Cat's claw, also known as Uno de Gato csp, is a high-climbing, woody vine that grows profusely in the upper Amazon regions of Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, and other South American countries. At the base of the plant's leaves are two curved thorns that resemble the claws of a cat; these allow the vine to climb up trees and other vegetation into the forest canopy. The herb's botanical name,Uncaria, is from the Latin uncus, for "hook."
Two species of cat's claw are harvested for medicinal purposes, Uncaria guianensis, used mainly in Europe, and Uncaria tomentosa, commonly imported into the United States. Among the herbal practitioners of South America, the two species are considered interchangeable.