Abstract
Historically, Harpagophytum procumbens (devil’s claw) has been used as an analgesic, a remedy for fevers and allergies, and as a bitter by San bushmen in Africa to stimulate gastric enzymes and digestion. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recommends devil’s claw as a diuretic and sedative,1 and the German Commission E, the German counterpart to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, approves devil’s claw for dyspepsia, appetite stimulation, and degenerative disorders of the musculoskeletal system.2 Devil’s claw has also been used for liver and kidney disorders, as a purgative, an oxytocic, and as a topical agent to treat wounds and skin rashes.3,4 Clinical research has shown it to be effective for arthritis and rheumatic disorders.2