Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum procumbens

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Osteoarthritis pain^{1, 2} Low back pain³ Rheumatic joint pain and stiffness⁴ Minor articular pain⁵ Mild digestive complaints⁵	Active gastric or duodenal ulcer⁵ Hypersensitivity to devil's claw⁵ Pregnancy and breastfeeding⁶

Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a southern African root herb used traditionally for pain, with an anti-inflammatory action attributed to effects on eicosanoid synthesis⁷. It is used for osteoarthritis pain and low back pain. Typical users are patients looking for alternatives to conventional analgesics, whose adverse reactions limit their use. The European Medicines Agency lists traditional use for minor articular pain and, separately, for mild digestive complaints such as bloating and temporary loss of appetite⁵.

The evidence is modest and product-specific. A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence that standardized extracts may be better than placebo for short-term low back pain³. In knee and hip osteoarthritis, trials found efficacy comparable to diacerhein and to meloxicam², while a meta-analysis of Brazilian herbal trials found no difference from control. A review of trial quality concluded that evidence does not transfer between products⁸. In 2024, a laboratory study in synovial cells from osteoarthritis patients found an extract lowered cartilage-degrading enzyme expression; no human trial has tested this. Products are mostly capsules, with tablets and liquids also sold; see Form comparison.

Per the European Medicines Agency monograph, patients with gallstones are asked to consult a physician before use⁵. For anticoagulated patients, an Italian review lists devil's claw among herbs reported to reinforce warfarin action⁹, whereas the monograph reports no interactions⁵.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

38 sources, 33 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources