Study: Herb ‘Harpagophytum Procumbens’ Effective in Treating Spinal Stenosis

Study: Herb ‘Harpagophytum Procumbens’ Effective in Treating Spinal Stenosis
A study in Korean medicine (Chinese medicine) shows that the herbal medicine Harpagophytum procumbens has the effect of improving spinal stenosis. (Shutterstock)
Lisa Bian
2/1/2023
Updated:
3/14/2023
0:00

A study published in the September 2022 edition of the renowned international journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity“ showed that an herbal medicine made from Harpagophytum procumbens, commonly known as ”devil’s claw” has the effect of improving spinal stenosis.

The study was conducted by a research team led by chief researcher Hong Jin Young at the Spine and Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine in South Korea. The objective was to find a mechanism to treat spinal stenosis by studying, through experiments on cells and animals, how Harpagophytum procumbens can improve cell protection and mobility in exercise.
Spinal stenosis, the most common condition of the lumbar and cervical spine, occurs when the space in the spine narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve endings.
Cervical spinal stenosis can cause difficulty in turning the neck, numbness, and pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Lumbar spinal stenosis can cause leg cramps, pain, or numbness. And in severe cases can lead to lower back pain, loss of feeling in the legs, and even affect bladder and bowel control.

Western medicine treatment of spinal stenosis mainly relies on drugs and surgery, but the risk of side effects is immense. Korean medicine (Chinese medicine) uses herbs, acupuncture, and moxibustion to treat the condition. In South Korea, Harpagophytum procumbens is known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-rheumatic effects and is the main ingredient in herbal prescriptions and acupuncture used in Korean medicine to treat spinal stenosis. Herbal acupuncture is a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine—by injecting herbal extracts into acupuncture points to achieve the joint benefits of acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Hong’s research group isolated and cultured rat’s spinal cord cells and used iron sulfate (FeSO₂) to induce iron accumulation and cell death, and then used three different concentrations (50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 200 μg/mL) of Harpagophytum procumbens for the subsequent experimentation. The results showed that cells in which iron accumulation was first inhibited, and then died, or had their neurites ruptured, were restored in direct proportion to the concentration of Harpagophytum procumbens.

The research team confirmed that Harpagophytum procumbens could activate the metabolism of Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2), which regulates the antioxidant response in cells and promotes the recovery of the neurite. Confocal microscopy of dyed and fluorescent cells showed that iron-deficient Nrf2 increased with increasing concentrations of Harpagophytum procumbens.

In addition, the research team conducted experiments using the animal model of spinal stenosis produced and patented by the Spine and Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. By removing part of the lumbar vertebrae and inserting bio-silicone, the rats with spinal stenosis were injected with Harpagophytum procumbens. It was found that the inflammatory macrophages decreased in proportion to the concentration of Harpagophytum procumbens injected. The reduction in macrophages means that the inflammatory response to nerve and tissue damage is suppressed, the team explained.

In addition, the research team also observed that with the increase in the concentration of the injected Harpagophytum procumbens, the rate of the rats “stepping on thin air (losing balance)” instead of the ladder steps during the exercise on the 3 cm gap ladder crawling game decreased every week. It was confirmed that Harpagophytum procumbens has the effect of improving performance in mobility.

Hong said, “It is important to elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of Harpagophytum procumbens in treating spinal stenosis by Korean medicine. This Korean medical treatment using Harpagophytum procumbens can be effective in not just spinal stenosis but also other spinal diseases.”

Lisa Bian, B.Med.Sc., is a healthcare professional holding a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Science. With a rich background, she has accrued over three years of hands-on experience as a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician. In addition to her clinical expertise, she serves as an accomplished writer based in Korea, providing valuable contributions to The Epoch Times. Her insightful pieces cover a range of topics, including integrative medicine, Korean society, culture, and international relations.
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