Harpagophytum

Taxobox


name = Harpagophytum
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Lamiales
familia = Pedaliaceae
genus = "Harpagophytum"
species = "H. procumbens;H.zeyheri"
binomial = "Harpagophytum procumbens/zeyheri"

"Harpagophytum procumbens", also called grapple plant, wood spider and most commonly Devil's Claw, is a plant of the sesame family, native to South Africa. It got its name from the peculiar appearance of its hooked fruit. The plant's large tuberous roots are used medicinally to reduce pain and fever, and to stimulate digestion. European colonists brought Devil's Claw home where it was used to treat arthritis.

"H. procumbens" are mainly found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Namibia, Southern Botswana and the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape, South Africa. "H. Zeyheri" is found in the northern parts of Namibia (Ovamboland) and southern Angola. The active ingredient is harpagoside with values ranging in both species from 1.0% to 3.3%.

The name "devil's claw" is also used for several species of North American plants in the genus "Proboscidea", as well as "urtica dioica".

Medicinal Uses

The two active ingredients in Devil's Claw are Harpagoside and Beta sitosterol. It is claimed that these possess anti-inflammatory properties. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognises Devil's Claw as having analgesic, sedative and diuretic properties. Most studies involve chronic use rather than acute treatment of pain.

Devil's Claw is also claimed to be beneficial for treating diseases of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder and bladder, arthritis and rheumatism. It is said to help alleviate problems with and improve the vitality of the joints, as well as stimulating appetite and aid digestion, increase cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood. Devil's Claw has been recommended for treating diabetes, hardening of the arteries, lumbago, gastrointestinal disturbances, menstrual difficulties, neuralgia, headache, heartburn and gout. [ [http://www.appliedhealth.com/nutri/page8297.php Applied health article on Devil's Claw] ]

Several studies have been performed using Doloteffin, a standardized preparation of Devil's Claw. [Due to the natural variability of herbal extracts, the results of studies using different products and preparations are difficult to compare] A series of small-scale studies completed in Germany found that "H. procumbens" was indistinguishable from Vioxx in the treatment of chronic low back pain, [ [http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/1/141 Article comparing Vioxx and Doloteffin] ] and was well-tolerated after more than four years of treatment of "H. procumbens" alone. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15693701&dopt=Citation Follow-up study of patients taking Doloteffin alone] ] "H. procumbens" also seems efficacious in the treatment of arthritis-caused hip and knee pain. [ [http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/106568940/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 German article on "H. procumbens" and hip/knee arthritis pain] ] An author involved in several studies on Devil's Claw and pain relief had the general conclusion that a minimum 50 mg per dose standardized extract was an alternative to synthetic analgesics with a low risk of adverse events. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15150687&dopt=Citation German article discussing Devil's Claw extract for pain relief] ] A separate 2006 systematic review of herbal medications for low back pain reached the conclusion that a standardized daily dose between 50 and 100 mg of harpagoside performed better than a placebo, and an unspecified dose of harpagoside demonstrated relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of Vioxx. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16625605 Herbal medicine for low back pain (article from NIH)] ]

Devil's claw can also be used externally to treat sores, ulcers, boils and skin lesions.

Adverse reactions

Devil's claw may interfere with the action of Ticlopidine and Warfarin, and patients should consult with a physician before combining Devil's claw with these medications. [ [http://www.kroger.com/hn/Herb_Drugix/Devils_Claw.htm Kroger article on Devil's Claw drug interactions] ] In addition, Devil's Claw promotes the secretion of stomach acid, leading to difficulties in those with peptic ulcers, gastritis or excess stomach acid. Care should also be taken for individuals with gallstones. [ [http://www.kroger.com/hn/Herb/Devils_Claw.htm Kroger article on Devil's Claw] ]

Notes

References

* [http://www.appliedhealth.com/nutri/page8297.php Applied health article on Devil's Claw]
* [http://www.healthandage.com/html/res/com/ConsHerbs/DevilsClawch.html Alternative medicine article on Devil's Claw]
* [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-devilsclaw.html National Institute of Medicine article on Devil's Claw]

External links

* [http://www.doloteffin.de/ Webpage for Doloteffin, the standardized extract used in clinical trials (in German)]
* [http://www.harpago.co.za/ Harpago commercial cultivation project on the Avontuur farm in the Kalahari, South Africa (in English)]