However, more research is needed before healthcare providers can recommend devil’s claw for these conditions.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
What Is Devil’s Claw?
Illustration by Emily Roberts for Verywell Health
Devil’s claw is a dietary supplement that may offer pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits.
It’s sometimes called grapple plant or wood spider.
It is available in the United States and is taken in various dosages.
Illustration by Emily Roberts for Verywell Health
More research is needed to confirm these benefits and how best to deliver them.
What Are the Benefits of Devils Claw?
Like many natural products, people may use devil’s claw for various reasons.
Several studies have assessed devil’s claw for its potential uses.
May Relieve Back Pain
Devil’s claw was as effective as NSAIDs at relievinglow-back pain.
But further research with higher-quality clinical trials is still warranted.
A systematic review of studies included examples of how people with osteoarthritis may have benefited from devil’s claw.
But longer-term studies are still necessary to better evaluate the effectiveness and safety of devil’s claw.
Some studies demonstrate antibacterial, antifungal,antiviraland anticancer effects, though more research is needed.
Devil’s claw shows promise in treating inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and key in 2diabetes.
What Are the Side Effects of Devil’s Claw?
Like many medications and natural products, side effects are possible with devil’s claw.
The following may not be a complete list of side effects.
What Are the Precautions?
Devil’s claw may pose risks.
Pregnancy: Devil’s claw may have adverse effects on the fetus.
Breastfeeding: There is little information about the effects and safety of devil’s claw on nursing babies.
Contact your healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and harms of devil’s claw while breastfeeding.
Some older adults may be more sensitive to medication side effects.
If you have a history of gallstones, your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding devil’s claw.
For this reason, your healthcare provider may recommend against devil’s claw if you have a heart-related condition.
People with a higher risk of low sodium levels: Devil’s claw may lower your sodium levels.
You may want to avoid devil’s claw if you’re more likely to have low sodium levels.
For example, certaindiuretics(water pills) may increase your risk of low sodium levels.
Diarrhea and vomiting may also lower your sodium levels.
If you take devil’s claw, follow your healthcare provider’s suggestions and product label instructions.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Devil’s Claw?
There is little information about devil’s claw toxicity and overdoses in humans.
Some medications bind to specific CYP450 proteins to be broken down or activatedbut usually to be broken down.
These medications that attach to CYP450 proteins are called substrates.
Devil’s claw may affect how specific CYP450 proteins workparticularly the CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 proteins.
Changing how these proteins work may also change how quickly or slowly they break down or activate some medications.
This change may lead to different levels of certain medications, resulting in more side effects or reduced effectiveness.
An example of a CYP2C9 substrate medication is Dilantin (phenytoin) for seizures.
And a CYP2C19 substrate example is the voriconazoleantifungal.
A CYP3A4 substrate example is Zocor (simvastatin) forhigh cholesterol.
For this reason, your healthcare provider may want to monitor you closely.
And if necessary, they’ll make adjustments to your medications.
Jantoven (warfarin):Warfarin thins your blood, raising the likelihood of bleeding and bruising side effects.
As with most supplements, however, more research is needed to confirm the benefits of devil’s claw.
They can let you know of possible drug interactions and side effects.
They can also ensure youre giving devil’s claw a good trial at appropriate doses.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplemet label database.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Devil’s claw.
Brendler T.Review of devil’s claw (Harpagophytumspp.
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doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004504.pub4
Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
2014;5:CD002947.
2022 Jun 6;27(11):3637. doi:10.3390/molecules27113637.
2014 Jul 28;9(7):e103118.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.
Food and Drug Administration.Drug development and drug interactions | table of substrates, inhibitors and inducers.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.A guide to herbal remedies.
