Devil's Claw

Powerful anti-inflammatory root from Southern Africa, traditionally used for arthritis and pain relief

Scientific nameHarpagophytum procumbens FormulaVarious iridoid glycosides Molecular weightVariable compounds g/mol CASVarious natural compounds

60 absorption score

7 safety / 10

35 USD per month

5 documented interactions

Check it against something

Evidence level B

Devil's Claw with:

78 out of 100

Works better together Take together — same timing window amplifies the synergy.

Check it against your whole stack →

What it does

mechanism and evidence for each claim

Arthritis and joint pain relief

Significantly reduces arthritis pain and improves joint mobility

Inhibits inflammatory enzymes and reduces inflammatory mediators Evidence A-grade 4-8 weeks

Anti-inflammatory effects

Reduces inflammation throughout the body

Inhibits COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes, reduces TNF-α and IL-1β Evidence B-grade 2-6 weeks

Lower back pain relief

Effective for reducing chronic lower back pain

Anti-inflammatory action reduces pain and muscle tension Evidence A-grade 3-8 weeks

Digestive health support

Traditional use for digestive complaints and appetite stimulation

Bitter compounds stimulate digestive secretions Evidence C-grade 1-4 weeks

Muscle pain and tension relief

Helps reduce muscle pain and tension

Anti-inflammatory effects reduce muscle inflammation Evidence B-grade 2-6 weeks

Others take these for the same thing

Same goal, different mechanism — check any of them against this one

Calcium Bone health & muscle function 1,000-1,200 mg A 30% Turmeric Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant 300-1000mg A 3% Vitamin D3 Bone health & immune support 1000-2000 IU A 85% Collagen Peptides Skin health & joint support 5-15g B 85% Calcium Carbonate Affordable bone health & antacid 1000-1200 mg A 25% Phosphorus Bone health & energy metabolism 700-1250mg A 80%

Every pair we checked

12 combinations scored by the engine

Devil's Claw + Caffeine No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Creatine Monohydrate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Vitamin D3 No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Calcium Carbonate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Whey Protein No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Lactase No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Bovine Collagen No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + DHA No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Turmeric No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Devil's Claw + Boswellia Enhanced anti-inflammatory action for joint health Works better together 75

Devil's Claw + Chondroitin Sulfate Enhanced joint health and cartilage protection Works better together 78

Devil's Claw + Omega-3 + Curcumin + Vitamin D Triple Anti-Inflammatory Formula Synergistic anti-inflammatory effects Works better together 78

Dosage

With food

Daily600-1200mg

Arthritis treatment600-2400mg daily

Lower back pain600-1200mg daily

General pain400-800mg daily

Digestive support200-400mg before meals

Before you take it

VeganYes

When to expect it

First Effects2-4 weeks for pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits

Peak Benefits6-12 weeks for sustained arthritis and pain management

Deficiency DevelopmentNot applicable - herbal supplement

Toxicity OnsetRare, mainly digestive and cardiovascular concerns

How to measure it

$80-120

MarkerC-reactive protein (CRP), ESR, fasting glucose

OptimalCRP: <1.0 mg/L, ESR: <20 mm/hr

Deficient belowNot applicable for herbal supplement

FrequencyEvery 3-6 months if using for chronic conditions

What people actually reported to the FDA

CAERS, 7 reports naming it as the suspect

Most reported effects

Heart rate irregular 2

Blood bilirubin increased 1

Blood pressure increased 1

Cold sweat 1

Condition aggravated 1

Named as the suspect 7 reports of 8 that mention it at all

Serious outcome 67% hospitalisation, emergency room or worse

Other Serious or Important Medical Event5

Visited a Health Care Provider3

Hospitalization1

Reports are voluntary and unverified — they record what someone experienced while taking something, not what the compound caused. Counts skew towards products people take a lot of, and a serious outcome is more likely to be reported than a mild one, so these are not rates. How we filter them →

What actually reaches you

The label counts the carrier, your body does not

Absorption High 60 of 100 · absorbs well relative to other forms

Delivered daily 540 mg

Cost per 100 mg delivered $0.22 comparative — uses the absorption score, not a measured percentage

Works better with

3 documented

Glucosamine Chondroitin

Enhanced joint health and cartilage protection

Structural support combined with anti-inflammatory effects · level B

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Synergistic anti-inflammatory effects

