Chinese cat’s claw

Traditional Chinese medicine has historically used Chinese cat's claw to treat a range of ailments, including high blood pressure. Uncaria rhynchophylla is its scientific name, and other names for it are Gou-Teng and Chotoko.

Don't mistake it for a cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa). Despite having a similar name and appearance, this plant is not related to others and has distinct chemical characteristics. There are various substances in Chinese cat's claw, including hirsutine and rhynchophylline. These may lower blood pressure by acting as natural calcium channel blockers, according to research on animals. Additionally, these substances may stimulate blood vessels to produce nitric oxide, a chemical that helps blood vessels in relaxing and dilate. Chinese cat's claw extract or its compounds have been shown in animal experiments to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow. Studies on humans are still limited in this area.