Devil's Claw

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:

• heart disease;

• a stomach ulcer;

• diabetes;

• a history of gallstones; or

• high or low blood pressure.

It is not known whether devil's claw will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this product if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether devil's claw passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use devil's claw, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Do not use different forms (tablets, liquid, tincture, teas, etc) of devil's claw at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose.

Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with devil's claw does not improve, or if it gets worse while using this product.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra devil's claw to make up the missed dose.

Because of the bitterness of the preparation and consequent increase in gastric secretion, devil's claw is contraindicated in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Documented oxytoxic adverse effects. Avoid use.

None well documented.

Clinically important toxicity has not been observed in limited, short-term use.

The major chemical component thought to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of devil's claw is harpagoside, a monoterpene glucoside. Other iridoid glycosides include procumbide, harpagide, 8-para-coumaroyl-harpagide, and verbascoside. Harpagoside is found primarily in the roots; secondary tubers contain twice as much glucoside as the primary roots. Flowers, stems, and ripe fruits are essentially devoid of the compound, while traces have been isolated from the leaves. Harpagoside can be progressively hydrolyzed to harpagid and harpagogenin. Commercial sources of devil's claw extract contain 1.4% to 2% of harpagoside.

Other constituents include carbohydrates, flavonoids (kaempferol, luteolin), aromatic acids, phytosterols, and triterpenes. High-performance liquid chromatography methods for identification have been reported. 2 , 4 , 5

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