JOINT & ARTHRITIS PAIN

Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum procumbens

also known as grapple plant

Moderate (joint pain)

A creeping plant native to the Kalahari Desert and southern Africa, named for the claw-like hooks on its fruit pods. Used by Indigenous peoples of southern Africa for centuries, devil's claw was brought to European medicine in the early 1900s and has become one of the better-studied joint herbs. Modern research backs the traditional use for back pain and arthritis.

Eases low back pain, especially the kind that comes and goes with movement
Eases osteoarthritis pain in the knees, hips, and hands
Anti-inflammatory action documented in modern research
Long Indigenous African use for joint complaints, fevers, and digestive issues
Approved by Germany's Commission E for back pain and degenerative joint conditions
Best results come from standardized extracts (containing 1-2% harpagoside) taken consistently over weeks
Often combined with white willow bark, turmeric, or boswellia in joint-support formulas

Bitter taste can cause stomach upset, especially when first starting

Skip with active stomach ulcers — devil's claw stimulates gastric secretions

Skip with gallstones or bile duct obstruction

Use caution with blood thinners

Use caution with diabetes medication — may lower blood sugar

Use caution with blood pressure medications — additive lowering

Stop two weeks before surgery

Skip during pregnancy — can stimulate the uterus

Skip during nursing

Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro

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