Cat’s Claw Eased My Joint Pain

The Daily Mail, London, England. August 7, 2000

By Dr. John Briffa

    Tish Bellamy, a retired senior court-usher from Erith in Kent, had suffered back and joint pain since she was a girl. But her problems came to a head during her first pregnancy, when she was 20. Tish’s lower spine fractured, and she later had an operation to have it fused.

    Her bones and joint problems continued and in 1963 she underwent an operation to replace her left hip. Then, three years ago, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis (thinning of the bone).

    Unable to tolerate conventional painkillers, Tish, now 67, was in almost constant pain for years. Finally, through a friend, she learned of an herbal remedy used in South America to treat arthritis and other painful conditions. This remedy has helped control her symptoms and allowed her to enjoy more freedom and mobility.

    Trish’s joint problems were mainly related to a ‘wear and tear’ form of arthritis known as osteoarthritis. In the spine, this condition is associated with the degeneration of the spongy cushions (intervertebral disc) which separate the bones of the spine (vertebrae).

    It also commonly affects other parts of the body, including the hips and knees. Here, the condition attacks the cartilage that cushions the joints, and causes a loss of the fluid responsible for keeping the joints lubricated. In Trish’s case, the pain discomfort of osteoporosis.

    ‘The pain was with me most of the time, and the drugs I was prescribed caused me to vomit, so I had no choice but to grin and bear the pain,’ she says. The conventional medical approach revolves around the used of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. While these drugs may be effective in controlling pain, there is evidence that their use is related to an increased rate of the degeneration of the joint cartilage. Another downside in their side effects. Inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the digestive tract and nausea are common.

    Last autumn, a friend of Trish’s told her about the herb Cat’s Claw from Peru. It is a popular treatment for arthritis in both North and South America. The herb is named Cat’s Claw because it has claw like barbs on it’s branches to climb trees.

Cat’s Claw contains substances with proven anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects. ‘Within three weeks, I knew my conditions was improving,’ says Tish. ‘The ache in my bones goes soon after I take the Cat’s Claw, my joints are less painful and I can move more easily. It’s great to get relief without the usual side effects.’