D
DEVIL’S CLAW
(Harpagophytum procumbens (Burch.) DC ex. Meisn.) ++Synonym — Uncaria procumbens Burch.Activities (Devil’s Claw) — Allergenic (f; PHR); Analgesic (2; CAN; KOM; MAB; PH2); Anti-
arrhythmic (1; APA); Antiarthritic (1; CRC; MAB; PH2; VVG); Antiedemic (1; BGB); Antiexu-
dative (f; SHT); Antiinflammatory (2; APA; BGB; CRC; KOM; PH2); Antipyretic (f; HHB);
Antirheumatic (1; CAN; MAB); Aperitif (2; APA; HH2; KOM; VAG); Bitter (1; APA; MAB; PED);
Choleretic (2; HH2; KOM; PH2); Depurative (f; BGB; PED); Digestive (f; SKY); Diuretic (f;
CAN); Hypocholesterolemic (1; CRC; PED; VAG); Hypotensive (1; APA; BGB); Hypouricemic
(1; CRC; PED; VAG); Laxative (f; MAB; WBB); Secretagogue (1; PH2); Sedative (f; CAN); Tonic
(1; APA; MAB; VVG); Uricolytic (1; APA); Uterocontractant (f; VAG).Indications (Devil’s Claw) — Aging (f; CRC); Allergy (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; PH2); Anorexia
(2; APA; HH2; KOM; PH2; SHT; VAG); Arrhythmia (1; APA; BGB; MAB); Arthrosis (2; APA;
CRC; KOM; MAB; PH2; VVG); Atherosclerosis (f; CRC); Backache (2; BGB; BRU; MAB; PHR);
Blood (f; BGB); Boil (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; VVG); Bursitis (f; WAF); Cancer (f; APA; WBB);
Cancer, skin (f; CRC); Cardiopathy (1; MAB); Childbirth (1; APA; BRU; CRC; MAB; VAG; WBB);
Cholecystosis (2; CRC; PHR; PH2); CNS (f; PH2); Cramp (f; VAG); Cystosis (f; CRC; HHB;
PH2); Dermatosis (f; BGB; PHR); Diabetes (f; CRC; HHB; VAG); Dysmenorrhea (1; CRC; VAG);
Dyspepsia (2; APA; BGB; CRC; KOM; PH2; SHT); Edema (1; BGB); Enterosis (f; BRU; CRC);
Fever (1; APA; BGB; BRU; HHB; VAG); Fibromyalgia (f; WAF); Fibrosis (1; CAN; VAG);
Gastrosis (f; BRU; CRC); Gout (1; CAN; CRC; VAG); Headache (1; APA; BGB; MAB); Heartburn
(2; CRC; KOM; SKY); Hepatosis (2; CRC; PHR; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; BGB;
VAG); High Cholesterol (1; CRC; PED; VAG); Inflammation (2; APA; BGB; CRC; KOM; MAB;
PH2); Insomnia (f; CAN); Lumbago (1; BGB; CAN; CRC); Migraine (1; MAB); Myalgia (f; CAN);
Nephrosis (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); Nervousness (f; CAN); Neuralgia (1; BGB; CRC); Neurosis (f;
PH2); Osteoarthrosis (1; VAG); Pain (2; APA; BGB; CAN; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2; VVG);
Parturition (f; VVG); Pleurodynia (f; CAN); Pregnancy (f; APA; PH2); Rheumatism (2; CAN;
KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2); Sore (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; VVG); Swelling (1; BGB); Tendinitis (1;
BGB; WAF); Tuberculosis (f; VAG); Ulcer (f; CRC; MAB); Water Retention (f; CAN); Wound (f;
CRC; PHR). I suppose that Commission E is talking about various degenerative arthritic conditions
when they approve this for, “Supportive therapy of degenerative disorders of the locomotor system,”
but just couldn’t bring themselves around to saying arthrosis, or degenerative joints and/or muscles
(KOM).Dosages (Devil’s Claw) — 1 tsp chopped root/2 cups water, sipped through day (APA);
1.5–4.5(–10) g root (KOM; SHT; SKY); 6 g root/day (MAB); 1–2 tsp fresh root (PED); 0.5–1 g
dry root (PED); 1 g dry root:5 ml alcohol/5 ml water (PED); 0.1–0.25 g powdered tuber (PNC);
0.1–0.25 g dry tuber as tea 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.1–0.25 ml liquid extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day
(CAN); 6–12 ml liquid extract (1:2)/day (MAB); 15–30 ml tincture (1:5)/day (MAB); 0.5–1 ml
root tincture (1:5 in 25% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN).Contraindications, Indications, and Side Effects (Devil’s Claw) — Class 2b, 2d (AHP). Con-
traindicated in duodenal and gastric ulcers (AHP, 1997). Commission E reports contraindications
in GI ulcer (AEH). Contraindicated in people with diabetes. Excessive doses may interfere with
blood pressure and cardiac therapy (CAN). LD50 = >13,500 mg/kg orl mouse (CAN).Extracts (Devil’s Claw) — German clinical studies confirm arthritic relief; hypocholesterolemic,
hypouricemic (PED). Chrubasik et al. (1996) studied the effectiveness in treatment of acute low
back pain. While animal studies exhibit analgesic and antiinflammatory activities (due to harpago-
side), this study of 118 patients with nonspecific low-back pain (most for more than 15 years),