Devil’s Claw - Don't Let The Name Fool You

Devil’s Claw, also known as Grapple Plant and Wood Spider, is a plant native to southern Africa, found growing in locations such as Namibia, the Kalahari Desert, and the island of Madagascar. Its name comes from the herbs’ unusual fruits, which are covered with small claw-like appendages. However, it is the roots, or tubers, of the plant that contain the active ingredients used in herbal preparations.

Devil’s Claw has been used in Africa for thousands of years for a variety of conditions such as fever, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, as well as conditions involving the pancreas, stomach, gallbladder and kidneys. Since its arrival in Europe in the early 1900’s, devil’s claw has been used to improve digestion and for mild joint pain.

Currently, the primary use of devil’s claw is for conditions which cause inflammation and pain such as:

• Back and neck pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Tendinitis

In laboratory and human studies, harpagoside, one of the active ingredients in devil’s claw has been shown to reduce inflammation. It appears to work in the same way as Cox-2 anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex and also produces changes in leukotrienes, another group of molecules involved in inflammation.

In a study published in the journal Rheumatology, devil’s claw extract providing 60 mg harpagosides per day was compared to 12.5 mg per day of the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx (which is now off the market). The study included 79 patients with an acute exacerbation of low back pain and lasted for six weeks. The study showed devil’s claw to be as effective as Vioxx in reducing pain.

Another study compared devil’s claw to a placebo. It was a four-week study of 197 people with back pain rated at 5/10 or higher on the pain scale. The patients either received a standardized daily dose of 50 or 100 mg harpagosides or a placebo. Devil’s claw was shown to reduce pain more than the placebo. This study was published in European Journal of Anesthesiology.
And according to a study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, devil’s claw accounted for 74 percent of the prescriptions for rheumatism in Germany with sales estimated to be $30 million Euros in 2001.

Devil’s claw is popular as a tonic for the relief of digestive problems as well as constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Devil’s claw has also shown to be effective as an appetite stimulant.

Externally, devil’s claw has been used as an ointment in connection with sores, boils, and ulcers.

Devil’s claw is available in capsule, tincture, and tea form. Capsule form is usually taken for inflammation and pain; 600 to 1,200 milligrams, standardized to contain 50 to 100 milligrams of harpagoside, by mouth three times per day has been used.
The liquid extract 0.10 to 0.25 milliliter has been used three times daily.

For indigestion and appetite loss, a tea is made by steeping one teaspoon of chopped or powdered dry root in two cups of boiling water for at least 20 minutes. The preparation is then strained and cooled.

If taken at the recommended dose for short periods of time, devil’s claw is relatively safe with almost no side effects. However, some individuals have reported mild gastrointestinal problems, low blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms. It is also unknown whether the use of devil’s claw for longer than three to four months is safe or effective.

Devil’s claw is not recommended for use by children as the dosing and safety of devil’s claw has not been studied thoroughly in children, and safety has not been established.

WARNING: As devil’s claw may act as a uterine stimulant, it is NOT TO BE TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY.