Many people who suffer chronic leg and knee pain due to inflammatory diseases, including osteoarthritis, take non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs—NSAIDs—daily for pain relief. A low-growing African vine with the improbable name of devil's claw may provide relief for knee, ankle and leg pain caused by osteoarthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
Herbal medications should not replace standard medical treatment, especially in the case of chronic pain, which may signify an underlying disorder. If you're considering devil's claw to treat leg or knee pain, learn about its side effects and discuss its use with your health care provider.
Plant Facts
Devil's claw—Harpagophytum procumbens—grows in the Kalahari and Savannah desert regions of southern Africa. Its common name comes from the thorny, claw-like hooks that cover the ripe fruit. Botswana, Namibia and South Africa all consider devil's claw a protected plant. The countries offer training on sustainable harvesting, and issue permits only to those who complete the training. Historically, folk practitioners have used devil's claw for pain relief, to reduce inflammation, to soothe indigestion and to treat skin problems.
Active Compounds
Devil's claw's secondary root contains a high concentration of harpagoside, the plant's primary active constituent. Most research into the effectiveness and safety of devil's claw to treat knee and leg pain, specifically pain due to osteoarthritis, has focused on harpagoside. Other components may play a part in the plant's reputation for pain relief, according to Steven Foster, author of "101 Medicinal Herbs." Some of those components also have other bio-active effects, however, that include reducing blood pressure and increasing stomach acid.
Benefits
Components in devil's claw may relieve pain by reducing inflammation. It may help some people with degenerative joint diseases reduce or eliminate their use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, according to Medline Plus. The website, maintained by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, states that good scientific evidence exists for the use of devil's claw to treat degenerative joint diseases, which often affect the knees, hips and ankles. It also notes, however, that many of the studies favoring devil's claw were small and had design flaws.
Research
Devil's claw may be effective in treating osteoarthritis, but scientists need further, well-designed studies before drawing any definitive conclusions, according to a 2006 analytical review. The review, conducted by researchers at the Complementary Medicine Research Unit of Aldemoor Health Centre, University of Southampton, studied 14 clinical trials exploring the effectiveness and safety of devil's claw to relieve pain and inflammation due to osteoarthritis. The authors concluded that while the higher quality studies suggest devil's claw is effective in reducing pain due to joint disease, the clinical evidence does not definitively answer the two most important questions—whether devil's claw works and if it is safe. Few studies exist on the effects of devil's claw on generalized leg pain, as opposed to pain due to inflammatory joint disease.
Side Effects
While many short-term studies suggest that preparations containing devil's claw have fewer side effects than NSAIDs, Foster notes that people with heart disease, and pregnant or lactating women should only use devil's claw under a doctor's supervision. People taking devil's claw have also reported headaches, loss of appetite and sense of taste, ringing in the ears and diarrhea, according to Medline Plus. Devil's claw may affect blood sugar levels and blood clotting. If you are diabetic, or taking blood thinning medications, consult your doctor before taking preparations containing devil's claw.
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