Devil's Claw

For natural anti-inflammatory action, we choose Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum Procumbens - Devil's Claw is also known in our country as "Devil's Claw". This name is not related to its action and properties, but to its prickly fruit that injures grazing animals in contact with it. A useful part of the plant is its bulbous root.

The plant

It is a creeping herbaceous perennial plant with a tough central taproot that includes a cluster of secondary tubers hanging from it. The leaves are irregular and grey-green, covered with tiny whitish sticky cells while its trumpet-shaped flowers are red, purple and pink, turning yellow inside. Plants with completely yellow or white flowers may also be found. Its characteristic fruits are woody, ovoid capsules with two central spines and two lateral rows of 12 to 16 pointed hook-shaped spines (grabbers), containing brown and black oblong rough seeds.



Ingredient profile

The herb contains glycosides (arpagoside, arpagide, procambide – these substances are found in the tubers of the plant and are considered the main components that give the herb its therapeutic properties), sugars (main tetrasaccharide), triterpenoids (oleanolic and ursolic acid), phytosterols ( mainly β-sitosterol), aromatic acids  (caffeic, cinnamic, and chlorogenic acid), flavonoids (luteolin and kaempferol).


The benefits

The herb has anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, analgesic, sedative and diuretic properties. In modern herbal medicine, ragweed is mainly used to treat arthritis and myalgia.
Many clinical studies have been done on the properties of the herb. Research done in Germany at the University of Jena (1958-1976) found that it has strong anti-inflammatory properties, comparable to those of cortisone and the ingredient phenylbutazine (phenylbutazone) used as an analgesic in anti-inflammatory drugs musculoskeletal pain (arthritis, tendinitis, back pain, etc.).

The use of the herb is considered to have complementary benefits in cases of indigestion and is used externally for skin diseases (poultice). It is also usedin cases of arthritis, gout, muscle pain and various forms of muscular rheumatism, lower back pain and general rheumatic diseases. The herb can relieve pain and inflammation from arthritis, as well as lower back, knee and hip pain.
It is also used to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, etc. Also, it has been found to improve appetite and relieve mild stomach upset.

Its medicinal appeal lies in the fact that it does not contain toxic substances and has no known side effects, therefore it is suitable for general cleansing of the organs and has a good diuretic effect. Due to these properties, it acts preventively against possible unwanted situations