Devil's Claw
Devil's claw is traditionally used for joint pain and osteoarthritis symptoms. Evidence quality varies by extract and outcome.
Overview
What is devil's claw?
Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a tuber used for relieving lower back pain and arthritis symptoms.
Dosage
A typical dose of devil's claw is 2400-6000 mg per day, split into three doses.
This dose totals around 50 mg harpagoside, the active ingredient responsible for most therapeutic effects.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most devil's claw research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Back pain accounts for 7 of 15 studies (47%).
- Osteoarthritis accounts for 7 of 15 studies (47%).
- Migraine accounts for 1 of 15 studies (7%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Migraine.
Safety
Devil's claw is possibly safe when used at doses of up to 2400 mg per day for up to 12 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources14 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Back pain
7 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — Harpgophytum procumbens for osteoarthritis and low back pain: a systematic review2004
A systematic review found moderate evidence that devil's claw extracts at 50–100 mg harpagoside/day reduce acute low back pain exacerbations, with strong evidence for aqueous extracts at 50 mg harpagoside/day in chronic nonspecific low back pain.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — A randomized double-blind pilot study comparing Doloteffin and Vioxx in the treatment of low back pain2003
In 88 patients with acute low back pain exacerbations over 6 weeks, Doloteffin (60 mg harpagoside/day) was not significantly different from rofecoxib 12.5 mg/day for pain relief, though large sample sizes would be needed to confirm equivalence.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — Comparison of outcome measures during treatment with the proprietary Harpagophytum extract doloteffin in patients with pain in the lower back, knee or hip2002
In a postmarketing surveillance study of 227 patients with back, knee, or hip pain taking Doloteffin (60 mg harpagoside/day) for 8 weeks, 50–70% reported benefit with few adverse effects.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — Efficacy and tolerance of Harpagophytum extract LI 174 in patients with chronic non-radicular back pain2001
An open-label study of 117 patients with chronic non-radicular back pain given LI 174 devil's claw (960 mg/day) for 8 weeks reported significant improvements in pain and spinal mobility with good tolerability.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — [Effects of Harpagophytum procumbens LI 174 (devil's claw) on sensory, motor und vascular muscle reagibility in the treatment of unspecific back pain]2001
In a 4-week double-blind RCT of 63 patients with mild back, shoulder, or neck muscle pain, LI 174 devil's claw (960 mg/day) significantly improved pain on visual analogue scale and muscle stiffness tests versus placebo.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — Effectiveness of Harpagophytum extract WS 1531 in the treatment of exacerbation of low back pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study1999
In 183 patients with acute low back pain over 4 weeks, WS 1531 harpagoside (50 or 100 mg/day) produced significantly more pain-free days without rescue tramadol than placebo (p = 0.027), with no serious adverse events.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Back pain — Effectiveness of Harpagophytum procumbens in treatment of acute low back pain1996
In 118 patients with acute back pain over 4 weeks, devil's claw extract (50 mg harpagoside/day) yielded 9 pain-free patients versus 1 on placebo, with greater improvement on a modified Arhus pain index (94% confidence).
SupplementDEX Database · Migraine
1 reference8.SupplementDEX Database: Migraine — Palmitoylethanolamide-based nutraceutical Calmux® in preventive treatment of migraine2022
An open-label study of 25 patients with episodic migraine treated with a PEA-based nutraceutical for 3 months reported headache days fell from 10 to 6.6 per month and pain intensity decreased from 8.1 to 5.0, with no adverse events.
SupplementDEX Database · Osteoarthritis
6 references9.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — Prospective, Multicenter Evaluation of a Polyherbal Supplement alongside Standard-of-Care Treatment for Mild Knee Osteoarthritis2021
In 107 adults with symptomatic mild knee osteoarthritis followed ~36 weeks, adding Tregocel® (curcumin, Boswellia, harpagophytum, celery, ginger) to standard care increased 6-minute walk distance by 26 m, improved WOMAC scores, and cut regular OA medication use from 99% to 55%.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — A Rosa canina - Urtica dioica - Harpagophytum procumbens/zeyheri Combination Significantly Reduces Gonarthritis Symptoms in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study2017
In 92 patients with gonarthritis over 12 weeks, daily MA212 (rosehip, nettle, and devil's claw) significantly improved WOMAC pain scores versus placebo (29.87 vs 10.23 point reduction, p < 0.001).
11.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — A complex of three natural anti-inflammatory agents provides relief of osteoarthritis pain2014
An observational study of 42 patients with acute or chronic osteoarthritis pain treated with a turmeric, devil's claw, and bromelain complex (650–1,300 mg/day) reported clinically relevant VAS pain reductions at 15–60 days with good tolerance.
12.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — Treatment of patients with arthrosis of hip or knee with an aqueous extract of devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC.)2003
An open multicentre study of 75 patients with hip or knee arthrosis given aqueous devil's claw extract (50 mg harpagoside/day) for 12 weeks reported 22.9% improvement in WOMAC total score and 25.8% reduction in VAS pain.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — Efficacy and tolerance of Harpagophytum procumbens versus diacerhein in treatment of osteoarthritis2000
In 122 osteoarthritis patients over 4 months, Harpadol devil's claw was comparable to diacerein 100 mg/day for pain and function, with significantly fewer adverse events (8.1% vs 26.7% diarrhea) and less rescue medication use.
14.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — Harpagophytum procumbens in the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Four-month results of a prospective, multicenter, double-blind trial versus diacerhein2000
In 122 patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis over 4 months, devil's claw 2,610 mg/day was at least as effective as diacerein 100 mg/day for pain and function, with fewer analgesic needs and adverse events.