Harpagophytum

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Harpagophytum procumbens, also called grapple plant, wood spider and Devil's Claw, is a plant of the sesame family, native to South Africa. It got its name from its peculiar appearance. The plant's large tuberous roots are used medicinally to reduce pain and fever, to stimulate digestion. European colonists brought Devil's Claw home where it was used to treat arthritis.

H. procumbens are mainly found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Namibia, Southern Botwswana and the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape, South Africa. H. Zeyheri is found in the northern parts of Namibia ( Ovamboland) and southern Angola.The active ingredient is harpagoside with values ranging in both species from 1.0% to 3.3%.

The name "devil's claw" is also used for several species of North American plants in the genus Proboscidea.

Although there are various forms of Devil's Claw containing products available, only one preparation has been subjected to clinical trials, a German product called Doloteffin. Due to the variable nature of herbal medicines, the results using one product cannot be extrapolated to other products containing the same herb (just as a prize winning wine is not the same as everything else made from grapes).

As part of a 2006 systematic review of herbal medications for low back pain, the reviewers concluded that H. procumbens "seemed to reduce pain more than placebo." In a standardized daily dose of 60 mg, the pain-relieving effect of Devil's Claw was equivalent to that of a 12.5 mg dose of rofecoxib (Vioxx). [link]

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