Cats Claw – for Better Health & Immune System Protection
May 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Supplements And Vitamins
Cats Claw may not be as well known as some other herbs but the protection it can give to the body and its overall health benefits have seen it rise dramatically in popularity.
Let’s take a closer look at Cats Claw and its immense health benefits.
Description
Cat’s Claw is a tropical woody vine that grows in the rain forests and jungles of Peru and has been referred to as “Miracle Herb of the Rain Forest “.
The vine derives its name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves, which look like a cat’s claw.
Medical research
It has been drawing increasingly more interest among the proponents of natural health care and Cats
Claw has been the subject of medical research since the 1970′s.
These studies suggest that Cats Claw may help in the treatment of:
Arthritis, bursitis, allergies, diabetes, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, herpes, organic depression, menstrual problems and also beneficial for conditions of the stomach and intestines.
Protection of the immune system
Cats Claw is proven to boost the immune system.
Cat’s claw is valued largely because of its immune-building properties and although not as well known as more popular herbs such as Echinacea, goldenseal, Pau D’Arco, garlic, and ginseng is seen as being just as important.
With the spread of HIV medical research has intensified in this area as well.
Active ingredients
The active ingredients in Cat’s Claw are alkaloids, tannins and several other phytochemicals such as oxinole alkaloids, triterpines, glycosides, and sterols. These phytochemicals have adaptogenic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Health Benefits
• Helps the body fight off infections by helping the body’s immune system
• Helps Protect the body against degenerative diseases and aging
• Seen to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks by reducing the heart rate lowering blood pressure, improving circulation as well as controlling cholesterol
• Used to treat and protect against arthritis and rheumatism, as well as, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, PMS, lupus, and prostrate problems
• Used in the treatment of cancer, acne, diverticulitis, parasites, hemorrhoids, as well as varicose veins.
• Helps treat digestive disorders including ulcers, gastritis, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and conditions involving chronic inflammation
• Used in the treatment of herpes infections
• Acts as an all round powerful antioxidant to help protect the body from free radicals.
When looking at essential herbs to take for better overall health don’t overlook Cats Claw, as we have seen its benefits are immense.
Cat Health And Cat Care Of Cat Skin And Cat Organs
Cats have a dry skin just like humans. The fur on their body protects them from exposure to elements such as dirt. For pet cats that have dry skin, it is advisable to use moisturizing or soap-free products. Cats normally develop skin problems such as Seborrhea. The best way to treat this disorder is to use medicated shampoo.
Sensory Organs:
Cats have the great qualities. They are better than human beings in seeing things and hearing sounds around them. They smell and feel the nature very well. Due to these abilities, cats were often mistaken to possess black magic. The current era does not suspect cats of having an influence over the supernatural powers. It is necessary to know cats’ sense, which may help in understanding their behavior much better.
1. Sight: Cats have a good night vision. Where there is no enough light, cats see much better than humans. However, they are not able see in complete darkness. This ability comes at the cost of daytime vision, which is beneficial for nocturnal predators. Actually, cats fail to see distant objects at daytime. People know little about the colors that cats see visibly. Science says that, they can identify some of the colors than humans do. With their eyes, cats detect faster movement of things in their surroundings. On the other hand, it is hard for them to pay attention on slow moving objects.
2. Sound: Cats have very sharp ears. Even when fast asleep, cats trace the noisy sounds of small rodents. Their ability to hear sounds is three times as high as that of human beings. Cats move their large ears sideways to capture the sound more accurately. For this, they first locate the place from where the sound actually comes. While chasing the target, they sometimes pause to listen and determine the location of their prey.
3. Smell: Cats largely depend on their sense of smell. They always sniff their food before eating. Smelling things is the essential part of feline communication. There is a mechanism at the top of their mouth, which makes possible for them to analyze smell. With the help of this mechanism, cats twist their lips, open their mouth, and express disgust over certain things.
4. Taste: Cats use this sense to decide the foods good for them. They are truly carnivores. As such, their sense of taste best lies in recognizing fat and protein. Unlike dogs, cats prefer to stay away from sweets. In addition, cats do not respond well to the taste of salt. Experts suggest the reason behind this as, cats get enough salt from the meat food.
5. Touch: Cats have touch receptors all over their body. These receptors are nerve cells that transfer sensations of pain, pressure and temperature from any point to the brain. The nerve cells are concentrated mainly on their front paws and face. The hair, covering body of cats, help them to stay alert even on the slightest touch of air passing by.
10 Minutes to Train Your Cat
If you have a cat – or more than one cat – then you’re in the market for some quick and easy training tips. The following tips . . . tricks . . . and techniques cover a variety of situations that most cat owners encounter.
