Devil’s claw

Indication: Low back pain

Source: Rheumatology, 2003;42:141-148.

Research: Researchers treated patients with low back pain with either 60 mg of devil’s claw or 12.5 mg rofecoxib (Vioxx®, a COX-2 inhibitor prescription). For six weeks, 43 of the patients took the herb, while 36 took the prescription medication. The patients’ degree of pain was measured using standard clinical tests at baseline, 4 weeks and 6 weeks.

Results: After six weeks, 18 of the patients taking the herb reported no pain and did not require any supplemental pain-reducing medication, compared with only five of the patients taking the rofecoxib. There were no differences in reported side effects between the groups.