Dear Reader,
Here’s something you can use…
Not long ago, a patient with arthritis came to my office after her internal medicine doctor gave her Celebrex. With the recent scandals surrounding Vioxx and Celebrex, she was worried about the side effects yet when I recommended an herb called Devil’s Claw, you should have seen her double take… You’ve probably never heard of it either, but it’s very effective at relieving joint pain.
Devil’s Claw is a thorny, woody flowering plant native to the dry regions around Namibia and Botswana in southern Africa. But I first found Devil’s Claw in the jungles of Peru. It made its way to Europe in the 19th century, and then spread to South America.
Despite its name, Devil’s Claw has many healing properties. Studies have proven its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and even lower back pain.1,2 Its active ingredients, called harpagosides, can also boost your digestion and your immune response.
Devil’s Claw has an effect similar to the “Cox-2” anti-inflammatory drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex, but without the risky side effects. And the science backs it up: A study published in the journal Rheumatology compared a Devil’s Claw extract of 60 mg harpagosides a day and 12.5 mg a day of Vioxx for 6 weeks in 79 patients with severe lower back pain. Devil’s Claw turned out to be just as effective as Vioxx.3
Doctors in Europe prescribe Devil’s Claw commonly. According to a study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, sales of Devil’s Claw in Germany are about $41 million per year, accounting for 74% of all prescriptions for rheumatoid arthritis.4
A few words of caution: Devil’s Claw can stimulate uterine contractions, so pregnant women should avoid it (unless you’re trying to give birth). Devil’s Claw also interacts with anti-coagulants like Warfarin, and shouldn’t be taken together.
Devil’s Claw is available in capsule, tincture, and tea form. You can easily find them at your local health food store.
If you’re taking a capsule, start with 600 mg three times a day. Look for 50 mg to 100 mg of the active ingredient harpagoside in each capsule.
For the dried root, doses of 0.5 to 1.5 grams three times per day in a water-based solution (like a cup of tea…) are typical.
As a tincture, I’d recommend doses of 0.2 to one milliliter (1:5 in 25 percent alcohol) three times per day.
As with all herbal remedies, talk to your doctor before starting your treatment.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
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1 Chrubasik S et al. “Effectiveness of Harpagophytum extract WS 1531 in the treatment of exacerbation of low back pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.” European Journal of Anaesthesiology. 16.2 (1999):118-29.
2 Dougados M et al. “Evaluation of the structure-modifying effects of diacerein in hip osteoarthritis: ECHODIAH, a three-year, placebo-controlled trial. Evaluation of the 2 Chondromodulating Effect of Diacerein in OA of the Hip.” Arthritis and Rheumatism. 44.11 (2001):2539-47.
3 Chrubasik S et al. “A randomized double-blind pilot study comparing Doloteffin and Vioxx in the treatment of low back pain.” Rheumatology (Oxford). 42.1 (2003):141-8.
4 Stewart KM and Cole D. “The commercial harvest of devil’s claw (Harpagophytum spp.) in southern Africa: the devil’s in the details.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 100.3 (2005):225-36.