What effect does devil’s claw have?
The bulbous, dried storage roots of African devil’s claw contain bitter substances (iridoid glycosides, including harpagoside as the main component), phenylethanol derivatives and secondary plant substances such as flavonoids. The ingredients have anti-inflammatory, weak analgesic, appetite stimulating and bile flow promoting effects.
As a traditional herbal medicine, the medicinal plant can be used for:
- mild aches and pains of the limbs
- temporary loss of appetite
- indigestion (e.g. flatulence)
Medically recognized on the basis of many years of experience is also the use in osteoarthritis and back pain.
In Europe, devil’s claw is popularly used for other ailments and diseases, such as
- Arthritis
- Metabolic diseases
- allergies
- Bile problems
- Liver problems
- Bladder and kidney problems
In Africa, people also traditionally use the medicinal plant for fever, blood disorders, and to relieve birth pains. Its effectiveness in these areas has also not yet been scientifically proven.
What side effects can devil’s claw cause?
Also, headache, drowsiness and allergic skin reactions rarely occur. Very rarely, hypersensitivity reactions extend to anaphylactic shock.
However, those who suffer from certain conditions may experience increased side effects from devil’s claw. These include:
- Diabetes: devil’s claw may lower blood sugar levels and affect diabetes medications.
- Gallstones: The formation of gallstones may be increased by devil’s claw. People who already suffer from them should also be especially careful.
- Heart Health: Devil’s claw has an effect on heart rate and blood pressure.
- Stomach: Possibly devil’s claw causes stomach acid to form, resulting in a stomach ulcer.
Therefore, always discuss any use of devil’s claw with a physician and do not take preparations with it on suspicion.
How is devil’s claw used?
Whether as a home remedy or finished preparations: there are various ways to take devil’s claw.
Devil’s claw as a home remedy
You can prepare a tea from the dried, cut or powdered devil’s claw root:
For digestive problems, prepare the tea from 1.5 grams of devil’s claw root and drink it in three portions throughout the day – always after meals. To stimulate appetite, you should take the tea half an hour before each meal.
Home remedies based on medicinal plants have their limitations. If your symptoms persist for a long period of time, do not improve or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
Ready-to-use preparations with devil’s claw
Ready-to-use preparations are also available. For example, devil’s claw capsules, dragées, tablets and drops are available for internal use, as well as balms, creams and gels with devil’s claw for external use – against osteoarthritis, for example. There are also ointments that help with muscle tension.
The respective package insert informs you about the correct dosage and duration of application of the preparations with devil’s claw. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist about this.
What you should bear in mind when using devil’s claw
- In adolescents under 18 years of age, the findings on the application are not yet sufficient.
- In case of joint arthrosis (osteoarthrosis) it is recommended to use devil’s claw under medical supervision for at least two to three months.
Devil’s claw must not be used in the following cases:
- stomach or duodenal ulcer
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
- Children under 12 years of age
- Hypersensitivity (allergy) to devil’s claw
Further, devil’s claw may interact with other medications. These include:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with the active ingredient ibuprofen, celecoxib or feldene, which are taken to relieve pain
- Blood thinners
- Medications designed to reduce stomach acid
How to obtain the devil’s claw products
You can get the dried devil’s claw root as well as finished preparations based on the medicinal plant in your pharmacy and drugstore. For assured quality with the necessary active ingredient content, you should preferably use preparations available in pharmacies.
Before use, please read the respective package insert and ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What is devil’s claw?
In order to survive the extreme dry periods in these areas, the above-ground parts of the plant die. What remains is the deep-lying and widely branched root system, consisting of a thick root and several lateral roots. These serve as storage for water and nutrients.
The reddish-purple flowers, up to six centimeters in size, develop into capsule fruits with several arm-like outgrowths that splay out like claws after the fruits burst open and become very woody. From these peculiar fruits derive the Latin (Greek “harpagos” = grappling hook) and German generic name (devil’s claw) of the plant.
