Devil's claw – Harpagophytum procumbens
To thrive in the savannah, you need to have tremendous strength and stamina. Devil's claw also has a clever reproduction strategy: its fruit has barbs that enable it to cling to the fur of passing animals, allowing it to spread across wide areas. In Europe, the healing properties of the plant have been known since the beginning of the 20th century.
Balm for the musculoskeletal system
Fields of application
The devil's claw root contains a complex of iridoid glycosides with harpagoside and harpagide, which have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic effect by inhibiting cyclooxygenase. The medicinal plant is used to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, back pain and tenosynovitis. Its bitter substances also help with indigestion and loss of appetite. Various studies show that devil's claw is just as effective as chemical anti-inflammatories for rheumatic complaints, painful joint arthrosis and back pain. With our Dr. Andres Devil's Claw Capsules F, we rely on an internal application of devil's claw.
Botanical characteristics
The African devil's claw originates from the savannahs of the Kalahari in South Africa, Botswana and from Angola to Namibia. The flowering plant has shoots that can reach 1.5 metres in length and lie flat on the ground. Its leaves are grey-green and lobed in an irregular pattern. Its colourful funnel-shaped flowers shine in yellow or violet. The fruits resemble woody arms bearing hooked outgrowths that are responsible for the plant's name. The plant's effects are attributed to its roots. Those looking for devil's claw root must dig between 30 centimetres and one metre below the earth's surface. Once the roots have been found, they are dried before they can be processed further.
