Common medications may also negatively interact with devil’s claw, including prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners and stomach acid reducers ( 31):

A study published in the journal Phytomedicine in 2002 found that patients with hip or knee arthritis taking a supplement containing devil’s claw over eight weeks saw a 54% and 39% improvement respectively in their pain levels. 11 Summary Proton pump inhibitors are used to decrease stomach acid. Devil's claw can increase stomach acid. Taking devil's claw might decrease the effects of proton pump inhibitors. According to a Japanese study in 2010, devil’s claw (particularly the harpagoside compound) caused a significant reduction of arthritic inflammation in a group of mice. ( 5 )

The final word

Boje, K., Lechtenberg, M., and Nahrstedt, A. New and known iridoid- and phenylethanoid glycosides from Harpagophytum procumbens and their in vitro inhibition of human leukocyte elastase. Planta Med 2003;69(9):820-825. View abstract. According to WebMD, people with heart problems, hypertension, low blood pressure, diabetes, gallstones or peptic ulcer disease should avoid devil’s claw. There is at least some evidence that it could affect these conditions. So if you take devil’s claw and have one of these conditions, you should be closely monitored by your health care provider. Some common proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium). One of the reasons devil’s claw is so valuable is its ability to help reduce inflammation , which is at the root of most diseases.

In addition, a supplement called AINAT has been used as a remedy for osteoporosis. AINAT contains 300 mg of devil’s claw, as well as 200 mg of turmeric and 150 mg of bromelain — two other plant extracts believed to have anti-inflammatory effects ( 18). The doctor is careful here to draw conclusions, as a two-patient observation of regression is not solid scientific evidence that devil’s claw can treat or cure cancer. In some research, some 16 percent of lymphoma patients have spontaneous regression of their cancer. However, the physician found the timing curious enough to suggest more studies be done on the potential for devil’s claw to support cancer treatment for follicular lymphoma patients. ( 17 ) Gallstones: Use of devil’s claw may increase the formation of bile and make problems worse for those with gallstones.Chrubasik S, Sporer F, and Wink M. [Harpagoside content of different powdered dry extracts from Harpagophytum procumbens]. Forsch Komplmentarmed 1996;3:6-11. Soulimani R, Younos C, Mortier F, Derrieu C. The role of stomachal digestion on the pharmacological activity of plant extracts, using as an example extracts of Harpagophytum procumbens. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1994;72:1532-6. View abstract.