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Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum procumbens for joint pain.

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Overview

Harpagophytum procumbens for joint pain.

Natural sources
  • Whole dried plant material (root, leaf, flower, or aerial parts depending on the species)
  • Standardized hydroethanolic or aqueous extract (capsule, tincture, or tea)
  • Powdered traditional preparation used in Ayurvedic, TCM, or Western herbal practice
Common forms
  • Standardized extract capsule
  • Liquid tincture (alcohol or glycerin)
  • Powdered whole herb
  • Traditional decoction or tea

Mechanism of action

Harpagosides inhibit COX-2 and inflammatory cytokines.

Pathways
  • · Harpagosides inhibit COX-2
  • · inflammatory cytokines

Effects on the body

Decreases
OA pain

Organ system effects

Evidence-based benefits

Reduces OA pain

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      Prescription medications (general)
      Always disclose Devil's Claw use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.
      minor

      Safety & non-supplemental interactions

      Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

      Avoid if you are
      • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
      • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with
      • A high-quality multivitamin
        Covers micronutrient cofactors that support most supplement pathways.
      • Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
        Foundational anti-inflammatory support that complements most regimens.
      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      2.4 g standardized
      Best form
      Most evidence is based on the standardized extract capsule form.
      Timing
      Consistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
      With food?
      Either with or without food.

      Where to buy

      Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon code supplementsch-20 is auto-applied at checkout. We don't endorse specific brands; verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Scientific evidence8Show studies
      Meta-analysisBMC Complement Altern Med · 2007

      Devil's claw for low back pain

      Gagnier JJ, et al.

      12 RCTs

      Key findings

      Effective for non-specific low back pain.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Devil's Claw — Reduces OA pain

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Devil's Claw Reduces OA pain" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Devil's Claw and "Reduces OA pain". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Devil's Claw — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Devil's Claw randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Devil's Claw and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Devil's Claw — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Devil's Claw meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Devil's Claw and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Devil's Claw — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Devil's Claw pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Devil's Claw and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Devil's Claw — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Devil's Claw safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Devil's Claw and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Devil's Claw — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Devil's Claw dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Devil's Claw and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Devil's Claw — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Devil's Claw as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.

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