The key to effective training is consistency. Whatever you choose, be sure to do it on regularly, otherwise, you’ll be sending your cat mixed signals. And that will only make it that much harder to train her. Forget about cat training in 10 minutes!
Below are ten “must have” tips that will get you through your initial phase cat ownership.
1. Cats really don’t care that you punish them. It’s true. If you’ve owned a dog, you know that punishing him will help change his behavior. It doesn’t with cats. Bottom line. Don’t waste your time. They’ll sit there purring at you and just perform that same behavior again.
2. Corporal punishment is out of the question. Because a cat’s body is so delicate, you can’t “spank” a cat the way you do a dog to get its attention. That means when you’re training your cat, you have to match wits with it. Don’t worry. I’m confident you’ll win. There are things out there like cat clicker training, but I don’t recommend it.
3. Use a form of positive reinforcement. As you become a seasoned cat owner, you’ll discover that it’s difficult to catch your cat in the actual “crime”. It’s far easier, then, to reward your cat when you see her performing a right behavior. Keep some cat “treats” on hand. Feed one to your cat whenever she is doing something positive – like using the litter box or using her scratching post.
4. Keep plenty of toys – either store bought or make shift – around the house. Much of the “bad” behavior of cats is simply because they’re board. The feline is by nature a predatory animal. Remember the scene in the Disney movie, The Lion King, where little Simba gets “pouncing lessons.” When you think your cat is literally bouncing off the walls and tearing down the curtains, he’s only practicing his predatory skills. Provide him with alternatives and he’ll tame down – at least some.
5. When you’re away, keep him busy. If your cat is used to company, he may get bored and inadvertently destruction while you’re at work or are gone for any length of time. Here’s a quick hint. Buy a timer for your television set, make sure the TV is tuned to an animal-friendly channel (an outdoor channel or Animal Planet for instance) and then have the television automatically turn on at different times of the day. Cats can see images on the screen. He’ll come to investigate the noise and stay to watch the picture – at least for a while.
6. The value of a spray bottle of water. In some instances, spraying a cat with a harmless water bottle is enough to get their attention and stop the bad behavior. You only need a simple spray bottle that you use for misting plants. ****** the cat if it misbehaves. Soon, he’ll know that he can’t do that.
7. Blow a harmless puff of air in your cat’s face. Yes, this sounds crazy, but it really works. If your cat is literally in your face and you need to teach him to keep a certain distance and give you some space, try it. Blow a puff of air into his face. It’ll startle and puzzle him. Soon, he’ll associate the two and you won’t be bothered by the unpleasant attention he gives you.
8. Make sure you cat has “a room with a view”. You know what they say, “curiosity killed the cat.” More appropriately, an irate owner went berserk over something a bored cat got into. Much of the bad behavior of your cat is simply due to his innate curiosity. Make sure he has a ledge or window sill that he can sit in comfortably to check out the birds and squirrels in your yard. If your window sill isn’t large enough for him to sit for extended periods, you can by an extension at the pet store. Or, if someone you know is handy, you can make your own.
9. Spend quality time with your cat. As a training technique, this may sound a bit unorthodox. But, it’s really a savvy move on your part. The more time you spend with your kitty, the better you’ll be able to communicate with her. Cats definitely have a form of communication skills that involves more than just “talking.” The better you know your cat – and just as importantly, the better your cat knows you – you’ll be able “to read her mind”. You’ll just “know” when she’s considering an improper move. And she’ll know when you disapprove just by reading your body language and the look on your face.
10. Confine the aggressive cat. Reward the victim. Got more than one cat? Then you probably have that occasional “cat fight.” Felines are territorial animals. They will get into a fight now and then over their “catdom.” If you view the fight, your first step is to disengage the action. Using a water sprayer is the best method. ****** the aggressor. Try to avoid ********* the victim. After that, confine the “bully” in a less attractive space. In the meantime, reward the cat who didn’t attack – even when she was being attacked. Give her a treat and let her free roam the house. When you do put this pair of felines together again, try to keep them as supervised as possible.
These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg when you’re training your cat. As you and your pet begin to know each better, you’ll discover a language of your own. It may be through speech – you talk and she meows. But more than likely, the two of you will eventually be able to read each other’s body language. You’ll soon learn the subtle nuances of this very effective form of communication . . . and teaching your cat what she needs to know will be easier than you can ever imagine.
The History of the Domestic Cat
Cats have always been very fascinating creatures and they are no less so today. They have become one of the worlds most sought after pets over the years as they are perfectly suited to the lifestyles of everyone. Independent, beautiful and easily cared for, cats are the ideal pet for many people.