Complementary anti-inflammatory pathways · level B

Boswellia

Enhanced anti-inflammatory action for joint health

Different enzyme targets work together · level C

What not to take with Devil's Claw

2 documented

Pro Inflammatory Diet

High sugar and processed foods may counteract benefits

Promotes inflammation that devil's claw tries to reduce · moderate significance

Alcohol Excess

May worsen digestive side effects

Both can irritate digestive system · mild significance

Medication interactions

Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining

diabetes-medications Moderate

May enhance blood sugar lowering effects

What to do: Monitor blood glucose closely

heart-medications Moderate

May affect heart rhythm or blood pressure

What to do: Monitor cardiovascular parameters

stomach-acid-reducers Minor

May reduce effectiveness of devil's claw

What to do: Take separately from acid reducers

Available forms

bioavailability compared

Standardized Devil's Claw Extract (2-3% harpagosides) 60

Standardized Devil's Claw Extract (2-3% harpagosides): Arthritis relief, Lower back pain, Good research, Natural alternative

Food sources

before you supplement

Devil's claw root powder Variable harpagoside content · 40

Traditional tea preparations Low concentration · 30

Standardized extracts 2-3% harpagosides · 60

Not found in common foods Supplementation required · N/A

Too little

deficiency signs

Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):
General symptoms addressed by devil's claw:
Arthritis pain and joint stiffness
Chronic lower back pain
Inflammatory pain conditions
Poor appetite and digestion
Muscle tension and pain

Too much

toxicity signs

Generally safe but potential concerns:
Digestive upset, nausea, or diarrhea
Blood sugar fluctuations
Heart rhythm changes in sensitive individuals
Headaches with high doses

Who benefits most

arthritis-osteoarthritis

Excellent for reducing arthritis pain and joint inflammation

600-2400mg daily (standardized extract)

lower-back-pain

Clinically proven for reducing chronic lower back pain

600-1200mg daily

joint-pain-general

Effective for various types of joint pain and stiffness

400-800mg daily

muscle-pain-tension

Natural anti-inflammatory for muscle pain and tension

400-600mg daily

digestive-support

Traditional use for digestive health and appetite stimulation

200-400mg before meals

Where to buy it

compare forms first

Look for Devil's Claw at 600-1200mg per serving. The form that matters here is Standardized Devil's Claw Extract (2-3% harpagosides).

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What else affects it

Beyond other supplements

Pro inflammatory diet

High sugar and processed foods may counteract benefits

Promotes inflammation that devil's claw tries to reduce

Alcohol excess

May worsen digestive side effects

Both can irritate digestive system

How it works

Inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme reducing inflammatory prostaglandins
Blocks 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) reducing inflammatory leukotrienes
Reduces tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)
Inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inflammatory signaling
Bitter compounds stimulate digestive secretions and appetite
Antioxidant effects protect tissues from inflammatory damage

Key findings

what the evidence supports

Clinically effective for arthritis and lower back pain
Well-researched anti-inflammatory mechanisms
Good safety profile for most individuals
Traditional use supported by modern research

Sources: NIH Examine.com · data reviewed 2026-08-02

Compiled by Denis, who maintains this database and holds no medical qualification — every figure here is sourced or derived, never asserted. How we calculate it →

Common questions

What are the benefits of Devil's Claw?

Documented effects: Arthritis and joint pain relief; Anti-inflammatory effects; Lower back pain relief; Digestive health support. Significantly reduces arthritis pain and improves joint mobility

How much Devil's Claw should you take per day?

The common daily range is 600-1200mg. By goal — arthritis treatment: 600-2400mg daily; lower back pain: 600-1200mg daily; general pain: 400-800mg daily; digestive support: 200-400mg before meals.

When is the best time to take Devil's Claw?

With food. First effects are typically reported within 2-4 weeks for pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits.

What are the side effects of Devil's Claw?

At excessive doses: Generally safe but potential concerns:, Digestive upset, nausea, or diarrhea, Blood sugar fluctuations, Heart rhythm changes in sensitive individuals, Headaches with high doses. Safety rating at normal doses is 7 out of 10.

What should you not take with Devil's Claw?

Separate it from Pro Inflammatory Diet, Alcohol Excess by two to four hours. High sugar and processed foods may counteract benefits

Does Devil's Claw interact with medications?

Documented interactions with diabetes-medications, heart-medications, stomach-acid-reducers. Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining.

How do you know if you need Devil's Claw?

The marker is C-reactive protein (CRP), ESR, fasting glucose, optimal range CRP: <1.0 mg/L, ESR: <20 mm/hr. Common deficiency signs: Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):, General symptoms addressed by devil's claw:, Arthritis pain and joint stiffness, Chronic lower back pain.

Taken for

38 Joints & Bones

Vitamin D3 · Calcium Carbonate · Bovine Collagen