CAT'S CLAW
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A stable psoriatic patient recently experienced a guttate flare after
starting to take "a wondrous herb from the 
Peruvian Rainforest" called cat's claw.
Any experience or comments?

Yelva Lynfield
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Cat's Claw contains oxindole alkaloids, polyphenols, triterpenes,
betasitosterol,stigmasterol, and campesterol as "active constituents." More
info can be obtained from Whole Foods, oct l995, and from the Townsend
Letter (?sp). If you don't have access to the above journals, I will obtain
copies on Monday and send them to you or anyone interested, or fax on
Wednesday.
   This rainforest herb is "broad based". It is recommended for
inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, gastritis, also diabetes,
cancer, menstrual difficulties, and, yes, gonorrhea! It apparently does not
treat psoriasis, even though they claim it helps immunological problems.
 
Diane Thaler
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