Devil's claw – a natural remedy for rheumatic pain! How does it work and when should it be used?

Despite its name, Devil's Claw is not a scary, poisonous plant, as one might think. In fact, it is a popular alternative name given to Harpagophytum procumbens, a plant with medicinal properties used to treat many types of ailments. Used mainly to treat joint pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, it is a helpful ally in the prevention of negative health conditions. What is worth knowing about devil's claw?

Devil's Claw – what kind of plant is it?

Devil's claw is a plant that readily grows in desert and semi-desert areas of the African continent. It can be found in the Kalahari, Namibia and South Africa, mainly in soils rich in iron oxide. The plant is spread by wild animals. The small spines with fruit and seeds, characteristic of devil's claw, attach themselves to the fur of passing animals, from which they then enter the soil.

Devil's claw owes its name to its unusually shaped fruits, which have hook-like, claw-like appendages. They range in colour from light green to deep crimson and can grow to a height of about 15 centimetres. The entire plant often reaches a height of about 1 metre.

In Africa, the medicinal properties of devil's claw have been known for centuries, but in Western medicine, the plant's effectiveness was proven less than a century ago. Around the same time, it was also introduced to Europe, although it is worth noting that the plant has only been known to the wider public in Europe for less than 20 years.

Devil's claw – what does it help with and how does it affect the body?

The main advantages of devil's claw are its anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties, which are helpful in muscle and joint pain, inflammation, and the treatment of digestive ailments. The effectiveness of devil's claw is largely directly related to the plant's most important active ingredients. These include flavonoids, glycosides, iridoids and harpagoside.

Thanks to this, devil's claw in the form of tablets, gel or ointment helps with ailments such as:

• Rheumatism
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tendonitis
• Synovitis
• Metabolic problems
• Spinal pain (especially in the lumbar region)
• Osteoporosis caused by menopause

Devil's Claw – what are its properties?

Devil's Claw has many medicinal properties. The most important ones include:

• Anti-inflammatory – results from the mechanism of inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, i.e. chemical signals indicating the presence of inflammation in the body
• Antioxidant – iridoid glycosides contained in devil's claw may be able to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals on the human body.
• Antipyretic and analgesic – iridoids, one of the most potent substances found in devil's claw, have a noticeable effect in combating fever and mild pain.
• Anti-rheumatic – harpagoside, the active ingredient in devil's claw, is recognised in medicine as a particularly interesting substance with anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory properties.

It should be mentioned that thanks to the above properties and the substances it contains, devil's claw is just as effective, and often noticeably better than some chemically synthesised medicines.

Devil's Claw – where is it used?

As already mentioned, devil's claw can be an indispensable aid for all kinds of ailments closely related to the metabolic system, muscles and joints. Devil's claw can be used, among other things, in:

• Osteoarthritis – some studies show that regular use of devil's claw ointment on the joints reduces mild pain and improves daily functioning in people with osteoarthritis. People taking devil's claw-based products may reduce or completely eliminate painkillers if they experience a noticeable analgesic effect.
• Back and neck pain – applying devil's claw gel directly to the painful areas of the back and neck seems to help reduce the discomfort of pain. This is all thanks to harpagoside, an active plant compound found in devil's claw. This compound is comparable in effectiveness to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Relieving the symptoms of gout – the use of devil's claw tablets seems to reduce the level of uric acid in the blood, which is produced during the breakdown of purines. As a result, devil's claw is able to reduce the symptoms typical of gout, such as painful swelling or redness of the joints.
• For fever – the active ingredients of devil's claw in the form of a balm or ointment can help during fever. Simply apply the product to the forehead or neck up to twice a day for immediate relief.
• As a weight loss supplement – in addition to reducing pain and inflammation, devil's claw can suppress appetite by interacting with ghrelin, a hormone associated with increased hunger.

Devil's claw for joint and muscle pain – is it helpful?

Disorders associated with joint or muscle pain can significantly reduce quality of life if they are chronic. With age, many people begin to suffer from back pain caused by poor posture. What is more, sitting for long periods without exercise also puts additional strain on the back muscles.

As mentioned above, products based on devil's claw can help relieve tension and thus provide relief for the joints and muscles of the body. The iridoid harpagoside is responsible for the helpful analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It is thanks to this that devil's claw has been used for centuries on the African continent as an effective remedy for muscle and joint pain.

All you need to do is apply the gel, balm or ointment to the painful area two to three times a day. The active ingredients of the plant will penetrate the skin and act on the painful areas. However, if you prefer to use devil's claw tablets, they will also prove to be a useful tool in pain prevention. Just take one to two tablets a day to get rid of the annoying pain.

Devil's claw for dogs – how does it work and what should you pay attention to when using it?

Devil's claw, in addition to its proven effects on the human body, is also an extremely interesting addition to the daily diet of our pets. The plant has a similar effect on animals as it does on humans. As it turns out, devil's claw preparations can be added to dog food, helping, for example, to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis in animals.

Of course, for devil's claw to work, it is most important to provide it regularly in food. After just a few weeks of supplementation, this plant, which is safe for dogs, will demonstrate its health-promoting effects, protecting the joints and acting preventively against the effects of osteoarthritis.

Devil's claw – side effects and contraindications

When used as recommended, devil's claw is generally well tolerated by the human body. Of course, as with any natural remedy, there may be rare cases of possible side effects. These include:

• Diarrhoea
• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Allergic skin reactions

For this reason, devil's claw products should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Children under 12 years of age should also not take devil's claw, as should people who are hypersensitive to the active ingredients of the plant or who have diagnosed problems related to the digestive system (e.g. stomach ulcers).

Bibliography

‘DNA Barcode Authentication of Devil's Claw Herbal Dietary Supplements’ – G. L. Diaz-Silveira, J. Deutsch, D. P. Little, scientific journal Plants, MDPI, 2021.

‘Prospective, Multicenter Evaluation of a Polyherbal Supplement alongside Standard-of-Care Treatment for Mild Knee Osteoarthritis’ – Z. Żęgota, J. Goździk, J. Głogowska-Szeląg, scientific journal Advances in Orthopaedics, Hindawi, 2021.

‘A complex of three natural anti-inflammatory agents provides relief of osteoarthritis pain’ – T. Conrozier et al., scientific journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, InnoVision Communications, 2014.

‘Antioxidant activity of devil's claw cell biomass and its active constituents’ – M. Georgiev et al., scientific journal Food Chemistry, Elsevier Science, 2010.

‘Effectiveness and safety of Devil's Claw tablets in patients with general rheumatic disorders’ – M. Warnock et al., scientific journal Phytotherapy Research, John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

‘Iridoid glycosides from Harpagophytum procumbens D.C. (devil's claw)’ – J. Qi et al., scientific journal Phytochemistry, Elsevier Science, 2006.

“Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): An Anti-Inflammatory Herb with Therapeutic Potential” – G. McGregor et al., scientific journal Phytochemistry Reviews, Springer, 2005.

‘Treatment of patients with arthrosis of hip or knee with an aqueous extract of Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC.)’ – T. Wegener, N-P. Lüpke, scientific journal Phytotherapy Research, John Wiley & Sons, 2003.