Devil’s Claw
Harpagophytum procumbens
"It is most commonly used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions including allergies, headaches, nephritis and hepatitis. Devil's claw is given to African women to relieve pain during pregnancy and delivery. it is especially popular in Europe where it is sold almost exclusively to treat the pain and inflammation of rheumatism and arthritis. Herbalist consider this root to be one of the most useful blood purifiers in their materia medica. ... Devil's claw has been studied with mixed results by scientists seeking a cure for a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions. German clinical studies do show it to reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis. it has also been shown to reduce serum cholesterol and uric acid levels. No better description of a blood purifier has yet been given. The plant owes its action and controversial performance in clinical studies to the bitter monoterpene glucoside called harpagoside and its related compounds. These bitter compounds apparently do not work like other antiarthritic drugs. no one quite knows how harpagoside works, so when it is compared to aspirin or indomethacin and the results do not always add up, the root is written off as another failed myth. Devil's claw is too popular to be written off as a traditional legend. Its mode of action just has not been explained yet. Perhaps it is an immune modulator that works by some undiscovered mechanism?"
- Nutritional Herbology
