Pharmaceuticals
A.Vogel Sore Throat Lozenges
For the short-term treatment of acute inflammation of the mouth and throat.
Devil's Claw
Harpagophytum procumbens
African Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a savanna plant native to southern Africa. It owes its name to its distinctive, claw-shaped fruits. However, the valuable parts of the plant are found underground: the secondary storage roots are used. Devil’s Claw is traditionally used to treat rheumatic conditions, osteoarthritis, and joint pain. It may have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects and help support joint mobility.
Profile
- Botanical name: Harpagophytum procumbens
- German name: African devil's claw, devil's claw
- Origin: Southern Africa
- Occurrence: especially South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana
- Growth habit: A typical savanna plant with shoots that grow close to the ground
- Roots: Primary root with tuberous secondary storage roots
- Part of the plant used: secondary storage roots
- Special feature: The woody fruits have long, barbed projections.
- Features: anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, joint-supporting
Devil's Claw is a typical savanna plant. It has a primary root that can grow up to 50 centimeters long. Numerous tuberous secondary roots branch off from this primary root and can spread over an area about 1.5 meters wide and up to 2 meters deep.
The plant can store large amounts of water in these secondary storage roots. The secondary roots are rich in valuable compounds and are used for medicinal purposes. The primary root is vital to the plant itself. If it is left intact during harvest, the plant can sprout again at the start of the rainy season.
Fresh shoots grow from the primary root; they spread out in a star-like pattern on the ground and can grow up to 2 meters long. These shoots bear opposite or alternate, curved, and slightly fleshy leaves. Red-purple flowers, resembling gloxinia in appearance, appear in the leaf axils.
The flowers develop into woody fruits with long, branched projections and barbs. Each of these burdock-like capsules contains about 50 seeds.
Use at A.Vogel
Related health topics:
- Joints, Muscles, and Bones
- Osteoarthritis
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Back Pain
- Inflammation
- Mobility