DEVILS CLAW HARPAGOPHYTUM PROCUMBENS

DEVILS CLAW (Harpagophytum procumbens (Burch.) DC ex. Meisn.) ++

Synonym :
Uncaria procumbens Burch.

Activities (Devils Claw):
Allergenic (f; PHR); Analgesic (2; CAN; KOM; MAB; PH2); Antiarrhythmic (1; APA); Antiarthritic (1; CRC; MAB; PH2; VVG); Antiedemic (1; BGB); Antiexudative (f; SHT); Antiinflammatory (2; APA; BGB; CRC; KOM; PH2); Antipyretic (f; HHB); Antirheumatic (1; CAN; MAB); Aperitif (2; APA; HH2; KOM; VAG); Bitter (1; APA; MAB; PED); Choleretic (2; HH2; KOM; PH2); Depurative (f; BGB; PED); Digestive (f; SKY); Diuretic (f; CAN); Hypocholesterolemic (1; CRC; PED; VAG); Hypotensive (1; APA; BGB); Hypouricemic (1; CRC; PED; VAG); Laxative (f; MAB; WBB); Secretagogue (1; PH2); Sedative (f; CAN); Tonic (1; APA; MAB; VVG); Uricolytic (1; APA); Uterocontractant (f; VAG).

Indications (Devils Claw) :
Aging (f; CRC); Allergy (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; PH2); Anorexia (2; APA; HH2; KOM; PH2; SHT; VAG); Arrhythmia (1; APA; BGB; MAB); Arthrosis (2; APA; CRC; KOM; MAB; PH2; VVG); Atherosclerosis (f; CRC); Backache (2; BGB; BRU; MAB; PHR); Blood (f; BGB); Boil (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; VVG); Bursitis (f; WAF); Cancer (f; APA; WBB); Cancer, skin (f; CRC); Cardiopathy (1; MAB); Childbirth (1; APA; BRU; CRC; MAB; VAG; WBB); Cholecystosis (2; CRC; PHR; PH2); CNS (f; PH2); Cramp (f; VAG); Cystosis (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); Dermatosis (f; BGB; PHR); Diabetes (f; CRC; HHB; VAG); Dysmenorrhea (1; CRC; VAG);
Dyspepsia (2; APA; BGB; CRC; KOM; PH2; SHT); Edema (1; BGB); Enterosis (f; BRU; CRC); Fever (1; APA; BGB; BRU; HHB; VAG); Fibromyalgia (f; WAF); Fibrosis (1; CAN; VAG); Gastrosis (f; BRU; CRC); Gout (1; CAN; CRC; VAG); Headache (1; APA; BGB; MAB); Heartburn (2; CRC; KOM; SKY); Hepatosis (2; CRC; PHR; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; BGB; VAG); High Cholesterol (1; CRC; PED; VAG); Inflammation (2; APA; BGB; CRC; KOM; MAB; PH2); Insomnia (f; CAN); Lumbago (1; BGB; CAN; CRC); Migraine (1; MAB); Myalgia (f; CAN); Nephrosis (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); Nervousness (f; CAN); Neuralgia (1; BGB; CRC); Neurosis (f; PH2); Osteoarthrosis (1; VAG); Pain (2; APA; BGB; CAN; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2; VVG); Parturition (f; VVG); Pleurodynia (f; CAN); Pregnancy (f; APA; PH2); Rheumatism (2; CAN; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2); Sore (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; VVG); Swelling (1; BGB); Tendinitis (1; BGB; WAF); Tuberculosis (f; VAG); Ulcer (f; CRC; MAB); Water Retention (f; CAN); Wound (f; CRC; PHR). I suppose that Commission E is talking about various degenerative arthritic conditions when they approve this for, Supportive therapy of degenerative disorders of the locomotor system, but just couldnt bring themselves around to saying arthrosis, or degenerative joints and/or muscles (KOM).

Dosages (Devils Claw) :
1 tsp chopped root/2 cups water, sipped through day (APA); 1.5 - 4.5( - 10) g root (KOM; SHT; SKY); 6 g root/day (MAB); 1 - 2 tsp fresh root (PED); 0.5 - 1 g dry root (PED); 1 g dry root:5 ml alcohol/5 ml water (PED); 0.1 - 0.25 g powdered tuber (PNC); 0.1 - 0.25 g dry tuber as tea 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.1 - 0.25 ml liquid extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 6 - 12 ml liquid extract (1:2)/day (MAB); 15 - 30 ml tincture (1:5)/day (MAB); 0.5 - 1 ml root tincture (1:5 in 25% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN).

Contraindications, Indications, and Side Effects (Devils Claw) :
Class 2b, 2d (AHP). Contraindicated in duodenal and gastric ulcers (AHP, 1997). Commission E reports contraindications in GI ulcer (AEH). Contraindicated in people with diabetes. Excessive doses may interfere with blood pressure and cardiac therapy (CAN). LD50 = >13,500 mg/kg orl mouse (CAN).

Extracts (Devils Claw) :
German clinical studies confirm arthritic relief; hypocholesterolemic, hypouricemic (PED). Chrubasik et al. (1996) studied the effectiveness in treatment of acute low back pain. While animal studies exhibit analgesic and antiinflammatory activities (due to harpagoside), this study of 118 patients with nonspecific low-back pain (most for more than 15 years), with 400 mg extract 3 ×/day (equivalent of 6000 mg crude root extract = 50 mg harpagoside). Only 9 of the treated patients improved cf 1 in the placebo controls. The insignificant reduction in pain was confined to those whose pain did not radiate to one or both legs. There was a notable absence of identifiable clinical, hematological, or biochemical side effects (PHM3:1). None of these authors commented on the presence of 3 COX-2 inhibitors as well, kaempferol, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid.