovascular disorders.

Infusions of fruit and flowers of hawthorn take rheumatism Rheumatic fever - are possible complications of heart , Edema, atherosclerosis, increased thyroid function The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones , Migraine, neurosis, epilepsy Epilepsy - a sacred disease , High blood pressure.

From the bark of young branches collected in early spring, prepare a broth, which is used as a binder (for diarrhea) and antipyretic.

Fruits are collected in late autumn, consumed fresh, cook jam, compotes, jelly, used as a filling for pies. The fruits and leaves are used for tea leaves instead of tea.

Harvesting and storage of medicinal raw materials

The flowers are harvested in early flowering in the form of buds (it is impossible to collect the flowers in the morning when they are covered with dew and after rain) and immediately dried in the open air under a canopy, spreading a thin layer. Store dried flowers in enclosed boxes or glass containers during the year.

The fruits are harvested in the fall, after full ripening and falling off foliage, dried at a temperature of about 50 ° C in an oven, then aerate, impurities are separated and stored in glass containers or bags made of thick fabric in two years.

Methods for the preparation of drugs Hawthorn

Hawthorn prepare tinctures, infusions and decoctions:

• tincture of hawthorn, two teaspoons (10 grams) of chopped dried hawthorn flowers pour 100 ml of vodka, insist 20 days, filter and take 20 drops three times a day;
• infusion of hawthorn, one tablespoon of flowers or two tablespoons of crushed fruits pour 1, 5 cups of boiling water, leave for 10-15 minutes, strain and take on a third cup three times a day for half an hour before meals;
• decoction of the hawthorn: tablespoon dried crushed fruits pour a glass of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, strain, bring the volume to the original level, take on a tablespoon 3 times a day.

Contraindications and side effects when used drugs hawthorn

Drugs hawthorn contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to this plant, pregnancy, breast-feeding Breast-feeding: feed - and no nails!   child. You should not take non-prescription hawthorn with cardiac glycosides (eg, digoxin), as it enhances the action of the latter.

With prolonged use at high doses may be the emergence of a rare heart rate (bradycardia), low blood pressure.

  Galina Romanenko