Gou Teng (Uncaria rhynchophylla), the Chinese cat's claw, is a woody climbing vine of the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to southern China and Japan. It scrambles through forest trees with glossy, opposite leaves and pairs of curved, hook-like spines at the leaf nodes, which give the Chinese name meaning "hook vine". Small yellowish flowers form globe-shaped heads. The hooked stems are cut into short pieces that are reddish-brown and smooth. We extract the dried stalk.
Tincture or alcohol-free drops?
Both start from the same dried plant material and cold maceration. The tincture uses organic alcohol
as the solvent, keeps for years and is the classic herbal form. The alcohol-free drops (glycerite) use
vegetable glycerin and purified water, taste mildly sweet and suit anyone avoiding alcohol. The amount of
dried herb per serving is printed on each label.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare provider before using any herbal supplement.