Respiratory: Helps with allergy, asthma

Cardiovascular: Decreases blood pressure by dilating blood vessels

Gastrointestinal: May help with stomach problems: ulcers, hemorrhoids, may help in Crohn's, oral candidiasis

Musculoskeletal: Helps with osteoarthritis (Uncaria guianensis) and rheumatoid arthritis (Uncaria tomentosa)

Neurological: Chronic fatigue

Skin: Speeds healing of genital and oral herpes, shingles, eczema, psoriasis

Glucose: May aid in the control of diabetes

Immunity: Helps build immunity

Cancer: May help fight cancer

Infectious Disease: AIDS

Other: Possibly antimutagenic - repairs DNA, helps prevent blood clots

                                                       *   *   *

SIDE EFFECTS: Abdominal pain and/or distention, kidney problems, stomach disturbances, fatigue, headache, insomnia, blood disorders, neuropathy, hives

CAUTIONS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:  Autoimmune diseases, bleeding disorders, low blood pressure, leukemia, while taking other medications metabolized by the P450 3A4 enzyme system for example lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra)

FORMS: Extract, capsules, tablets, tinctures, cream, tea, spray, gel

DOSAGES: As directed

Reported doses - often NOT supported by evidence (reported by various sources (WebMD, RxList, Epocrates, German Commission E, NIH publications and others). Read dosages and instructions carefully when available on the label.

• Eczema: Spray 6x/day

• Cancer: 100 mg by mouth 3 times a day

• Oral candidiasis: Topical 2.5% gel 2.5 ml topically 3 times a day

• Osteoarthritis: 100 mg by mouth once daily or 300 mg by mouth 3 times a day

• Psoriasis: 1 spray 6 times a day

• Rheumatoid arthritis: 20 mg by mouth 3 times a day (with sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine)

*Disclaimer: The material above is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose or treat a condition. The uses listed above are tentative; some have or are undergoing research trials, but many are not FDA-approved. It is essential that you investigate these supplements further before deciding to use them. Check interactions and contraindications on sites like Drugs.com or WebMD. Do not attempt to treat a serious condition like liver, kidney problems, high blood pressure, heart, cancer, diabetes, or thyroid issues without discussing it with a healthcare provider first. If you are pregnant, do not use supplements without discussing it with your healthcare provider.