African devil’s claw owes its name to the claw-like appearance of its fruits. Medicinal uses include the storage roots of the plant, which is native to Africa. Their anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect is used mainly in the treatment of rheumatism and osteoarthritis.
Occurrence and cultivation of devil’s claw
The African devil’s claw carries with us also the nickname Trampelklette. The up to 1.5 meters long shoots of the perennial, herbaceous plant lie flat on the ground. Its Latin name is Harpagophytum procumbens, it belongs to the sesame family and is native to the steppes of South Africa and Namibia. The African devil’s claw also has the nickname clumsy burdock. The shoots of the perennial herbaceous plant, which can grow up to 1.5 meters long, lie flat on the ground. Its large, reddish flowers produce claw-shaped fruits that cling to the fur of animals, thus ensuring the plant’s spread. So-called secondary tubers are formed on the stolons of a thick main root. They are the ones that contain the most active substances and are used medicinally. African devil’s claw is dependent on hot climates and sandy soil; it cannot be cultivated in other climates. Due to its limited availability, this sought-after medicinal plant is now an endangered species. A plant in Europe, also called Devil’s Claw, from the bellflower family has nothing to do with Harpagophytum procumbens and is not medically relevant.
Effect and application
Among the most important active substances contained in devil’s claw are harpagosides. They have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and have a regulating influence on heart rhythm and blood pressure. The plant also contains flavonoids, acteoside, unsaturated fatty acids, cinnamic acid and chlorogenic acid. An extract of devil’s claw root has a supportive effect in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic complaints, joint pain due to wear and tear (osteoarthritis), chronic back pain and tendonitis (for example tennis elbow). Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory effect of Harpagophytum procumbens occurs by a different route than when common anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Furthermore, devil’s claw appears to block or inhibit the production of certain endogenous messenger substances that trigger or intensify pain. Traditionally, the plant is also used for gastrointestinal complaints, loss of appetite, digestive disorders such as diarrhea, flatulence or constipation, as well as urinary organ problems. The bitter substances contained in it stimulate saliva production and digestive activity, thus also stimulating appetite. They lower the pH in the stomach and stimulate bile (this is called choleretic effect). Devil’s claw also has a blood-thinning effect. For patients with arteriosclerosis, this is a welcome effect, but for people with a tendency to bleed, it is a risk factor that must be taken into account, especially with high-dose or long-term use. In case of existing gastric ulcers, one should refrain from taking it altogether, and in pregnancy at least increased caution is advised (here no sufficient studies are available yet). Devil’s claw root can be used internally and externally, depending on the indication. It is taken as a tea, as a home-made tincture or as a finished preparation in the form of capsules, tablets or powder. Such ready-to-use preparations are probably the most common variant and are available almost everywhere, from pharmacies to discount grocery stores. It should be noted here that the dry extract preparations contain different levels of active ingredient and have correspondingly different potencies. In addition to internal use, tea decoctions or diluted tinctures are also suitable for external use in poultices, baths and washes. Ointment preparations containing the active ingredients of devil’s claw are also commonly used. They help with chronic skin problems, eczema, psoriasis and even poorly healing wounds.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The many healing properties of Harpagophytum procumbens have been known in its native land for centuries and have been traditionally used by African healers. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that a local German soldier learned about this tradition and brought his knowledge back to Europe. Here, in 1930, the botanist Otto Heinrich Volk began pharmaceutical research on the plant.With the findings about the therapeutic effect of devil’s claw, the worldwide demand for corresponding preparations also rose steadily. A real overexploitation of the wild plant began, so that it was soon threateningly decimated. Today, the plant is only mined in a controlled manner. Only the thick lateral roots are removed and the plant is then left to regenerate in peace for several years. Although this provides better protection for the plant, it is not possible to meet global demand from natural sources. Attempts are being made to cultivate devil’s claw outside Africa – so far a difficult undertaking with only moderate prospects of success. The role of devil’s claw root in the prevention and treatment of various ailments depends on the individual clinical picture. According to clinical studies, its effect is more effective in chronic joint inflammation than in acute inflammatory processes. While it can usually only play a supporting role in the treatment of more severe pain, it can certainly be considered as a sole remedy for milder complaints. Especially chronic pain patients are often grateful for such alternatives from nature, which help to save chemical drugs. Unpleasant side effects and long-term sequelae can thus be avoided or at least significantly reduced. However, Harpagophytum procumbens is not suitable for the treatment of acute or severe pain because it takes between two and four weeks before the desired effect sets in. Classical homeopathy also uses the healing power of African devil’s claw, typically in potencies from D2 to D6. The main areas of application here are osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc problems. Gout, ankylosing spondylitis, and also skin diseases such as shingles are also among the areas of application.
