Cat’s claw is a thick woody vine native to Peru, the Amazon rain forest and other tropical areas of South and Central America. Named for its hooked thorns, which resemble the claws of a cat, it can grow up to 98 feet (30 metres) tall. Cat’s claw has been used in traditional and cultural practices in South America for centuries. Indigenous to Peru, the Ashaninka Indians classified it as a 'powerful plant' and used it to restore health. The Ashaninka’s have used the root bark, and the stem bark as well, for generations. To the priests of this tribe cat’s claw is a sacred plant used to eliminate disturbance in the communication between body and spirit. 

Traditionally cat’s claw has been used in Peru in the form of aqueous or alcoholic infusions as an anti-inflammatory agent for arthritis, gastritis and other disturbances of the gastro-intestinal system, treatment of cancer and for different skin disorders. It is also used for diabetes, asthma, diseases of the urinary tract, wounds, premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularity and to recover from childbirth, as a tonic to ward off disease and as an abortifacient. 

A randomised clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of cat’s claw in reducing the adverse effects of chemotherapy concluded that it is an effective adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most frequent tumour affecting women worldwide. Some of the recommended treatments involve chemotherapy which has toxic effects including leukopenia and neutropenia (similar blood conditions that both involve low white blood cell counts). Forty patients with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma-Stage II, who underwent a treatment regimen known as FAC (Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide), were divided into two groups: the cat’s claw group received chemotherapy plus 300mg of dry cat’s claw extract per day and the cancer group that only received chemotherapy and served as the control experiment. Blood samples were collected before each one of the six chemotherapy cycles and blood counts, immunological parameters, antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress were analysed. Cat’s claw reduced the neutropenia (not enough neutrophils - a type of white blood cell that play a key role in the body's immune system) caused by chemotherapy and was also able to restore cellular DNA damage. Cat’s claw stimulates the immune system meaning increased resistance to immunosuppression which can be caused by chemotherapy, stress and malnutrition. Unfortunately the cytotoxic action of chemotherapy is not directed just at cancer cells, and so healthy cells are also damaged. This study demonstrates that cat’s claw can potentially strengthen the body’s innate defences and help improve the quality of life for patients overall.

References

Allen L, Buckner A, Buckner CA, Cano P, Lafrenie RM. Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex

Schult.) DC (Rubiaceae) Sensitizes THP-1 Cells to Radiation-induced Cell Death.

Pharmacognosy Res. 2017 Jul-Sep;9(3):221-229. doi: 10.4103/pr.pr_83_16.

Farias I, do Carmo Araújo M, Zimmermann ES, Dalmora SL, Benedetti AL, Alvarez-Silva M, et al. Uncaria tomentosa stimulates the proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Sep 1;137(1):856-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.011. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Keplinger K, Laus G, Wurm M, Dierich MP, Teppner H. Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC.--ethnomedicinal use and new pharmacological, toxicological and botanical results. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Jan;64(1):23-34.

Santos Araújo Mdo C, Farias IL, Gutierres J, Dalmora SL, Flores N, Farias J, de Cruz I, Chiesa J, Morsch VM, Chitolina Schetinger MR. Uncaria tomentosa-Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer: Clinical Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:676984. doi: 10.1155/2012/676984. Epub 2012 Jun 28. PMID: 22811748; PMCID: PMC3395261.

Happy New Year and a warm welcome to 2025. We have some exciting news to share about a milestone in our journey. This year we are proudly celebrating 140 years of heritage, tradition and dedication to the healing power of nature. For more than a century, over six consecutive generations, the Herbal Extract Company has grown with demand by embracing science while staying true to traditional herbal medicine and family values. From our humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the herbal medicine industry in Australia our story is one of passion, perseverance and unwavering belief in pure plant power.

We may be called the Herbal Extract Company of Australia but we started in Africa in the late 1880s. The Shume family were originally English but in the late 19th Century they emigrated by ship seeking better health. Our company founder Lyndsay Shume’s family settled in Toowoomba in Australia and his great uncle William Shume went to Durban in South Africa. It was there on a farm in 1885 that William’s wife, Henrietta Shume, used blood purifying wild plants foraged from the veld to treat sick animals. When Henrietta found growths in her breast, and operations failed to manage them, she turned to the plants and the growths disappeared. Henrietta went on to manufacture and supply this herbal remedy to chemist shops and subsequently formed the South African Herbal Association. When Lyndsay’s grandfather Henry Shume received letters, and a small herbal remedy book, written by Henrietta he was inspired to pursue herbalism in Australia.

