Devils Claw (Harpophytum procumbens) a native to southern Africa, has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory & analgesic properties in muscular and arthritic conditions. A 4 month randomised controlled trial (RCT) in 122 people in year 2000 compared Devils claw with the osteoarthritis medication diacerein, and found that both were equally as effective in reducing pain. Devils claw however had fewer side effects.
This was corroborated in a 2021 RCT of 60 people with painful knee osteoarthritis. Half were randomised to receive Devil’s claw twice daily and the other half were given Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). Both groups experienced a significant reduction in knee pain in the second, fourth and eighth weeks after treatment, establishing Devil’s claw to be as effective as NSAIDs.
A 2021 review of nutraceuticals in the management of osteoarthritis found there is strong clinical evidence of the efficacy of devil’s claw in relieving pain and that “wholeplant extracts appear to possess a far better therapeutic effect than those prepared from isolated parts”.

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This information is intended for educational purposes only. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments. Herbs can interact with pharmaceutical medications. References available on request