N
The Daily Insight

What is Devils Club used for

Author

John Parsons

Updated on April 13, 2026

Devil’s club is a plant. People use the inner bark of the root and stem for medicine. Devil’s club is used for arthritis, cancer, wounds, fever, tuberculosis, stomach trouble, cough, colds, sore throat, diabetes, low blood sugar, and pneumonia. It is also used for emptying the bowels and causing vomiting.

What makes Devil's Club harmful?

Both the stem and leaves are covered with sharp prickles that are up to 2 centimetres long! In addition to physical damage to the eyes and skin, there is evidence that the spiny prickles can cause serious allergic reactions in some individuals.

What animals eat Devils club?

Ecological Value. Devil’s club leaves are eaten by slugs and the fruits are eaten by bears. It works as an effective buffer against humans and/or livestock to prevent the intrusion into wetland areas.

How do you consume devil's club?

Today, devil’s club is widely available over the counter and consumed or applied directly to the skin to relieve pain, soothe inflammation, treat infections, and boost immune function. Devil’s club is a plant native to the Pacific Northwest.

Can humans eat devil's club berries?

These berries are not edible by humans but bears do eat them. Bears dont seem bothered by the plants thick armor of spines. The roots and shoots of Devils club are edible. The shoots are only edible for the first few days after they appear in early spring, however.

What is Devils Claw herb?

Native to southern Africa, devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) gets its name from the tiny hooks that cover its fruit. Historically, devil’s claw has been used to treat pain, liver and kidney problems, fever, and malaria. It has also been used in ointments to heal sores, boils, and other skin problems.

What happens if you touch Devils club?

Devil’s club grows 1-3 metres tall and has crooked stems covered in hard yellow spines. It has large broad leaves with many spines on the underside. If the plant is touched, the spines can break off and cause infection. It has small white flowers that mature into bright red shiny berries.

What is Devil's Club oil?

Devil’s Club is often used as an aid in the treatment of sore joints and muscles or just to help you relax after a hard day. Devil’s Club Oil has the aroma of freshly peeled Devil’s Club root. This infused herbal oil can also be used to create your own natural products.

How do you make Devil's Club tea?

Making Devils club tea is simple. take The dried root bark of devil’s club, boil it in boiling water for several minutes and brewed into a tea.

Is Devil's Club the same as devil's claw?

Devil’s Club Information Devil’s club plant (Oplopanax horridus) is a historical medicinal and herbal plant used for centuries by First Nations people. It is also known as devil’s walking stick or bear’s claw.

Article first time published on

Where is the devil's club found?

Devil’s club can be found in well-drained forests from coastal Alaska southward and eastward to California, the Northern Rockies, with a disjunct population near northern Lake Superior. Bears delight in eating large quantities of the abundant berries produced by devil’s club in the mid-summer months.

How do I get rid of devils club?

If you can reach in to the stem of the plant with the clippers, cut it off right above the ground and then you can then dig up the roots and be rid of the plant. If the stem of the plant is too thick for your clippers, then you can remove branches at the base of the plant using the long-handled clippers.

Why is Devil's Claw banned?

The active ingredient contained in Devil’s Claw is Harpagoside – now listed as a ‘prohibited substance‘ by the FEI governing body. … Harpagoside is a herb with natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and is often used to help ease joint and muscle pain in horses and ponies.

What is Devil Claw good for?

Devil’s claw is used for “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), arthritis, gout, muscle pain (myalgia), back pain, tendonitis, chest pain, gastrointestinal (GI) upset or heart burn, fever, and migraine headache.

How do you take devil's claw?

  1. Back pain. Taking devil’s claw by mouth seems to reduce lower back pain. …
  2. Osteoarthritis. Taking devil’s claw by mouth alone, with other ingredients, or along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seems to help reduce osteoarthritis pain.

Can you grow devil's club?

Growth: Devil’s Club grows erect to 3-9 feet (1-3m) tall or sprawling, growing in clumps. Devil’s Club often grows by streams and rivers. Habitat: It is found in moist woods, especially along streams. Wetland designation: FAC+, Facultative, it is equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands.

When do you harvest Devils club?

Harvest when they are one or two inches. When they get bigger, the leaf begins to unfurl. The spikes that are found on the leaf become harder when that happens. If you’ve ever had a devil’s club spine poke you, you can understand the desire to not want to eat one.

Can Devil's Claw help you lose weight?

May Promote Weight Loss Besides reducing pain and inflammation, devil’s claw may suppress appetite by interacting with the hunger hormone ghrelin ( 27 ).

Is Devils Claw good for nerve pain?

The plant is commonly used to treat rheumatic conditions affecting the joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, and muscles. These include back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tendinitis. Others believe that it can treat fibromyalgia, sciatica, nerve pain, gout, and symptoms of Lyme disease.

Can you take devil's claw with ibuprofen?

No interactions were found between devil’s claw and ibuprofen. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.