Devil's Claw

What is Devil’s Claw?

Devil’s claw is a really interesting looking fruit.

Part of the sesame family, and native to southern Africa, the fruit has little hooks that allow it to grab on to passing animals, who help distribute its pollen.

The potential benefits of devil’s claw

The roots of Devil’s Claw contain various active compounds which can be used in supplements. 

These compounds are found in various plants and they are generally bitter in taste. They can help defend the plants against herbivores that eat them such as insects and against pathogens.

The tuberous roots of the plant are used in traditional medicine to help relieve backache, rheumatic or muscular pain and general aches and pains in the muscles and joints (based on traditional use only).

The plant root may also relieve back pain. Devil’s claw has been used for relief of various types of pain, but particularly for lower back pain. This, again, is attributed to the harpagoside it contains.

Other tips on soothing back pain

To complement any use of supplements, there are also other things you can do to help ease lower back pain.

Back pain is very common, and it can be felt anywhere along your spine, from your neck down to your hips. It usually improves within a few weeks or months. However, it still is very uncomfortable.

It is important to stay as active as possible and to keep up your daily activities. Resting for long periods can actually make the pain worse.

There are also specific exercises that you can do. Walking, swimming, yoga and pilates can be helpful, and exercises that help with posture, muscle tone, balance, and joint mobility can help in both the short and long term, while also potentially relieving stress and tension.

For example, one exercise involves lying on your back on a yoga matt or rug, putting your arms out by your side (scarecrow style), then bending both legs at 90-degree angles and positioning them on top of each other to one side, thereby twisting and stretching your lower back.

You can also try hot and cold packs. If the pain is stopping you doing your day-to-day activities or is getting worse over time, it is worth seeking expert help.

To help prevent back pain, avoid sitting for long periods and take care when lifting heavy objects.

Check your posture when sitting and using computers or watching television.

Ensure your mattress provides good support at night, and consider a more healthy diet if being overweight is causing you back pain.

The best devil’s claw supplements

We provide devil’s claw capsules for example, which contain extract from the plant’s root.

These capsules are aimed at general relief of aches and pains in muscles and joints based on traditional use only. They are for short-term use only. They are recommended for adults, and you will want to take one capsule, twice a day.

We also have a similar product, Vitabiotics Devils Claw 30 Tablets which contains a slightly higher dose of extract per tablet.

These tablets are may help ease backache, muscular pain, or general joint pain, and they are likewise just for adults. Based on traditional use only.

Finally, you can try Schwabe Pharma FlexiHerb 40 Tablets.

These have the same amount of Devil’s Claw root extract as the above product (600 mg), and likewise can be taken by adults twice daily.

If there is no relief after three to five days, you can increase the dose to two tablets twice a day.

If you are worried about backpain or muscular pain, it is important to consult a medical professional to rule out any more serious underlying cause.