Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) belongs to the sesame family and thrives in the African savannah. The plant grows in deep sandy soils in regions with rather sparse vegetation. The unusual name "devil's claw" refers to the shape of the ripe, opened seed capsules.

Devil's claw was first brought to Germany during World War I and later studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties.

The active ingredients are found in the roots. The roots of devil's claw contain bitter substances, so-called iridoid glycosides, such as Harpagoside, which has anti-inflammatory propertiesIt inhibits, among other things, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which contributes to the reduction of inflammation.

The Extract from devil's claw roots not only works anti-inflammatory, but also analgesic and decongestant. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for the treatment rheumatic complaints such as osteoarthritis and other degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The devil’s claw has a similar spectrum of action to synthetic anti-inflammatories In addition, according to current knowledge, treatment with devil's claw root extracts appears to have a lower risk of side effects than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

dosage

A daily dose of 50 to 100 mg harpagoside is recommended – d.h, i.e., 4-6 capsules. For legal reasons, supplements must be labeled with a lower amount than the recommended daily intake.. This applies generally to food supplements and is important to understand: The recommended daily intake is i.d.R. always so low that no physiological effect is present. If there were, it would, by definition, be a medicinal product rather than a food. It is therefore up to the responsible consumer to choose the appropriate dosage for themselves.

Study situation

Clinical studies have u.aIt has been shown that taking devil's claw extracts can lead to significant pain reduction and improved joint function in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis. In a study of 122 patients, daily intake of a powder extract containing 57 mg of harpagoside for four months resulted in significant pain reduction and a reduced need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The following studies demonstrate the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of devil's claw, especially for back pain and osteoarthritis:

1. Chrubasik et al. (1996) – Back pain

Study: Double-blind study with patients suffering from chronic back pain.
Result: A significant reduction in pain was observed in participants receiving devil's claw extract compared to the placebo group.

2. Chrubasik et al. (1999) – Osteoarthritis treatment

Study: Randomized controlled trial with 89 patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis.
Result: Improvement in mobility and pain reduction after 8 weeks of devil's claw extract (600 mg/day).

3. Wegener & Lupke (2003) – Comparison with NSAIDs

Study: Comparison of devil's claw with conventional anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in osteoarthritis patients.
Result: Devil's claw showed a comparable effect to NSAIDs, but with fewer side effects.

4. Lecomte et al. (1992) – Rheumatoid arthritis

Study: Investigation of the effect of devil's claw on rheumatic diseases.
Result: Moderate improvement in pain and mobility, but not as strong as with conventional rheumatic medications.

5. Chrubasik et al. (2002) – Meta-analysis on pain reduction

Study: Analysis of several studies on the effectiveness of devil's claw in chronic pain.
Result: Evidence of significant pain relief in back pain and osteoarthritis, especially at high doses (≥ 50 mg harpagoside/day).

6. Gagnier et al. (2004) – Systematic review of plant extracts in osteoarthritis

Study: Systematic analysis of various herbal preparations, including devil's claw.
Result: Devil's claw showed good efficacy against pain, with an effect similar to mild painkillers.