Cat's Claw is an Amazonian vine whose bark and root calm inflammation and adjust immune activity. The clearest human signal is short-term relief of arthritis joint pain. Brain-protection and longevity claims rest on laboratory work only. Effects are real but modest and uncertain, and depend heavily on the specific extract. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| hs-CRP | < 1.0 mg/L | Tracks systemic inflammation, the main target of the vine |
| IL-6 | Low-normal per lab | Inflammatory signal shown to fall in animal meta-analysis |
| Blood pressure | < 120/80 mmHg | Detects additive hypotension with antihypertensives |
| Complete blood count with differential | Within lab reference range | Monitors white-cell changes given immunomodulatory action |
| eGFR | > 90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Screens for the rare kidney-injury concern |
| ALT/AST | < 25 U/L (functional) | Confirms no liver stress from the botanical |
Cadence: Baseline, then at 4–8 weeks, then every 6–12 months if use continues; more frequently for anyone on interacting medications.