Devil's Claw

What is Devil's Claw?

Devil's Claw is a flowering plant native to the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa, named for its distinctive hooked fruit that clings to passing animals. The tuberous secondary roots are the medicinal part — harvested, dried, and used in traditional healing for generations before becoming popular in European natural medicine in the early 1900s. Today it's one of the most extensively studied herbal treatments for musculoskeletal pain.

How does Devil's Claw work?

Devil's Claw's pain-relieving effects come primarily from harpagoside and related iridoid compounds, which appear to reduce inflammation by interfering with the body's prostaglandin and leukotriene pathways — the same pathways targeted by many conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. It also shows some mild analgesic activity that helps quiet pain signals. Unlike NSAIDs, it does not appear to significantly irritate the stomach lining at normal doses.

What forms does Devil's Claw come in?

Standardized capsule and tablet extracts are the most researched and reliable forms for pain relief. Liquid tinctures are widely available but harder to standardize. Dried root tea is traditional but delivers lower and less consistent harpagoside levels. Topical creams exist but have limited clinical evidence compared to oral forms.

Where it comes from:

Indigenous San and Khoikhoi peoples of southern Africa used Devil's Claw root in teas and poultices for pain, fever, digestive problems, and childbirth complications for centuries. A German farmer named G.H. Mehnert introduced it to European medicine around 1904, and it gained widespread use in Germany and France as a natural arthritis remedy throughout the 20th century. It remains one of the top-selling herbal supplements in Europe today.

What does Devil's Claw help with?

Devil's claw is a desert plant from southern Africa. San and Khoikhoi healers have used its root for ages to ease pain, swelling, and gut trouble. European herbalists took it up in the early 1900s.

• Long-lasting lower back pain
  Strong evidence — several randomised human trials, with matching results. In more than one human trial, devil's claw beat placebo on low back pain scores. People reported real drops in pain. In some of these trials, it worked about as well as standard pain drugs. The research centres on chronic back pain with no clear single cause.
  Evidence grade A · Traditional tier T2
• Hip and knee osteoarthritis
  Good evidence — human trials in people with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Human trials found less joint pain in people with hip or knee arthritis. Some also found people moved more easily. In lab work, harpagoside, a compound in the root, slowed the inflammation steps tied to joint wear and stiffness.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T2
• Neck and shoulder pain
  Early evidence — a smaller body of clinical studies in people. Clinical studies in people with neck and shoulder pain found less pain and better day-to-day function. This included pain from tight muscles and from minor structural problems. Relief built up over several weeks of use.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• General joint aching and morning stiffness
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — user and practitioner reports outside diagnosed arthritis. Outside of diagnosed arthritis, the human evidence is thin. Many people report less aching and less stiffness on waking. Reports agree it acts slowly, over weeks, not like a quick painkiller.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T2
• Sore, tight muscles
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — no human trial in muscle pain; reasoning from other research. No human trial has tested devil's claw for plain muscle soreness or tension. Its use here rests on the mild pain-easing and swelling-calming action seen in other studies. Some people try it for long-term tightness or soreness after exercise.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Low-grade, long-running inflammation
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — laboratory studies only. In lab studies, iridoid glycosides from the root blocked several of the body's main inflammation signals. No human trial has measured inflammation itself as the main result. It is offered as one option for slow-burning inflammation that drives pain and tiredness.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Bloating, slow digestion, poor appetite
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use and the root's bitter taste. The root is bitter, and bitter herbs are traditionally used to prompt digestive juices. Herbalists have used it for bloating, sluggish digestion, and loss of appetite. Modern human research here is much thinner than for pain.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Gout flares
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — practitioner use; no trial in gout. Some practitioners use devil's claw alongside other care during gout flares. Its swelling-calming action in lab work fits that idea. No clinical trial has tested it in gout.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Tendon and soft tissue pain
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — practitioner reports and single case accounts. Practitioners report help with tendinitis and sore soft tissue. This fits the swelling-calming action seen in lab studies. Formal trials in this area are lacking.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2

What Devil's Claw has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to give fast relief; in trials, any change built up over weeks.
• It has not been shown to handle sudden, severe inflammation, such as a fresh injury flare.
• No human trial has shown that it stops or reverses joint damage in arthritis.
• Trials measured pain scores and movement, not cure; they do not show that back pain or arthritis goes away.
• Its use for gout, tendon pain, and digestion has not been tested in clinical trials.

How to read this:

The grades here rate the human evidence, use by use. A means several human trials agree. B means at least one good trial. C means small or mixed studies. D means weak or clashing results. Insufficient means no human study at all, so only lab work, animal work, or tradition. A high grade does not mean it will work for you. This page lists options and findings. It is not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for your own doctor.

What can Devil's Claw help prevent?

• Progression of inflammation-driven joint damage (as an adjunct to a broader anti-inflammatory lifestyle — supported by its consistent reduction of inflammatory markers in trials)

Which foods are rich in Devil's Claw?

Devil's Claw is a specific plant extract not found in any common food source. To support the same anti-inflammatory pathways it targets, focus on omega-3-rich foods (fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseed), colorful vegetables and berries rich in polyphenols, turmeric and ginger, and extra virgin olive oil. These foods work synergistically with Devil's Claw's anti-inflammatory action. Avoid or minimize refined sugar, processed seed oils, and excess alcohol, which drive the same inflammatory pathways Devil's Claw works to calm.

What are the side effects of Devil's Claw?

• Mild stomach upset or nausea (most common, usually resolves with food)
• Diarrhea or loose stools
• Headache
• Allergic skin reactions (rare)
• Potential drop in heart rate (with very high doses)
• Not recommended in pregnancy
• May worsen peptic ulcers or GERD due to increased stomach acid

Good to know:

Devil's Claw has a good safety record in clinical trials at standard doses. Most side effects are mild and GI-related, and they usually improve when taken with food. It is not recommended during pregnancy (may stimulate uterine contractions), and should be used cautiously in people with peptic ulcers, gallstones, or heart conditions.

How much Devil's Claw should you take?

• Recommended daily: 600–2,400 mg of standardized root extract per day (standardized to at least 50–100 mg harpagoside daily). Most clinical trials used 960 mg twice daily of a standardized extract. Start at the lower end and increase if needed.
• Best time of day: Can be taken any time — splitting into two doses (morning and evening) helps maintain steady levels and reduces stomach upset.
• With or without food: Take with food to reduce the chance of stomach upset, especially when starting.
• Time to effect: Mild improvement may be noticed within 2 weeks; meaningful pain relief typically builds over 4–8 weeks of consistent use.
• How long to take it: Can be used continuously for up to 3–4 months based on clinical trial data. For long-term use, consider taking a 2–4 week break every 3 months. Always re-evaluate need at regular intervals.