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