Both are certain plant substances that occur naturally in cat's claw. Many plant substances in cat's claw (especially POAs) are associated with immune system-modulating and strengthening abilities. In contrast, TOAs unfortunately also promote excessive and therefore unhealthy immune reactions, such as those that occur in allergies or autoimmune diseases. This of course significantly limits the possible uses of cat's claw.

However, a TOA-free cat's claw preparation would fully exploit the positive immune-modulating and immune-strengthening effects of cat's claw without the risk of excessive immune reactions.

For this reason, the Austrians were naturally extremely pleased with their discovery. They recognized the potential that the use of a TOA-free cat's claw preparation offered, especially for autoimmune diseases, allergies or chronic infections. But there was a problem: they were unable to identify the TOA-free cat's claw in the Amazon rainforest. Externally, it did not differ at all from its TOA-containing relatives.

So the Austrians stopped their search and developed a chemical process to remove the TOAs from the cat's claw. Meanwhile, a naturally TOA-free cat's claw was hiding in the vastness of the untouched Amazon, which would only be discovered much later.

Over the next few years, Tim was drawn back to the jungle, where he spent a lot of time with the locals. He learned about their customs, stories and beliefs - and their medicinal plants, in which the cat's claw played a central role.

In Peru, he also met his future wife Bertha. When the two later moved back to the USA, their mission was clear: They wanted to make powerful medicinal plants from the Amazon available to everyone and at the same time support people in the poorest countries in the world . The company NutraMedix USA was born from this vision.

When they launched the first cat's claw products in 1993, they remembered the Austrians' story. Of course, they could sense the great potential of the TOA-free cat's claw, but they did not believe they would be able to find it. Apparently, this special cat's claw was only available in small quantities and was hidden among its TOA-containing counterparts. So they decided to sell the traditional cat's claw.

Nevertheless, news of NutraMedix cat's claw spread quickly and they had great success with their company. Between 1995 and 1999, they brought over 1,000 tons of cat's claw to market, which they offered in various forms: as capsules, powdered extract or bark pieces.

Their customers included not only consumers but also wholesalers for some of the world's largest nutritional supplement brands. Tim and Bertha donated fifty percent of their profits directly to their mission projects in South America.

Until everything changed in 1999 with a phone call. It was from the head of the laboratory that was chemically analyzing her cat's claw. "I'm on my way to you," he said to Tim, "I have some exciting news for you!"

Two hours later, Tim learned that the current batch was an extremely rare form of cat's claw. It was naturally TOA-free. He could hardly believe his luck: they had found it without even looking for it.

But in addition to the overwhelming joy, it was also the incredible potential of this cat's claw that Tim and Bertha recognized at that moment. That's why they decided to only sell this valuable gift to direct consumers and medical professionals.

But would they manage to find the source of the TOA-free cat's claw? Or would it be like the Austrians and this special find would remain a one-off event?

Luckily, that didn't happen. With the help of the locals, they managed to locate the TOA-free trees in the depths of the jungle.

And that was the moment when Tim remembered what the locals called cat's claw: Samento. This would become the name for the only TOA-free cat's claw preparation on the market.