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Devil's Claw

Biological Name: Harpogophytum procumbens

Other Names: Devil's Claw

Active Compounds: Devil's claw tuber contains three important constituents belonging to the iridoid glycoside family: harpagoside, harpagide, and procumbide. 

The secondary tubers of the herb contain twice as much harpagoside as the primary tubers. As such, these secondary tubers contain the preferable concentration of active ingredients. 

Harpagoside and other iridoid glycosides found in the plant may be responsible for the herb's anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. However, research has not entirely supported the use of devil's claw in alleviating arthritic pain symptoms.

Devil's claw is also considered by herbalists to be a potent bitter. Bitter principles, like the iridoid glycosides found in devil's claw, stimulate the stomach to increase the production of acid, thereby helping to improve digestion.

History:

Numerous tribes native to southern Africa have utilized devil's claw for a wide variety of conditions, ranging from gastrointestinal difficulties to arthritic conditions. Devil's claw has been widely used in Europe as a treatment for arthritis.

Therapeutic Uses:     

Devil's claw has a long history of use in the traditional medicine of southern Africa. Various peoples there use it as a tonic, particularly to the digestive system, for arthritis and rheumatism, to reduce fevers, and for headaches. It is also made into an ointment and applied to sores, boils and ulcers. Hottentot, Bushman and Bantu women applied it during labor to relieve pain. (Warning: do not take during pregnancy) A decoction, made by simmering the tubers in boiling water, is normally drunk.

Current use in the Western world has focused on its application to painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system and digestive problems. It is frequently found in prescriptions for arthritis of different sorts, for rheumatic complaints and for low back pain, especially associated with spondylosis. Lumbago, sciatica, fibrositis, neuralgia and polymyalgia may benefit from the inclusion of Devil's claw in the prescription.

Of the principal constituents, the iridoid glycosides have been investigated, focusing in particular on the anti-inflammatory effects. The antirheumatic, analgesic, anti-arrhythmic and hypotensive actions have also been studied. As is often the case when a herb is studied in this way, the particular principle responsible for the plant's activity could not be identified, nor could its mode of action be related to standard models. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Several studies indicate that Devil's claw does not appear to act in this way.^1,2

The second major area of use is in the digestive system where it is used as a tonic. (Devil's claw is not used for patients with gastritis or peptic ulcer.) Absorption of nutrients from the gut is improved and from that the body begins to be better nourished at all levels. The bitter taste is vital for this action, improving the function of the liver in absorption of nutrients and in cleansing and detoxifying the body. The gall bladder is stimulated to release bile so that conditions such as constipation are relieved. Research in Germany has found improvement in conditions of the upper duodenum related to the pancreas³ and clinical evaluation has indicated a marked reduction in raised cholesterol levels.

In a recent medical study, 118 patients with chronic back pain seeking treatment for acute attacks of pain were included in a 4-week randomized double-blind trial into the effectiveness of Devil's claw. 

The supplementary use of a pain-relieving drug was permitted during the study. At the end of the trial 9 out of the 51 people receiving Devil's claw were pain free compared with 1 of the 54 receiving  placebo. The Devil's claw group experienced greater reduction in pain

Devil's claw is a perennial plant, common

 in the southern and eastern parts of Africa, particularly the former Transvaal.

Devil's Claw tubers are dug up at the

end of the rainy season and dried

 generally than the placebo group,  but this was considered of borderline significance statistically.⁴

Herbalist Approach:

While this sort of trial can verify the traditional uses of herbs, it does not look into how a herbalist actually uses herbs. Looking at just one herb and applying the modern medical model of giving a substance, whether it is a drug or a herb, to a particular condition in the hope of finding a "magic bullet", is a hit and miss approach, and perpetuates the philosophy of treating the symptoms and not the person, and assumes that all patients are identical. Following on from this some people have found that taking Devil's claw as a single remedy is ineffective – this is usually in a freely available OTC form. Herbalists give a mixture of herbs which work together to give a synergistic effect and treat the whole person (body, mind, emotions and spirit) rather than using a single herb as a "magic bullet".

Let us take a herbalist's treatment of arthritis as an example of this different approach. Using herbs with different actions, circulation is improved so that the herbs reach the areas they need to. Inflammation in the joints is reduced, which will mean that pain is relieved. Toxins which have collected around the joint will be removed from the joint with the aid of the lymphatic system, and cleared from the body. Elimination will be helped and herbs given to help heal the damaged joints, repairing cartilage and improving the lubrication of the joint to prevent further damage from wear and tear. At the same time digestion will be improved to ensure that the goodness from the food reaches the parts of the body where it will be needed. As digestion improves the flora of the gut normalizes which reduces the levels of toxicity in the body. Advice about diet and lifestyle will be given.

The herbalist will be looking at the whole person and how this problem impacts on the person, rather than concentrating on the physical signs and symptoms. The emotional aspects are always considered – for instance, with arthritis it is not uncommon to find a loss of confidence associated with the decrease in mobility, or depression from persistent pain and being unable to do things which used to be easy. As the body mends on a physical level patients often notice changes on the emotional and spiritual levels and begin to view their dis-ease in a different way. Herbs open up these levels in a gentle and gradual way, seeming to know when the person is ready to move on, when they are strong enough physically to do so. The patient may begin to develop a new relationship with plants, noticing where they grow and being more aware of them in general.

The treatment is a process involving a three-way interaction between the patient, the herbalist and the herbs. In other words the herbalist does not just give herbs for a condition to a patient who takes them passively. The patient is actively involved in the healing and eventually takes greater responsibility for their health.

A typical prescription containing 4–10 herbs, which together have the actions needed to fulfill all these functions, is made for each individual. As an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and digestive tonic, Devil's claw frequently finds a place in such a prescription.

References