Devil's Claw Botanical name: Harpagophytum procumbens Skip to: Botany Helpful for Traditional use How it works Amount to take Side effects & interactions Parts used and where grown Devil’s claw is a native plant of southern Africa, especially the Kalahari desert, Namibia and the island of Madagascar. The name devil’s claw is derived from the herb’s unusual fruits, which are covered with numerous small claw-like appendages. The secondary storage roots, or tubers, of the plant are used in herbal supplements.1 Devil’s claw has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information): Health Concerns Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Indigestion Low back pain Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies) Numerous tribes native to southern Africa have used devil’s claw for a wide variety of conditions, ranging from gastrointestinal difficulties to arthritic conditions. Devil’s claw has been widely used in Europe as a treatment for arthritis. Active constituents The devil’s claw tuber contains three important constituents belonging to the iridoid glycoside family: harpagoside, harpagide, and procumbide. The secondary tubers of the herb contain twice as much harpagoside as the primary tubers and are the chief source of devil’s claw used medicinally. Harpagoside and other iridoid glycosides found in the plant may be responsible for the herb’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. However, research has not entirely supported the use of devil’s claw in alleviating arthritic pain symptoms. In one trial it was found to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis as effectively as the slow-acting analgesic/cartilage-protective drug diacerhein. One double-blind study reported that devil’s claw (600 or 1200 mg per day) was helpful in reducing low back pain. Devil’s claw is also considered by herbalists to be a potent bitter. Bitter principles, like the iridoid glycosides found in devil’s claw, can be used in combination with carminative (gas-relieving) herbs by people with indigestion, but not heartburn. How much is usually taken? As a digestive stimulant, 1.5–2 grams per day of the powdered secondary tuber are used. For tincture, the recommended amount is 1–2 ml three times daily. For osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, 4.5–10 grams of powder are used per day. Alternatively, standardized extracts, 1,200–2,500 mg per day, may be taken. Are there any side effects or interactions? Since devil’s claw promotes the secretion of stomach acid, anyone with gastric or duodenal ulcers, heartburn, gastritis, or excessive stomach acid should not use the herb. Additionally, people with gallstones should consult a physician before taking devil’s claw.