Naturopathy

Devil's claw

Synonyms in a broader sense

Devil's claw root, Harpargophyti radix, Harpagophytum procumbens, chondroprotective agents, natural remedies, Agnesin forte, Allya, arthrosettes, Bomarthros, Cefatec, Harpagosan tea, trumpet burdock

Explanation / definition

The healing effect of the devil's claw (Harpargophyti radix) has long been known in folk medicine. It contains bitter substances of the iridoid type, procumbid and free cinnamic acid. For example, they alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism or osteoarthritis patients, can relieve pain, reduce swelling and inhibit inflammatory processes. The devil's claw is getting more and more attention in rheumatism therapy. It is used as a supportive therapy for degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system with joint wear (osteoarthritis).

The content of bitter substances in the devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) also stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and stimulates the flow of bile. Pharmacologically, animal experiments have shown anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. The plant is also becoming more and more important in veterinary medicine.

Harpagophytum procumbens in homeopathy

Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is found in the homeopathy also often used in natural medicine for joint wear.
We have written our own topic for this: You can find more about this under our topic: Hedera helix in homeopathy

Name and origin

She owes her name to her devotion. Small barbs on the fruits of the devil's claw attach themselves to people and animals passing by and stubbornly get stuck there. The spread of the medicinal plant in the savannas of the Kalahari desert of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia is secured. The devil's claw is a herbaceous plant that rests on the ground and produces beautiful red-purple flowers. In the south of Africa, the valuable medicinal plant is harvested from wild stocks.

Devil's claw roots (Harpargophyti radix) are dried secondary storage roots of Harpagophytum procumbens. Harpagophytum- is derived from the Greek, where harpagos = grappling hook and phytum = plant and procumbens = prostrate, shoots lying on the ground.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a German soldier learned the therapeutic use of the devil's claw from African healers.
Pharmaceutical research was carried out from 1930 by Otto Heinrich Volk (1903 - 2000).

Manufacturing

The worldwide increasing demand for this medicinal plant has meanwhile negative consequences for the wild growth of this plant species and the local nature. The wild plant was threateningly decimated by overexploitation. The devil's claw is now collected in a strictly controlled manner. Only the thick side roots are removed from the plant so that the wild plant can recover itself and is available for harvest again after years. But the demand is great. German pharmaceutical companies hope that in a few years they will be able to fall back on medicinal plants from controlled cultivation. Tests are currently being carried out on test fields to determine whether and how the devil's claw can be specifically cultivated.

The approx. 5 cm large bright red flowers transform into woody fruits with 15 cm long tentacles with barbs. However, the active ingredient is obtained exclusively from the root.

application areas

The devil's claw is used alone for mild pain and to support the existing therapy for more severe pain. The plant is not suitable for the treatment of acute and severe pain. They only take effect within two to four weeks. The phytopharmaceutical industry tries to optimize plant extracts so that they can develop their full effect and counteract inflammation.

It is not the fruits that are used as medicine, but the thick storage roots that are deep in the earth. That is why the root is the most valuable part, because the side arms of the devil's claw contain the healing agents. The locals in South Africa had known the plant for a long time and used the tuberous side shoots of the devil's claw root against rheumatic diseases and gastrointestinal complaints.

The aqueous or alcoholic - aqueous extracts from the secondary storage roots of the devil's claw are used in:

Inflammatory joint disease
Chronic back pain, especially wear-related back pain
Wear-related joint complaints, i.e. osteoarthritis of the knee joints (gonarthrosis) or osteoarthritis of the hip joints (coxarthrosis) or arthrosis of the vertebral joints (facet syndrome)
Rheumatic diseases
Lumbago
Tendinitis (such as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow)

effect

Why the devil's claw has a pain-relieving effect, counteracting rheumatic complaints such as back and joint problems, has not yet been clarified.
But that it relieves discomfort, so that the mobility of muscles and joints as well as the resilience is improved, is reported by users again and again.
Devil's claw does not cease to be effective for wear-related diseases such as back pain or osteoarthritis until it has been taken for a few weeks

Unfortunately, I am not aware of any scientific studies that prove its effectiveness. If a reader should have further information, I would be for a message under info@ grateful.

The anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects of a standardized devil's claw extract on rats and mice have been proven.
Clinical studies with patients have also been reported. The pain in certain movement sequences in the group of the devil's claw preparation should be significantly reduced compared to the group who had taken an ineffective placebo preparation, while mobility was improved.
Patients should especially be included arthrosis or one rheumatic disease benefit.

Dosage form

The devil's claw is available in different dosage forms. It can take the form of:

Tablets
Effervescent tablets
Capsules
Drops (may contain alcohol!)
powder
tea
Ampoules for injection under the skin (s.c), into the skin (i.c.), into the vein (i.v.) or into the muscle (i.m.) (may contain alcohol). Injection therapy is usually carried out in the form of a subcutaneous (s.c.) wheal.

be taken.

There is the devil's claw in "pure form" or as a combination product with homeopathic active ingredients such as:

Arnica
Hypericum
Bryonia
Symphytum etc.

side effect

Overall, side effects are rare.
Were rare Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, dizziness and headache described. A hypersensitivity reaction like Rash, hives, swelling of the face (edema) and collapse of the circulatory system (shock) or high blood sugar when known Diabetes mellitus (Diabetes).

interaction

If nothing is known to us, if other information is available, please send information to: info@.

Contraindication / Contraindication

With an existing Gastric ulcer (Gastric ulcer) or one Duodenal ulcer (duodenal ulcer) the devil's claw must not be ingested.
Gallstone disease (cholecystolithiasis) can constitute a contraindication.
At Children under 12 years consist insufficient knowledge.

dosage

The dosage depends on the dosage form and goes from 2 tablets (1-0-1) to three times 30 drops (1-1-1).
Please refer to the details the Package insert.
The tablets contain between 200 - 600 mg - mostly 480 mg - dry extract from the devil's claw root.