Devil’s Claw

A desert plant native to southern Africa, devil’s claw is a somewhat coarse but attractive prostrate perennial with deeply lobed grey-green leaves and bright pink and yellow flowers. It gets its name from the bizarrely claw-like fruits it produces. It is the tuber that is harvested and dried for herbal remedies, however, being used against chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatism, arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. It has become very popular for pain relief and inflammation, and clinical studies in Germany suggest that this reputation is deserved, with subjects in double blind tests showing increased mobility and significant reduction in pain. The active ingredients being studied are harpagosides found in the plant’s secondary root.