Henry’s son, Archie Shume, carried on the legacy by gathering plants from the Australian bush to treat his own patients. In 1938, just before World War II, Archie's son Lyndsay was born. These were the days when you could not just go and buy herbs from a shop so, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention and Lyndsay began his practical herbal apprenticeship at the age of five picking herbs with his father in the mornings to make herbal medicines. In the 1960s Lyndsay married his wife Helen (nee Smith) and studied by correspondence with the English college National Institute of Medicinal Herbalists (NIMH). Archie died unexpectedly in 1975 and Lyndsay, who was 36 at the time, became overwhelmed with trying to make the herbs for all the hundreds of patients. Lyndsay realised that if he was having difficulties keeping his dispensary full with supplies then his peers were most likely having the same issues. The seed was planted that it would be beneficial to have good quality herbs commercially available for all herbalists. So when the owner of a herbal manufacturing and wholesale business retired in 1988 Lyndsay took the opportunity to realise his dream and bought the business in Sydney. In 1993 we were registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration and while we had always done sensory testing right from the beginning things then became more technical.

Lyndsay is in his 80s now and the day to day running of the business is with his family including his daughters, Annette and Lyndall, and grandson Matt. Lyndsay has stayed in the herbal business all his life and when we asked him why, he said it’s because he sees people constantly being healed with herbs. From Henrietta's initial discovery to Lyndsay's vision for a reliable source of high-quality herbs, the Herbal Extract Company has grown into a leading provider of liquid herbal medicine.

As we reflect on our rich history we are incredibly grateful for your continued trust and partnership and for sharing our passion for natural health. You have been a vital part of our success and we are more committed than ever to providing you with the highest quality, sustainable and efficacious liquid herbal extracts.

Here's to another year of growth, healing and commitment to wellbeing. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2025 and beyond.

New Years’ resolutions have been made and detox season has officially begun for those who ate, drank and were merry. So now it’s time to wake up and smell the dandelion root coffee. The humble dandelion, the bane of lawn owners all over the world, is the herbal ally for people who have been overindulging. Dandelion is highly nutritive, full of minerals and health promoting properties. Through its bitter principles dandelion root stimulates the production of bile and liver function. In the words of New Zealand herbalist Richard Whelan “the liver takes an enormous amount of the brunt of the stress of such lifestyles and, whilst of course they still have to address where they are doing harm, dandelion does a tremendous amount to help knit them back together in the meanwhile.

While occasional detox diets are helpful for a reboot, detoxification is something that is needed to support the body every single day, not just a couple of times each year. The body is equipped with detoxification systems that have been evolving and improving over millions of years and most of these are in the liver. The liver carries over 500 functions in the body and is considered the “master filter,” responsible for processing and filtering the blood in addition to helping detoxify chemicals from the body. When living in an environment where air quality, pollutants and water quality are more of a daily challenge, it is vital to ensure that the liver is functioning optimally. 

Adding a simple, daily liver-supportive herbal formula is an easy way to help promote healthy liver function amidst all of the additional challenges it faces when a healthy lifestyle has slipped by the wayside during the silly season. Herbalists celebrate dandelion as a supreme liver tonic as it excels at clearing excess heat (inflammation), clearing stagnation (congestion) and supporting detoxification of metabolic wastes. A simple alterative tonic recommended by herbalist, midwife and medical doctor Aviva Room combines one quarter of a teaspoon of dandelion root liquid extract in equal parts with burdock (Arctium lappa), globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.) and ginger (Zingiber officinale). Add these to a glass of sparkling water with lemon and drink 1-2 cups daily for a week, or as a digestive aid after meals.

References

Whelan R. Dandelion. c2011 R.J.Whelan Ltd (accessed 25 Nov 2024). Available

from https://rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs%20A-Z/dandelion.html

Romm A. Top Ten Foods and Herbs to Support Natural Detoxification. (accessed

26 Nov 2024). Available from https://avivaromm.com/detox-every-day/

Love Your Liver Herbal Tincture. The Herbal Academy (updated 11 May

2021;accessed 26 Nov 2024). Available from

https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/liver-tincture/

Cloves are intrinsically linked with Christmas as the heady spice is one of the key ingredients in mulled wine, festive hams and fragrant gingerbread. The powerful clove aroma is particularly associated with the Christmas tradition of making pomanders when oranges are studded with clove buds to make fragrance balls which scent houses and serve as festive decorations. The word clove actually comes from the Latin word clavus, meaning nail, since the shaft and head of the clove bud resembles a nail. 

Old fashioned clove pomanders are perfect for the holiday season. Gathered in bowls around the home, hung in windows with a scarlet ribbon to catch the warmth of the sun, or displayed on the tree, this lovely herbal craft offers a great way to relax and unwind while spending time together with family and friends, or enjoy a little respite time alone amidst the busyness of the season. They are a lovely fragrant gift to share with others to infuse the home with cheer. Cloves are also a key ingredient in the world-famous Worcestershire Sauce and a clove-studded onion can be added to warm milk when making a basic bread sauce. A teaspoon of ground cloves can be mixed into gingerbread dough for an extra spicy kick. 

One of the earliest known spices in trade, cloves are the dried unopened floral buds of an evergreen tree. The quest for cloves is one of those events that have shaped world history. They spurred expeditions and wars, created monopolies, generated fantastic wealth and created great suffering. In medieval Europe, when all spices were scarce, expensive cloves were seen as a sign of indulgence, a show of wealth and a rare prize reserved for special occasions like Christmas. Cloves were considered an internal warming herb which helped dispel cold. They were used as a tonic and stimulant, prescribed as a digestive aid and were a familiar powerful antiseptic. This led to them being used as a breath freshener by dignitaries at the Chinese imperial court during the Han dynasty (200BC). They are still used in toothpastes and gargles today and have been trusted by generations as a first aid remedy for toothache, and to treat inflammation in the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. They are also given for weak digestion to relieve nausea, vomiting and flatulence. 

References

Hemphill I. There’s More to Cloves than Christmas. Extract from Spice Notes.

c2024 Herbie’s Spices (updated 7 Nov 2024;accessed 25 Nov 2024). Available from

https://www.herbies.com.au/general/theres-more-to-cloves-than-

christmas/?srsltid=AfmBOorrMI_AjIV76cTRxfXgNx_CK8TfAqJdvS7ZliFfaB3PCl_sk

CaB

Justis A. Old-Fashioned Clove Pomanders. The Herbal Academy Holiday Maker’s

Magazine. theherbalacademy.com

Singletary K. Clove. Nutrition Today: July/August 2014;49(4):207-224 doi:

10.1097/NT.0000000000000036

As we make the final dash to the end of 2024 we encourage everyone to go gently, especially if you are feeling the weight of the year. And what better way to do that than by tying up those apron strings, pulling out the calming holiday botanicals and making magic in the kitchen because it’s officially the season to spread herbal joy.

With the holiday season approaching it’s time for many to gather with family, friends and loved ones. With these gatherings comes a lot of joy and happiness but it can also cause a certain amount of stress. Making the food, preparing for the gathering and not having a lot of downtime to recharge can put the nervous system under stress.

That’s where this Festive Chocolate Bark recipe comes in handy. When our bodies are stressed, medicinal mushrooms can help the body process, reset and ground. This impressive healthy chocolate bark recipe brings the festive season alive and will make an abundance of sweet treats with little effort. It’s the perfect last-minute gift for this time of year plus it's guilt free.

Season’s Greetings!

Ingredients:

· 1 cup cacao butter

· 2 tbsp honey

· 1/2 cup cacao

· 1/4 cup mesquite powder

· 2 tbsp maca powder

· 8mL Herbal Extract Company Lion's Mane 1:5 extract

· 8mL Herbal Extract Company Cordyceps 1:5 extract

· 8mL Herbal Extract Company Reishi 1:5 extract

Instructions

1. Sift and mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Melt cacao butter by stirring in a glass bowl over a saucepan of bubbling water.

3. Mix in honey.

4. Add cacao butter mixture to the dry ingredients bowl and combine.

5. Stir in mushroom extracts.

6. Pour into chocolate moulds or make a solid block on a lined tray.

7. Place in freezer for 30 minutes to one hour, or until set.

8. Break up chocolate bark, or remove chocolate from moulds.

Makes around 250g