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Devils Claw Extract – What is it and how does it work?
Prime Performance Nutrition

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Origin - Devils Claw, or Harpagophytum procumbent, is a plant which grows in the South and South-East of Africa. Much like carrots, water is stored in the tuber section of the plant during the rainy season. It is in this tuber region that we find the raw material, which is extracted to form the active ingredient of Devils Claw. Above ground the plant resembles that of a “claw”, approximately the size of your hand, hence the term “Devils Claw”.

Devils Claw has been studied since the mid 1920 for its therapeutic uses after a German agriculturist was able to dry the root without losing any of its potencies. In the years to follow many trials have been conducted that have resulted in findings showing significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. With these findings trials have been conducted in the equine world to find that Devils Claw can help to reduce inflammation around an injured joint.

Why feed Devils Claw?

Aspirin is a short term means of relieve from injury but over an extended period and at high dosages has been reported to cause scours and/or ulcerations. Phenylbutazone is drug that has very beneficial effects for pain relief but too can cause stomach upset and/or damage over a period of time. Dosage and treatment time are the limiting factors to these components which has increased the attention to herbal remedies such as Devils Claw.

Devils Claw is not a “cure”

Caution should be taken when using a Devils Claw product because although we are reducing the swelling in the injured area and improving the animal’s comfort level, we are not addressing the problem. Pain is the body’s natural response to protect the injured area to allow it to heal through rest. If we are taking this natural defense away then we run the risk of further damaging the area.

Are Devils Claw Supplements all the same?

When using a Devils Claw product we need to look at the composition of the entire supplement. We want to include components that are anti-inflammatory as well as those that have arthritic properties. If these components are not included in the Devils Claw product we will want to include a second product that will help to promote joint health such as Glucosamines, Chondrotin Sulfates and Hyaluronic Acids.

Devils Claw Combo

3,500 mg of MSM, 3,000 mg of Yucca, 2500 mg of Devils Claw extract as well as grape seed extract and ascorbic acid.

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