Vilcacora – Uncaria tomentosa – or Uña de Gato – grows in the tropical forests of the Amazon. It is a light brown climbing plant, mistakenly considered a liana. There are thorns at the base of each pair of leaves. Because of them, the plant is called a “cat’s claw”. Due to its properties, Vilcacora was considered by the Incas to be a holy plant. Many Native American legends speak of her work. The bark is mainly used as a medicine, but only its inner part contains all the necessary components. The bark of the tree has been used in Peruvian phytotherapy for centuries by the locals in ethnic medicine, and information about its properties has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, it is popular in the world, because the substances contained in it can have beneficial effects on the organism, help its proper function, mitigate the consequences of poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle and environment.

A legend from the time of the Ashaninks

The Indians in the Amazon rainforest have known the local medicinal herbs and their effects since time immemorial and passed them on from generation to generation in the form of legends and myths. Of the many myths about Uña de Gato, the most common is this:

One night at full moon and in the presence of Kashiri, the supreme god of the Ashaninks, a hunter set out to find food for his family. After long hours of unsuccessful hunting, forces began to leave him. In it he saw a huge puma scraping the bark of a tree with the force of its claws and then drinking the sap that was dripping from the scratched bark. Surprised by this scene, after leaving the puma, he approached the tree, which curiously resembled the steel claws of a puma with its growths. Out of curiosity and for refreshment, he also drank sap and fell asleep. After a deep dream, he got up and went hunting again. A huge armadillo ran into his path, which he immediately skillfully killed with an arrow. The Ashaninks did not see this as a coincidence, but as evidence of the magical, healing and revitalizing power of the Uña de Gato tree. Since then, the Indians have valued this plant and used them for various treatments. Moreover, they respect the puma, because it was she through whom the god Kashiri gave them the knowledge of Uña de Gato. They continue to fear her, but they no longer hunt her so that God will not be angry and let them perish from hunger and various diseases.

Usage

Grind 1 – 2 pieces of bark with a knife, pour about 0.7 liters of cold water and, let it come to boil and cook on low heat for 20 minutes. Strain. Drink lukewarm, one glass three times a day, one hour before or after a meal.