Dear readers and friends,
Today I'm starting a series of articles or monographs on various plants to support the use of natural products for common everyday ailments. The first plant I'll introduce has a scary but very useful name: Devil's Claw.
Obviously we will look at some herbal remedies that work, but as always, before self-diagnosing or attempting DIY treatments, it is always best to consult a doctor.
If the results of a therapy based on medicinal plants are disappointing, you should immediately resort to the synthetic drugs recommended by your doctor.
BOTANICAL NAME: Harpagophytum procumbens (Burch.) DC. (Pedaliaceae)
PLANT PARTS USED: Dried secondary roots. Devil's claw is a plant native to tropical regions. In countries where it grows wild, women apply a devil's claw ointment to their abdomens to reduce labor pain.
MAIN COMPONENTS: Iridoid glycosides: harpagoside, harpagide, procumbide.
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antirheumatic activity.
CLINICAL USE: Chronic rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis of various locations (coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis). Joint pain.
PROVEN EFFECTS: stomachic, bitter-tonic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, mildly analgesic.
FOLK MEDICINE . In traditional South African medicine, the drug is used as a bitter tonic for digestive disorders, blood disorders, as an antipyretic, as an analgesic, and for pregnancy-related disorders. In Europe, folk medicine uses it for metabolic disorders, arthritis, liver disease, biliary tract disorders, kidney disease, bladder problems, allergies, and general senility.
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antirheumatic. It has long been known that total extracts of Harpagophytum procumbens exert analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic effects in experimental models of inflammation and arthritis (e.g., formaldehyde-induced arthritis in albino rats). The Harpagophytum procumbens phytocomplex is now used in the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other rheumatic diseases, and interesting experimental observations have demonstrated the drug's anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antirheumatic effects.
In herbal medicine, the drug is used as an anti-arthritic and anti-rheumatic, and because of these properties, it is easily found in topical ointments and creams. In this context, devil's claw is often associated with arnica, a plant rich in terpenoid and flavonoid compounds, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, and anti-arthritic properties.
The infusion of devil's claw roots is used to aid digestion.
The main chemical constituents of the devil's claw are: iridoid monoterpenes (harpagoside, harpagide and procumbide), phenylethanol derivatives, phytosterols, oligosaccharides, triterpenes, flavones, aromatic acids.
The main contraindications to the use of devil's claw and products containing it or its extracts are: pregnancy and breastfeeding, cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, and the presence of gastrointestinal disorders (gastric hyperacidity, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Avoid use in pediatric age and if you are undergoing certain pharmacological therapies due to possible interactions.
If you are taking any medications or suffer from any medical conditions or illnesses, consult your doctor before taking devil's claw or products containing it, especially (but not exclusively) when taken orally.
Indications: Devil's Claw is primarily used for its anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system. It is effective in more than half of subjects who take it for joint problems, after just one week. After gentian, it is one of the plants with the highest bittering properties. Precisely because of this characteristic, Devil's Claw has proven useful for indigestion and digestive problems in general. According to some authors, its extract helps reduce blood lipid levels. Recent studies also indicate that Devil's Claw has an effect on the lymphatic system, where it may have a general drainage effect.
Recommended doses:
Infusion: 3% 3 times a day
Dry extract : 1-3g/day
Fluid extract: 10-20 drops 2-3 times a day
TM: 1 teaspoon 6 times a day
Nomenclature
TM : Mother Tincture
MG .: Glyceric Macerate
gtt: Drops
OEP : Pure Essential Oil
For more information, I've listed the links to the Mystery of Health and the PDF of medicinal herbs that you can find in my library.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH DECREE 10 August 2018 Regulation of the use of herbal substances and preparations in food supplements.
MdS officinal herbs (Ministry of Health)
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals.
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