Symptom → Plant Sources
Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) as a tool for helping with Headache
inferred from analgesic action
An evidence-based systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interaction, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.
Preparations from devil's claw differ in their content of active ingredients as assessed by the quantity of harpagoside present. The harpagoside content in the daily dose of Doloteffin (extraction solvent water) is double that of preparations extracted with 60% ethanol. Only preparations with proven effectiveness for painful lower back or arthrotic pain are an attractive alternative to synthetic analgesics, and are of substantial benefit in the treatment of chronic pain. From an evidence based view, extract with at least 50 mg harpagoside in the daily dose should be recommended for the treatment of pain. Treatment with devil's claw extract is associated with a lower risk of adverse events than treatment with synthetic analgesics, and may contribute in the majority of patients to the relief of pain.
2 sources supporting Devil's Claw for Headache. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's analgesic (pain relief) action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
This review of devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) covers its ethnobotany, iridoid-glycoside phytochemistry (harpagoside, harpagide) and its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial biological activities.
Harpagophytum procumbens extract potentiated morphine antinociception in neuropathic rats, supporting the analgesic use of devil's claw in chronic pain.
This review (2011-2022) summarises the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial activity of devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) and its traditional uses for pain and infection.
This review of efficacy and safety found devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) a beneficial and well-tolerated traditional remedy for osteoarthritis pain, with fewer adverse effects than NSAIDs.
Harpagophytum procumbens extract ameliorated allodynia and modulated oxidative and antioxidant stress pathways in a rat model of spinal cord injury, supporting its analgesic and antioxidant use.
This study characterised the iridoids of Harpagophytum procumbens (harpagoside) and demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of devil's claw extracts in experimental models.
Harpagophytum procumbens extract exhibited analgesic effects on postoperative (plantar incision) and neuropathic (spared nerve injury) pain in rats, supporting the analgesic use of devil's claw.