Lions and tigers, today’s wild cats, descended from miacids, which were early carnivores. The wild cat developed into 3 main types of cats. These are the European wild cat, the African Wild Cat, and the Asiatic Desert Cat. The African Wild Cat is believed to have evolved into the domestic cat due to the Tabby markings they possess.
The domestic cats of today still show many of their wild ancestors’ traits. Those intelligent, almost human appearing eyes, their body shape as well as their feeding and grooming habits all come from these ancestors. They also possess the ability to spring into action at a moment’s notice. These are some of the characteristics that seem to make the cat so fascinating.
Cats were first domesticated around 4,000 years ago. The first people to realize the value of keeping cats were the Ancient Egyptians. They used them to protect their stores of food from vermin and other pests. The cats were also quite revered by the Egyptians as hunters, as well as being worshipped as gods and goddesses. Cats living in Ancient Egypt were quite safe as anyone who dared to kill a cat was put to death. In addition, cats were mummified upon death before they were buried.
It wasn’t long before other ancient civilizations began to domesticate cats. Tame felines made their way to Italy and spread throughout Europe from there. Shorthaired domestic cats began in Egypt and longhaired cats had their origins in Turkey and Iran. Domestic cats also began spreading over the world from India and into China and Japan. Eventually, the Pilgrims brought domestic cats to the New World with them. Aside from a brief period of time during the Middle Ages, when some people believed cats to be in league with the devil, they had become the most popular house pets in the world.
There are 36 recognized breeds throughout the world, with the Siamese being at the top of the list. However, it is the non-pedigree domestic cat called the mixed breed that seems to be the most popular among house pets. Of these, the black and white cat is the most popular, with the solid black cat and Tabby following respectively. With the evolution of these cats, it is very difficult to find homes today that do not boast at least 1 cat as a pet.
Top Five Cat Breeds
Choosing a cat breed can be a bit daunting, especially if you don’t know very much about cats! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. Some breeds require more physical activity than others, and some require much more grooming. Look below to find the top five most popular cat breeds. You will also find a brief description about each breed’s grooming requirements and personality type.
The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. This breed is a very intelligent, loyal companion and tends to bond deeply with its family. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.
The American Shorthair is extremely popular with families, as they tend to be very affectionate and friendly. The American shorthair originally was a working breed, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the agile muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.
The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. It is perhaps best recognized by its blue eyes, white body, and smoky-brown face, ears, legs, and tail. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with long, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. They are affectionate without being too needy.
If you’re looking for a very affectionate, cuddly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they look like they have no fur, they actually have a peach-like fuzz all over their body. As they don’t have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. This breed does require a bit of extra care, particularly with room temperature, as this breed can easily become too cold.
A very mild and gentle cat breed is the Ragdoll, appropriately named such as it can be quite floppy and relaxed when picked up. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very careful not to use teeth or claws when playing around, so they would also make an excellent cat for children.
Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren’t very active, you probably shouldn’t choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa.
Cat Teeth Care Can Save a Heart!
We all know we need to keep our cat’s teeth clean to prevent widespread illness and infections, right? But just how do we do this peacefully, without undue stress on ourselves and our pet?
My cats have been trained since kittens to allow me to gently wipe their teeth with a piece of clean gauze every 2 days.
A neighbor’s cat had dental problems that were left untreated because she could not afford it. The pet succumbed to bacterial infection that affected its heart. She was devastated.
Dental disease affects the teeth as well as bloodstream, carrying bacteria throughout the animal’s body, which negatively affects its liver, kidneys, heart and lungs.
As a result, I decided to do all I could to ensure that in between annual dental visits I would give the best at home teeth carepossible. I never realized dental care for cats is so important.
I knew they wouldn’t allow me to use a toothbrush, however small it might be.
Therefore, I began using a dental spray, in its liquid form in an eye dropper, that was much easier to administer. It has no side effects, human grade ingredients and almost tasteless.It actually dissolves the tartar and keeps their gums healthy. I was desperate to try anything because their tartar build up was phenomenal in such a short time.
They have an annual dental check up. However the build up was always at stage 2 or 3 and would cost me $350 to $500 each. I had to do something to keep the vet bill down.
I had no idea I could buy a product that helped decrease tartar and dental expense.I don’t want to take a chance that my being unable to afford dental care would adversely affect my pets.
There are some dry foods that purport its advantage in assisting to remove tarter. However some cats, like one of mine, cannot eat dry food because of urinary tract issues. So having an alternative available that doesn’t require brushing is a definite plus.
In summation, proper teeth care at home can save your cat’s heart, kidneys and lungs.








