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Devils Claw

Harpagophytum procumbens

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A trailing perennial with 1.5 m (5 ft) length, Devil's Claw has woody, barbed fruit and fleshy, lobed leaves.

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History & Folklore

An African shrub known as devil's claw gets its vivid name from how its rugged, barbed fruit looks. It has bright purple flowers in spring. The diverse southern African peoples were the earliest people to use devil's claw for medicinal purposes, who used a tuber decoction to cure arthritis and gastrointestinal issues. As a treatment for arthritis and rheumatism, the herb is now available in health food stores in the West.

Habitat & Cultivation

Due to the overharvesting of natural plants, the Devil's Claw is a protected species in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, where it is native. It prefers roadsides and wastelands, especially those with cleared natural vegetation, and grows well in clay or sandy soil. The immature tubers, which reproduce from seeds in the spring, are uncovered and divided into pieces 2 cm (approximately 3/4 in) long in the fall. It is essential not to combine the roots and tubers containing the herb's medicinal ingredients.