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Richard Mandelbaum RH (AHG)

2016

Harpagophytum procumbens
Pedaliaceae

Devil’s claw
Grapple plant

Part used: secondary storage tubers

Native range: sandy / desert ecosystems in southern Africa,


Madagascar “The plant originated in South
Africa and Namibia, and has spread
throughout the Savannas and the Kalahari.”
(PDR)

Harvestable status / sustainability: Widespread in its native habitat but


concerns exist regarding overharvest; classified
as a protected species in Botswana, Namibia
and South Africa. Permits are required for
harvesting and exporting it. Both species of
Harpagophytum are listed under CITES in
Annex D. (Kew)

Flavor: bitter

Energetics: cold and dry

Actions: anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, digestive bitter, cholagogue,


possibly mildly hypotensive

Devil’s claw is a highly effective anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and anti-rheumatic remedy, often
helpful when other remedies are not. Unscrupulous (or uninformed) harvesters will dig up the entire
root, which is weak medicine and also can endanger the wild population. Winston and Kuhn write
that the secondary tubers have twice the harpagoside content as the root. Weiss also notes that many
medicines are prepared from the whole root, and may be the reason results vary dramatically with
devil’s claw. Harpagophytum can be sustainably harvested if only the secondary roots (tubers) are
collected, leaving the primary root to continue to grow (van Wyk). There is now multiple cultivation
projects in southern Africa.
Richard Mandelbaum RH (AHG)
2016

Indications:
• Rheumatic and arthritic complaints:
o Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis of the hip or knee (Winston) but potentially helpful in
rheumatoid arthritis as well
Reduces pain and increases mobility
In 2001 devil’s claw accounted for 74% of the total number of prescriptions for
rheumatism in Germany (Kew)
o Gout
o Weiss notes use of an injectable form of devil’s claw in Germany for rheumatic
complaints
• Bitter tonic for dyspepsia, loss of appetite
o A strong bitter Weiss describes as having an intensity “equivalent to gentian”
o Approved by Commission E to restore appetite and relieve heartburn, and for
rheumatic complaints (ABC)
o For poor appetite, indigestion, heartburn
• Metabolic and cardiovascular health:
o Type II diabetes
o Normalizes blood lipid levels (Weiss)
o May lower blood pressure and heart rate, shown in animal studies (ABC)

• Pain relief:
o Rheumatic and arthritic pain as noted above
o Included in analgesic formulas for lower back pain, sciatica, lumbago, neuralgia, etc.
o Headaches
o Used as an analgesic during labor and after childbirth for post-partum pain. (Van Wyk
et al. as well as AHPA describe its use as an analgesic “during pregnancy” not just
labor.) AHPA states: “Devil’s claw has traditionally been administered to pregnant
women at doses of approximately 250 mg three times daily for pain relief during
pregnancy. A reduced dose is used during the postpartum period (Watt and Breyer-
Brandwijk 1962).”
• Also:
o Reduces fevers
o Mild hepatobiliary complaints: minor gallstones, biliary fullness
o Topical ointment for sores, ulcers, and boils, and other skin lesions

Safety, Contraindications, Interactions and/or toxicity:


• AHPA Safety Class: 1, Interaction Class: A
• Use with caution in cases of gastric and duodenal ulcers, and gallstones (this appears to be
theoretical and not based on actual case reports). Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is not fully
understood but appears to be distinct from pharmaceutical NSAIDs and does not result in
similar adverse effects.
• Use with caution with anticoagulants (one case report, unsubstantiated)
• Minor ADRs are possible such as G.I. upset, allergic reaction
Richard Mandelbaum RH (AHG)
2016

Preparation: Tincture
Decoction
Capsule

Dosage: 1-2 ml TID tincture


1-5 g per day dried tuber, in decoction, powder, etc.

Major plant constituents: iridoid glycosides (including harpagoside and hapagide, procumbide),
triterpenes, flavonoids, oligosaccharides, phytosterols, oleanolic acid; flavonoids
kaempferol and luteolin; phenolic acids; glycosidic phenylpropanoic esters
o Harpagoside is an anti-inflammatory iridoid glycoside (also found in Scrophularia)

Additional notes:
• The animal-dispersed, long-grappled, barbed fruit is so sharp it is known to make some
grazing animals lame or even lock their jaws shut if they mistakenly try to eat one, and are
used as mouse traps in Madagascar (Mabberley).
• From Kew Gardens: “Most of the world's supply of devil’s claw comes from Namibia, with
lesser quantities from South Africa and Botswana. A major impediment to sustainable
harvesting is the low price paid to harvesters.”

Sources:
AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook, 1st and 2nd Edition
American Botanical Council, Expanded Commission E Monographs
Brinker, Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions
Gaby, A to Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions
Hoffmann, Medical Herbalism
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/harpagophytum-procumbens-
devils-claw
Mabberley, D.J., The Plant Book, Second Edition
Pengelly, The Constituents of Medicinal Plants
PDR for Herbal Medicines, Third Edition
Simon, James, “Medicinal Crops of Africa”, Issues in new crops and new uses. 2007. J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.). ASHS Press,
Alexandria, VA.
Skenderi, Herbal Vade Mecum
Van Wyk, Van Oudtshoorn, Gericke, Medicinal Plants of South Africa
Weiss, Herbal Medicine
Winston and Kuhn, Herbal Therapy and Supplements

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