Devil's claw (harpagophytum)
Harpagophytum procumbens (Burch.) DC. ex Meisn.
Botanical family: Pedaliaceae
A creeping plant of the deserts of southern Africa, named after its hooked fruits ('devil's claw'), whose secondary root is the part used.
Full sun
Sandy, desert-like, very well-drained
Very low: a plant of the dry Kalahari sands; too much water exposes it to fungal disease
Frost-tender (African desert plant, not cultivable in open ground here)
Frost-tender in your zone
Role in permaculture
A plant of the Kalahari desert, not cultivable in our climates; a reference entry for its root, traditionally used for minor joint pain (EMA monograph).
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
An imported root, from the deserts of southern Africa, not grown in our climates.
Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- EMA (HMPC), « Assessment report on Harpagophytum procumbens DC. and/or Harpagophytum zeyheri Decne., radix », 2016 (ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/harpagophyti-radix)
- Stewart K. M., Cole D. (2005), « The commercial harvest of devil's claw (Harpagophytum spp.) in southern Africa: The devil's in the details », Journal of Ethnopharmacology 100, 225-236 (doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.004)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Not advised in case of gastric or duodenal ulcer, gallstones, and during pregnancy; seek medical advice in case of anticoagulant treatment or a heart problem.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Voices of peoples
Paraphrases attributed to their documented sources. Never an invented quote.
San peoples of the Kalahari, Nama and Herero of Namibia (testimony of the Herero Samuel Kariko) · Namibia, Kalahari desert, southern Africa; first written records in the early 20th century.
Among the San of the Kalahari and the Nama and Herero peoples of Namibia, devil's claw, so named for its hooked fruits that catch in the fur of animals, is a mainstay remedy, used traditionally against fevers, pains, digestive disorders, and the aftermath of childbirth. The attested fact is old: the first written records are those of the physician Hellwig, in 1907, who reports notably the testimony of the Herero Samuel Kariko. One must, on the other hand, set aside a later tale, that of the German colonial farmer Mehnert 'discovering' the plant around 1904 thanks to his hunting dog: the specialist review today sees in it a commercial argument, and not a historical fact.
Brendler, T. (2021). From Bush Medicine to Modern Phytopharmaceutical: A Bibliographic Review of Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum spp.). Pharmaceuticals, 14(8), 726 (PMC8398729), qui documente l'usage nama et herero, le rapport Hellwig de 1907 rapportant le témoignage de Samuel Kariko, et qualifie le récit Mehnert de « romance » commerciale.
A clear example of an attested fact (the Nama and Herero knowledge, Hellwig's record in 1907) set against a commercial legend (Mehnert and his dog), not to be confused. Redoubled caution about the appropriation of an indigenous knowledge and the biopiracy that surrounded this plant: naming the source peoples is here a duty, not a detail. The uses cited belong to tradition and constitute no claim of cure.
Keep in mind
Wild harvest raises sustainability issues: favour responsible supply chains.
A note on rigour: many companion pairings are gardening folklore; this note sums up what the sources say, where there are any.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun exposure.
- • Ideal soil: sandy, desert-like, very well-drained.