Harpagophytum procumbens
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Devil's Claw Harpagophytum procumbens |
Devil's Claw - Harpagophytum procumbens (in the Pedaliaceae family)
Parts used: Secondary storage roots.
Taste/smell: Bitter.
Dosage: Decoction: 1 teaspoon per cup of water; or 1:4 dry liquid extract: 10-60 drops 1-4 times per day.
Use: (a) Anti-inflammatory, (b) Analgesic, (c) Anti-arthritic, (d) Bitter tonic.
Devil's claw is used for arthritis, bursitis, gout, neuralgia, headache and other generalized aches and pains.
The secondary storage roots contain fats, waxes, n-alkanes, iridoid glycosides, including harpagoside comprising 0.1-2.0 % of the total, also procumbide and harpagide and phenolic glycosides including acteoside and sterols. The water-soluble stachyose, raffinose, saccharose, glucose, etc., form approximately 70% of the dry herb.
Contraindications: It is contraindicated in gastric and duodenal ulcers acute gall bladder disease and pregnancy.