Gou Teng is the Chinese cat’s claw, Uncaria rhynchophylla, and it is a key component of the Buhner herbal protocol. Montana Farmacy’s tincture is the version I use, a traditional 1:5 extract in organic cane alcohol, handcrafted in small batches. In my practice it sits with the other Buhner herbs in ongoing herbal support plans.

What draws me to this herb is what it does for the nervous system. In traditional Chinese medicine it is a calming herb, used for settling agitation and easing muscle tension, and the modern research follows that thread. The alkaloids in the plant show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the lab, and early animal work points to nerve-protective effects. Many people who use it tell me they feel calmer and more rested, though the human research is limited./p>

The dosing I use is one dropper one to three times a day. Some people find it lowers blood pressure, so if yours already runs low, start with one dropper once a day and go slowly. This is not a days-long herb. Like the rest of the Buhner plan, it works over months of consistent use, and I keep people on it as long as the plan calls for it.

Know the cautions. I do not use it in pregnancy. Anyone on blood pressure medicine, or on psychiatric medication for that matter, should clear it with the prescriber first. It works inside a full plan, with sleep, food, movement, and the other herbs, not as a stand-alone. The human research base is thin; much of what we know is through lab work, animal models, and a long tradition of use.