Millions of people all around the world today are suffering from joint or nerve pain. In fact, it’s estimated that 31 million people in the United States alone are suffering from osteoarthritis. (1) Prescription medication to treat arthritis comes with plenty of potential side effects, however. Just a few of these are increased risk of heart attack and stroke. It’s no wonder, then, that many people suffering from ailments like arthritis and sciatica are looking for safer and cheaper alternatives. One of these herbs is called devil’s claw, an herb I also have personal experience with. Keep reading to learn why so many people are starting to ditch their prescription meds and instead try devil’s claw for pain relief.

What is Devil’s Claw?

Devil’s Claw, also known as Harpagophytum procumbens, is a root which originates in the southern part of the African continent, particularly around the Kalahari and Savannah Deserts. It can also be found on the island of Madagascar. It was used by groups such as the Khoisan people to treat a wide variety of ailments like hypertension and fever. (2)

Today, the herb is not incredibly common or well-known in North America or the West in general, although a number of studies have taken place in Europe. As more and more people report their positive experiences with devil’s claw, word is starting to spread, especially in regards to the herb’s ability to relieve pain.

My Story

A couple years back I had a strange nerve issue in my leg. It became difficult to walk for more than twenty minutes at a time without needing to stop and rest. It’s not that I was tired, but the pain would just get too unbearable to continue.

I could hardly run or even do normal leg stretches. I wasn’t worried for the first couple of weeks, thinking it was just a temporary problem that would fade away. But it went on for several more months with no signs of improvement.

Worried, I shelled out lots of money for both acupuncture and a physical therapist, regularly visiting both practitioners over a period of months. Unfortunately for both my leg and my bank account, neither did anything to solve the problem.

Fed up, I did some research on what herbs could help nerve issues and pain relief, which is when I first discovered devil’s claw.

I’d already given up on both acupuncture and physical therapy by the time the 1 month supply of devil’s claw arrived. I took the recommended dosage every day until the bottle was finished. I would’ve ordered another bottle because I was still experiencing pain, but I was in the middle of a trip abroad at the time I finished the first one.

Several days after the bottle was finished, though, I began to notice that I could walk for much longer periods at a time. Then I realized that I could jog again, and even dance!

So what was this nerve issue with my leg? I’m still not sure, as no doctors I visited were able to tell me. As you’ll read more about below, it was likely something called sciatica.

What I do know is that the painful symptoms lasted for about half a year and then went away for good. While I can’t say with 100% certainty that devil’s claw was solely responsible for solving my problem, I’d be willing to bet that that was the case. And I only ever needed that one bottle. Ever since, I’ve been recommending that my friends and family experiencing nerve or joint pain to consider taking devil’s claw for pain relief.

How Does Devil’s Claw Help Relieve Pain?

Devil’s claw contains a chemical called harpagoside which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the herb also contains powerful antioxidants like flavonoids and phytosterols. These compounds are also known to help prevent muscle spasms. (3)

Devil’s claw has also been traditionally used to treat fevers, sores and digestive issues.

Devil’s Claw for Arthritis

Clinical studies done on harpagoside, one of the main chemical components of devil’s claw, have shown it to be effective at relieving pain from osteoarthritis. Patients suffering from arthritis have also demonstrated increased mobility after ingesting devil’s claw over a period of time, usually from one to three months.

Another study done in France found devil’s claw just as effective at pain relief in the hips and knees as a prominent prescription drug. Devil’s claw, of course, is all-natural, which means it comes without many of the side effects which are common with man-made medications. Therefore, you would be wise to consider something like devil’s claw for pain relief before spending money on a potentially harmful prescription drug.

If you’re suffering from hip or back pain due to arthritis, Dr. Weil recommends looking for a type of devil’s claw which contains a daily dose of 50 – 100mg of harpagoside. (4)

Devil’s Claw for Back and Neck Pain

Devil’s claw has even been shown to help those suffering from neck and back pain, a major annoyance for millions of people worldwide.

The herb beat out placebos in clinical studies involving groups suffering from pain in the neck, back or shoulder area. Another particular study of 197 people focused specifically on those with lower back pain. In all cases, the herb came out a winner each time. (5)

Much of the relief happened after 4 weeks of consumption, so don’t consider devil’s claw for pain relief if you’re looking for instantaneous results. It may require a bit of patience, but the herb has been proven to be effective time and time again.

Devil’s Claw for Sciatica

Though none of the medical professionals I visited for my leg pain were able to give me an official diagnosis, I was likely suffering from an ailment known as sciatica. And as mentioned above, devil’s claw is most likely what healed my problem when nothing else worked.

Sciatica is generally characterized by pain in the sciatic nerve which runs down the back of each leg. Sciatica nerve pain usually just persists in one leg and not both, as was the case with me. It can be caused by any number of things, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. My pain started the day after a strenuous jog during a time when I was already experiencing lower back pain.

Some of the main symptoms include sharp pain when both sitting and walking, as well as occasional numbness and tingling throughout the leg. The level and duration of pain can seem somewhat random. Some days it’s worse when moving while other times it’s just as bad while seated. Still on other occasions, a person may be able to go about a normal day with little pain before it comes back again. (6)

So why is devil’s claw so good for treating sciatica? It’s likely due to the herb’s potent anti-inflammatory properties. More specifically, devil’s claw has an effect on a group of molecules called leukotrienes which play a role in inflammation. (7)

In addition to joint pain, alleviating symptoms of sciatica and other nerve issues is yet another use of devil’s claw for pain relief.

Interestingly, another herb that’s been shown to help with sciatica is turmeric, which I covered in a recent article.

Potential Side Effects of Using Devil’s Claw for Pain Relief

Devil’s claw has not been shown to have too many side effects, although certain groups of people may want to be cautious before trying it. Devil’s claw can lower blood sugar, so you may want to be careful if you’re hypoglycemic. (4)

You should also be careful if you’re experiencing stomach ulcers, as ingesting devil’s claw may alter your stomach’s acid levels. Other possible adverse effects include potential allergic reactions, although these are considered rare.

Where to Find Devil’s Claw

The only type of devil’s claw I have any experience with is the kind sold by Now Foods. As mentioned, taking just a bottle of this pretty much completely eliminated the bad leg pain I’d been experiencing, which was probably sciatica. Fortunately, I did not experience any adverse side effects.

There are a number of other brands selling devil’s claw in both capsule and even liquid form. Most varieties should be fine, but you’d be best off checking online reviews before buying any supplement.

Conclusion

Are you or anyone you know suffering from some of the ailments listed above? If so, you may want to give this strange-looking root a try. My own positive experiences with devil’s claw for pain relief was yet another positive affirmation of how beneficial and effective natural herbs can be. Do you have any experience with devil’s claw or a similar herb for relieving pain? Be sure to let us know in a comment down below!

Sources

(1) https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-statistics-facts.php

(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpagoside

(3) https://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/09/22/devils-claw-root-pain.html

(4) https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/bone-joint/devils-claw-for-arthritis/

(5) https://healthyfocus.org/benefits-of-devils-claw/

(6) https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-you-need-know-about-sciatica

(7) https://www.healthcracker.com/revealed-a-5-cure-for-sciatica-pain-say-bye-bye-to-back-pain/

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