Devil’s claw: Uses, medicine, Synonyms, Effects, and Side Effects
The African devil’s Claw is native to the Kalahari regions of southern Africa (South Africa and Namibia). Cultivations have already been started experimentally, but the merchandise is still imported almost exclusively from wild collections.
The plant’s dried and sliced ​​secondary roots (Harpagophyti radix) are used medicinally.
Devil’s Claw: characteristics of the plant
Devil’s Claw is a perennial, deciduous plant whose shoots, up to 1.5 m long, spread flat on the ground. The plant has a thick primary root and several bulbous secondary roots.
The leaves are grey-green and irregularly lobed; the Devil’s Claw has large yellow or violet funnel flowers in the leaf axils. The woody fruits are up to 15 cm long and resemble a claw (hence the name), with their hook-shaped outgrowths protruding on all sides.
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Devil’s claw root as a medicine
The still uncut drug consists of secondary roots weighing up to 500 g, surrounded by a yellowish-brown layer. The whole drug is sliced ​​and dried immediately after harvest. The cut surfaces are smooth and light grey to whitish.
The very small chopped or finely powdered root is often used in herbal medicine.
What does the devil’s claw smell and taste like?
The African devil’s Claw or its root does not spread a particularly characteristic smell. The taste of the root is very bitter.
Devil’s Claw – Application
Devil’s Claw is used for loss of appetite and indigestion (dyspeptic symptoms) associated with symptoms such as flatulence, a feeling of fullness, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and pain in the upper abdomen.
Devil’s Claw for joint problems and pain
The root can also support various degenerative diseases and signs of wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system, such as chronic, painful destruction of articular cartilage and arthrosis (joint wear and tear).
According to recent clinical studies, devil’s claw root is also said to relieve various types of back pain (e.g. caused by degeneratively changed vertebral bodies), soft tissue rheumatism, nerve pain (neuralgia) and headaches.
In high doses (about 480 mg of the dry root extract twice daily), joint pain can also be treated with the plant in patients with Crohn’s disease.
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Application in folk medicine
In folk medicine, devil’s claw root is used externally as an ointment for sore spots, ulcers and boils. Devil’s claw root has long been used by the natives of South Africa and Namibia as a multifaceted remedy to treat indigestion, blood disorders, pain during pregnancy and childbirth, rheumatism, and gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, liver and kidney diseases.
The Europeans use the plant in folk medicine for signs of ageing, gout, arthritis (inflammation of the joint), allergies and various metabolic diseases. The plant is also used as a remedy for diabetes, but no scientifically sound justification exists.
Homeopathic use of Devil’s Claw
Homeopathically, the lateral storage roots of the devil’s Claw, which are crushed before drying, are used for diseases of the supporting and musculoskeletal system, such as rheumatism and liver, gallbladder and pancreas diseases.
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Ingredients of devil’s claw root
The most critical components of devil’s claw root include various bitter substances of the iridoid type, such as harpagoside and procumbid. It also contains phenylethanol derivatives such as verbascoside, isoacteoside, cinnamic acid, and flavonoids.
Devil’s Claw secondary root is one of the most bitter herbal medicines.
Devil’s Claw: Indication
Possible medicinal uses of devil’s claw root include:
- indigestion
- dyspeptic complaints
- loss of appetite
- Signs of wear and tear of the musculoskeletal system
- arthrosis
- back pain
- nerve pain
- headache
- soft tissue rheumatism
- Joint pain in Crohn’s disease
Devil’s Claw – Dosage
Devil’s claw root can be taken in tea, capsules, effervescent tablets, and powder. The dry extract preparations should contain a declared content of 200-480 mg devil’s Claw per gram. Devil’s claw tea is also offered in a filter bag in the antirheumatics and analgesics ( painkillers ) group.
Devil’s Claw: What Dose?
The average daily dose for loss of appetite is around 1.5 g of the root unless otherwise prescribed. For other complaints, the average daily dose is 4.5 g.
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Devil’s Claw – Prepared as a tea
To prepare a devil’s claw tea, 4.5 g of the finely chopped or roughly powdered root (equivalent to 1 teaspoon) is poured over 300 ml of boiling water and left to stand at room temperature for about 8 hours. The tea can then be put through a tea strainer and drunk in 3 portions throughout the day.
Contraindications: when not to use?
Devil’s claw root should not be taken if you have a known stomach or duodenal ulcer. If you suffer from gallstones, you should only use the plant after consulting a doctor.
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Special Notes and Storage
The available clinical studies have shown that chronic joint inflammation responds better to devil’s claw root therapy than acute inflammatory processes in the joints.
The drug should be kept dry, cool and protected from light.
Devil’s Claw – Synonyms
German plant name: devil’s Claw
German synonyms of the plant: African Devil’s Claw, South African Devil’s Claw, Bactrian Burdock
Latin plant name: Harpagophytum procumbens DC.
Latin synonyms of the plant: Harpagophytum Burchell
German drug name: Devil’s Claw Root
German synonyms of the drug: African devil’s claw root
Latin drug name: Harpagophyte root
Latin synonyms of the drug: Harpagophyte root, Harpagophyte tuber
English name: Devil’s Claw, Devil’s Claw, Grapple Plant, Wood Spider, Harpago
Plant family Latin: Pedaliaceae
Plant family German: sesame plants
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Devil’s Claw – Effect
The iridoids contained in the roots are bitter substances which stimulate bitter receptors on the taste buds at the base of the tongue. This leads to an increase in saliva and gastric secretion, thus stimulating appetite and digestion.
Devil’s Claw promotes digestion.
Other digestive mechanisms are:
- the lowering of the pH value in the stomach
- the stimulation of bile secretion (choleretic effect)
- increasing bowel movements and improving the activity of various digestive enzymes
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anti-inflammatory effect
Devil’s claw root is also said to have an anti-inflammatory (antiphlogistic) and weakly analgesic (analgesic) effect, probably due to the iridoids and phenylethanol derivatives.
Devil’s Claw: Side Effects
Very rarely, when taking devil’s claw preparations, hypersensitivity reactions such as hives, skin rashes, and even shock can occur. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches and dizziness are also rarely observed.
Interactions with other agents are currently not known.
