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Overview: Devil’s club is a shrub called Oplopanax horridus. It is related to ginseng and grows in the Pacific Northwest of North America. The root bark and stem bark are used to make teas, tinctures, capsules, and skin products. Devil’s club has a long history of traditional use for many conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, colds, and cancer, but these benefits are not well defined. Most of the research so far has been done in the laboratory, not in people. Before using devil’s club, make sure to tell your health care provider about any health conditions you have or medicines you are taking.

Uses

What is devil’s club used for?

Devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus) is a shrub in the ginseng family. It has a long history of traditional use among indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, who have used it for many different physical and spiritual purposes. Its benefits are not well defined and evidence in humans is limited. It is used for the following.

  • Diabetes and Blood Sugar. Devil’s club tea has traditionally been used to help manage diabetes. However, a small study in people did not find that devil’s club tea lowered blood sugar. There is not enough evidence to show that it helps control blood sugar.
  • Cancer. Devil’s club and chemicals taken from its root bark have slowed the growth of breast, colon, and pancreatic cancer cells, as well as leukemia cells, in laboratory studies. These effects have only been seen in the laboratory, not in people. Devil’s club is not a treatment for cancer.
  • Other Traditional Uses. Devil’s club has also been used for arthritis and joint pain, colds and respiratory problems, infections, digestive complaints, and as a general tonic. It is also applied to the skin.

Note: The FDA has not reviewed devil’s club for safety and effectiveness. Learn more about dietary supplements here.

How does devil’s club work (mechanism of action)?

Devil’s club comes from a shrub called Oplopanax horridus, also known as Alaskan ginseng. It belongs to the same plant family as ginseng (Araliaceae) and grows in the moist forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America. Note that it is not true ginseng and should not be assumed to work like ginseng. The plant has large leaves and woody stems covered in sharp spines. The root bark and stem bark are the parts most often used to make supplements. Products include teas, tinctures (liquid extracts), capsules, and preparations applied to the skin.

Devil’s club root bark contains many natural chemicals. Among the most studied are a group of chemicals called polyacetylenes (also called polyynes). In laboratory studies, some of these chemicals slowed the growth of cancer cells and caused those cells to die, and some were able to activate a protein called PPAR-gamma, which is involved in how the body handles blood sugar and fat. These effects have only been seen in the laboratory, in cells or test tubes. It is not known whether devil’s club has the same effects in people.

The benefits of devil’s club are not well defined. Its long traditional use, including for diabetes, comes mostly from history and custom rather than from studies in people. When devil’s club tea was studied in a small number of people, it did not lower blood sugar. Most of the other research to date has looked only at cancer cells in the laboratory.

Herbal products, such as devil’s club, naturally contain many different chemicals. The amounts of each chemical in a specific devil’s club product may vary. Some, none, or all of these chemicals may have effects on the body. These effects may change depending on how much of each chemical is found in the product you are using.

How should I store devil’s club?

You should store devil’s club according to the product label. Most dietary supplements should be kept in a cool, dry location that is out of the reach of children and pets and not in direct sunlight.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of devil’s club?

Devil’s club seems to be well tolerated. But there is not enough research to know what the common side effects may be. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that bother you.

Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a supplement. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov or by calling 888-SAFEFOOD (888-723-3366). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of devil’s club?

While less common, the most serious side effects of devil’s club are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Devil’s club may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking devil’s club and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use devil’s club?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take devil’s club.

  • Devil’s club
  • Devil’s club root bark
  • Oplopanax horridus
  • Any other plant in the ginseng family (Araliaceae)
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific devil’s club products they stock.

What should I know about devil’s club before using it?

Devil’s club is a dietary supplement. It cannot be marketed to treat or cure a disease.

Devil’s club is available in several forms. Common forms include teas, liquid extracts (tinctures), capsules, dried root or stem bark, and products applied to the skin. Read and follow the directions on the specific product you are taking, or take it as recommended by your health care provider. If you are using a liquid extract, follow the label to measure your dose, usually with the dropper provided.

Do not handle the raw plant without care. The stems and leaves of the devil’s club plant are covered in sharp spines that can cause skin irritation and injury.

Keep devil’s club out of the reach of children.

Herbal products, such as devil’s club, naturally contain many different chemicals. The amount of each chemical in a specific devil’s club product can change for many reasons, including the area where the plant was grown, the weather during growth, the time of year when it was harvested, and the way the plant was processed after being harvested. If you switch to a new bottle or a different brand, you may not have the same effects or side effects because of this variability. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns.

The FDA has not tested devil’s club products to confirm that they contain the ingredients stated on their labels. Some dietary supplements have been tested by third-party organizations to confirm that they contain the ingredients listed on their labels and do not contain any harmful chemicals. Learn more about how to choose a safe dietary supplement product here.

What should I tell my health care provider before using devil’s club?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. Also tell them if you have an upcoming surgery planned. Sharing this information will help your health care provider know if this or other supplements are right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Known Skin Allergies. Chemicals in devil’s club (falcarinol-type polyacetylenes) are known skin allergens found in ivy, ginseng, and schefflera. People allergic to those plants or to carrot, celery, parsnip, or parsley may also react to Devil’s club. Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns.

Diabetes. Devil’s club has traditionally been used to help manage diabetes, but a small study did not find that it lowered blood sugar. Do not use devil’s club in place of your prescribed diabetes medicine. If you have diabetes, talk to your health care provider before using devil’s club, and keep monitoring your blood sugar as directed.

Other Medicines and Supplements. Before taking devil’s club, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how devil’s club could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. There is not enough information about its safety during pregnancy. Experts generally recommend against using herbal products during pregnancy unless their safety has been shown. For this reason, pregnant women should not use devil’s club unless a health care provider tells you otherwise. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if devil’s club passes into breast milk or how it could affect a nursing baby. Because there is not enough information about its safety, experts generally recommend against using herbal products while breastfeeding unless their safety has been shown. For this reason, women who are breastfeeding should not use devil’s club unless a health care provider tells you otherwise. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does devil’s club interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between devil’s club and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect devil’s club. Note that liquid extracts and tinctures are usually made with alcohol. If you are avoiding alcohol, be sure to read product labels carefully.

Does devil’s club interact with medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using so they can watch for any potential interactions.

In particular, be sure to talk to your health care provider if you are taking any of the following.

  • Diabetes Medicines. Some chemicals in devil’s club act on a protein involved in blood sugar control in laboratory tests, so there is a theoretical chance of low blood sugar if combined. Check blood sugar as directed.
  • Cancer Treatments. In laboratory studies, devil’s club extract combined with chemotherapy drugs sometimes increased and sometimes decreased the anticancer effect, depending on the drug and the amount used. Because this could work against treatment, do not use devil’s club during cancer treatment without talking to your health care team.

The interactions between devil’s club and medicines are not fully understood. As with most dietary supplements, the research on drug interactions with devil’s club is incomplete. Always check with your health care provider before taking devil’s club with any medicines.

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much devil’s club?

If you or someone else has used too much devil’s club, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

Devil’s club is available as teas, liquid extracts (tinctures), capsules, dried root or stem bark, and products applied to the skin. There is not enough research to know the effects of taking too much devil’s club. Read the product label closely or take it as recommended by your health care provider.

Do not take more than directed or double or extra doses, even if you miss a dose.

This content was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.