| The fierce and scary-looking hooked spines of the seeds of Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) have evolved to catch onto the fur (or skin!) of animals to aid their distribution. In more ways than one this is a very tough plant indeed. It grows mainly in the Kalahari Desert and hasn’t been successfully cultivated elsewhere. It has very attractive red flowers and deep tuberous roots and makes best use of intermittent and unpredictable rainfall. As the demand for the tubers for medicine has increased worldwide, sustainable harvesting is now practiced in its native habitat, with only the tubers on one side of the plant being harvested per season. In Europe, since the early 1960s, interest in Devil’s claw’s medicinal potential have led to a growing number of clinical studies, mainly in Germany, whose results show evidence of health benefits. In fact, Devil's claw is one of the best-researched of herbal medicines. |
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Its mode of action has been largely elucidated, and its efficacy and excellent safety profile have been demonstrated in several clinical investigations. Indeed, some studies have shown that Devil’s claw compares favourably with modern drugs for arthritis.
Although some study designs have been weak, there are clinical studies that demonstrate an improvement or amelioration in pain, range of movement and creaky joints. But it is as a remedy for back pain for which this plant is best known. Not only is the herb anti-inflammatory within the joint, but it can reduce muscle tension. Large muscles along the spine act ‘in sympathy’ when arthritic pain occurs between the vertebrae.
Studies (e.g. PMID: 11810324) have used a simple pressure probe to give objective evidence that Devil’s claw acts to relax the musculature around spinal inflammation. This muscle spasm often accounts for a lot of the pain of back ache. You can find out about suitable products of Devils’ Claw and learn more about the Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme to ensure the quality of herbal products on the British Herbal Medicine Association website.
PMID = PubMed identifier
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
