Catsclaw a perennial, is characterized as being a 3 to 10 foot tall shrub but may develop into an upright tree 25 to 30 feet tall. It is often thicket forming and has numerous spreading, slender thorny branches. The brown, stout, "claw like" thorns are about 0.25 inch long. The bark is gray to black. Numerous creamy-yellow flowers occur in 1.25 to 2.5 inch long spikes. The stiff and papery gray-brown legume-type fruits are 2 to 5.5 inches long, 0.5 to 0.75 inch wide, curved or contorted, flattened and constricted between seeds.

Propagation:

Catsclaw acacia reproduces sexually by producing an abundance of seeds. Vegetative regeneration (sprouting) occurs following damage to above-ground portion of plant. Catclaw acacia flowers are pollinated by insects and begin to produce seed between 4 to six years of age. It has shown varying success when transplanted. Seedlings can be nursery grown in tall containers to accommodate deep root systems. In California, seed collected in field exhibited good germination without any special treatment in fall or spring.

Catsclaw acacia has flowers in yellow, cylindrical spikes. The flowers and leaves of this plant resemble mesquite, but cats claw thorns are like rose thorns, broad at base and curved backward while mesquite thorns are straight. The seed pods of catsclaw split upon maturing mesquite pods do not. Photos provided by and copyrighted to: NatureSongs

Preparation:

Gather pods when still green and dry leaves and branches over a paper as leaves often fall off while hanging. The longer distal roots, chopped into small segments while moist. The gum is gathered same way as mesquite gum and flowers are dried. The green leaves, stems, and pods are powdered for tea (standard infusion) or for topical application; roots are best used as a cold standard infusion, warmed for drinking and gargling.

Medicinal Uses: Pods are used for conjunctivitis in same manner as mesquite pods and gum, although catsclaw is harder to harvest it is used in same way as mesquite gum. The powdered pods and leaves make an excellent infused tea (2-4 ounces of standard infusion every three hours) for diarrhea and dysentery, as well as a strongly astringent hemostatic and antimicrobial wash. The straight powder will stop superficial bleeding and can also be dusted into moist, chafed body folds and dusted on infants for diaper rash. The flowers and leaves as a simple tea are good anti-inflammatory for stomach and esophagus in nausea, vomiting, and hangovers. It is distinctly sedative. The root is thick and mucilaginous as a tea and is good for sore throat and mouth inflammations as well as dry raspy coughing.

People who have used this plant: Catsclaw has been used by Native Americans for treating sore backs and flanks of their horses. There has been no specific information on cultural practices concerning catsclaw. Most sources indicate that plant has been used by many groups in southwestern United States.

Bibliography Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; pgs., 204-205. Indian Uses of Native Plants, by Edith Van Allen Murphey, pg., 39. The Herb Book, by John Lust, pgs., 87, 543, 575-576. Webster's New World Dictionary Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, pg., 6.

Tip #6: Easy 6-pack abs

I have been doing 100 abs a day since I was a teenager. As a result I have a 6-pack without having to sweat over abs sessions at gym. Those who know my approach to body strengthening know I am a *lazy* person when it comes to getting in shape. How long do 100 abs take to perform? Depending on move and speed with which you do them, it will take you anywhere between 90 seconds to 3 mn. Hardly un-squeezable! You don't really need to warm up before such a short session therefore you can decide when to do them without having to re-arrange your day around this very very short session. Suggestions per day: 20 straight crunches (your hand supporting your head, not lifting it). 20 straight crunches with a stop of one second at mid- raise. 40 bicycle moves alternating right elbow/left knee and left elbow/right knee. 20 seconds in V-Pilates position: you rest on your bottom in a balanced position with your legs straightened out and your arms reaching out straight and parallel to your legs. This sequence allows for deep abs (V-Pilates), superficial abs (crunches) and obliques (bicycle) to be worked on every single day.

Tip #7: Short is good!

As part of My Private Coach weight loss approach, mini- workouts (or MetaBoost as I call them) can do wonders for those who don't feel like sweating for hours in a gym. "Something is really better than nothing. If I come in and I can work out vigorously for 30 minutes, I would consider giving it a try," said Dr. William L. Haskell, an exercise researcher and professor of medicine at Stanford University. The express workouts typically require only one set of 8 to 12 repetitions instead of 2 or 3 sets of 8 to 16 repetitions that physiologists recommend for an optimum workout. " Copyright Associate Press - 12/15/2003 Still, these MetaBoost workouts should come in addition to daily 60 recommended minutes of accumulated exercise. Write to info@myprivatecoach.com if you wish to receive FREE MetaBoost cards.

Tip #8 : 10,000 steps a day keep doctor away!

Invest in a pedometer and make sure you are getting these famous 10,000 steps I have been brainwashing you for past weeks! 10,000 steps start when you wake up. Wear your pedometer on your waist a all times. 10,000 = 3 miles = 300 calories approx (a little bit less than a bagel). Take advantage of all opportunities to walk: choose your lunch place 10 mn further, get off bus 1 stop before, take a 5 mn break every hour or so and go a *around block walk*. Everything counts towards this daily goal. You will not lose weight (this is not enough really) but you will prevent new pounds from accumulating and you will improve your general health. No sweating required!

Tip #9: Invisible chair day

Each time you get to be by yourself, sit against a wall without a chair and hold position for 1 minute. Try to do this 3 times a day. This count as a strength exercise and will help shape nice thighs. Feel free to apply this tip on other days as well!

Tip #10: How to get a really flat stomach with no abs work

Each time you walk, think about sucking in your stomack (lower and upper part). This will work deep abominal muscles that NO crunch work can reach. This will help you get a REALLY flat stomach. No sweating required!